Cutline Writing

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Cutline Writing

• Writing Reporting Fall 2005
• -adapted from Herff Jones curriculum guide

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A Photo Is Worth 1,000 Words?

• No photo can tell the readers the essential
  information without a cutline (caption)
• Photos need to tell stories as well
• Cutlines tell the reader who, what, where, when,
  why and how as it relates to the pic

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Parts Of A Cutline

• The Lead-in
• 1st Sentence
• 2nd Sentence (s)

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The Lead-in

• Could be a graphic device (i.e. initial cap,
  bolded letters, symbol, line) or mini-headline
  that introduces the pic and grabs reader attention

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The 1st Sentence

• Answer the important questions first who, what,
  when, where in full detailmust be researched
• Written in present tense
• Identify the people/action of pic

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The 2nd Sentence

• Answer addl questions like why and how
• Provide info that is not obvious (Bkgd.)
• May include a quote or fun fact
• Written in past tense

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Dos of Cutline Writing

• Identify all people pictured (up to 5 and them
  just id main participants)
• Lead-ins state the obvious in an unobvious way to
  grab attention and link pic with rest of cutline
• Include the 5 Ws H

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• Consider the action before and during the photo
  and the reaction to the event
• Keep content factual
• Interview sources to get info just like you would
  for a story
• Use a variety of sentence patterns

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• Use strong visual and specific nouns
• Use colorful, lively, vital action verbs
• Use a variety of adverbs and adjectives

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Donts of Cutline Writing

• Dont begin with names
• Dont use same pattern over over
• Dont begin with labels
• Dont state the obvious

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• Dont use cliché cutline phrases (pictured above,
  seems to, attempts to)
• Avoid excessive use of participial (ing) words
• Avoid passive verbs (is, are, was, were)

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• Dont pad cutline with useless info just to make
  it longer
• Never use gag or joke captions
• Dont comment, question or talk to the picture
• Dont identify year in school in yearbook cutlines

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Photo Storiestrendy publications use longer
cutlines/ shorter copy to tell the stories

• Make cutlines 3 sentences long
• Include quotes from people in pic
• Add details usually included in the story (when
  club meets/date of dance)
• Give addl info/bkgd. on people pictured

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Sports Cutline Hints

• id players by school jersey number
• State positions, quarter etc. for more detail
• Consider those players which led up to the action
  in the shot
• Give outcome of action/game

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Group Captions

• Begin with name of group
• Identify from left to right
• Use Bottom Row, Second Row, Top Row
• Rows should be set off with type or parenthesis
• Establish a style and use it

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Smittys Seven Deadly Sins of Cutline Writing(
Automatic Zero on Cutline)

• Starting with a name
• Pictured here, shown above etc.
• Seems to, appears to, attempts to etc.

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Smittys Seven Deadly Sins of Cutline Writing(
Automatic Zero on Cutline)

• This year or at Lafayette
• Someone looks on

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Smittys Seven Deadly Sins of Cutline Writing(
Automatic Zero on Cutline)

• Poses for/smiles for any reference to posing or
  smiling
• Works hard works diligently etc.

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Cutlines That Work
A Grand Love Towel in hand, Chris Jones checks
the oil in his Grand Prix. He invested over
4,000 in new stereo equipment, an exhaust system
and additions to his motor. During the summer, I
wash my car two to three times a week. I never
let people in my car who have mud on their
shoes, Jones said.

• Identifies the action as well as the person in
  the photo
• Includes appropriate bkgd. Info
• Quote refers to the overall topic

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Cutlines That Work
Music To Her Ears At Missouri Honor Band
practice, Amber Twinn listens to Dr. Gerald
Welker give directions. Eight students were
selected from each area high school to perform as
part of the band on Oct. 8. As a sophomore, it
was especially amazing to be selected as a
member, Twinn said.

• Identifies the action as well as the people in
  the photo
• Gives important details
• Quote highlights her reaction

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Cutlines That Work
A Special Job Kneeling in front of the hostess
stand at the Plaza Café in Bucksville, Laura Mink
writes the dinner specials menu. Mink worked
three days a week during the early evening shift.
I usually spend the first hour of my shift just
getting organized for the dinner rush, she said.

• Identifies the person, action and place
• Includes appropriate bkgd. Info about her job and
  schedule
• Quote refers to the action

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Now You Try
Who Suzie Q, 9 What Shaping a cup Where
Ceramics Class When Sept. 8, 2005 Why Final
project for first unit in class How could not
use any tools to shape clay Extra Info It
seemed like it would be easy, but it really took
a lot of patience to get it smooth.
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Now You Try
Who Super Fans What cheering on Lancer varsity
football Where LHS stands When Sept. 8,
2005 Why go to every varsity game How join club
for 5 to get T-shirts, free admission Extra
Info tailgate before every game
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Now You Try
Who Anna Can, 12 What Organizing cans Where
outside Welcome Center When Sept. 25, 2005 Why
STUCO canned food drive students/area businesses
donated How collected 165,000 cans for Katrina
shelters Extra Info We collected so many we had
enough for shelters in St. Louis County and St.
Charles County.-Can