Cutlines

Full cutline: Describes what’s going on and gives some background or context.Full cutline –The first sentence is written in present tense and describes the action in the picture (what reader can see). Second adds additional details, background, etc.

Can even pull out a quote from the story.quote from the story.

Once full cutlines were used only on pictures with no stories. Now, many papers use them on pics, especially print editions. –Hope is the readers get enough information to want to reader story, if not, they learned a little more about today’s events. –Use the full cutline to offer the reader background or additional information that is not already covered in other places. It is a turnoff for a reader to read a cutline that repeats facts in the head.offer the reader background or additional information that is not already covered

Skeleton lines – Just a brief description of what’s happening in picture. Many newspapers use these for all cutlines.Skeleton lines

Gannett newspapers favor these

One line captions Little more creative, information than skeleton lines. Focus is not necessarily on describing what is happening in image. (Used a lot online)

Mix elements of full and skeleton

Namelines – used on mugshots. Some papers use only name, others try to use as point of entry so get a little more information in.