Guidelines for Good Cutlines
The following guidelines to writing good cutlines were written by Geoff Stevenson, former managing editor, Hamilton Spectator, and presented as a handout at a CDNA-Ryerson National Copy Editors Seminar in the late 1980s)
- Don't state the obvious. The reader can see what the photo is about. Expressions such as "...poses for the camera" should be banned.
- Don't duplicate headlines in cutlines. Make sure that the cutline writer (or the slotman) ALWAYS sees the head. Headline and cutline give you two chances to sell the story. Make sure you use both.
- Do identify everyone in your picture. Demand the photographers get names of everyone they photograph. If they fail, be prepared to discipline them if the problem recurs. (It won't.)
- Don't settle for names only below one-col pics; add a phrase or sentence that ties the pic to the story.
- Good cutlines stand on their own--even if they have an accompanying story. The reader should know what the picture shows-- and why that's significant--without reading the story. With multi- column photo, most readers will look at the photo first, then the cutline--before reading either headline or story.
- All pictures need cutlines. Cutlines in body type are not recommended. They force the reader to go looking for basic information and the lazy reader won't bother, but will turn the page instead.
- The mood of the cutline ought to match the picture. Airplane crashes are serious; George Burns kissing a blonde ought to be a chance to have fun.