Strong editorial images arrive with reliable information. Before distributing a photograph, confirm who appears in it, where and when it was taken, what is happening and who owns the rights. Obtain consent appropriate to the context, with extra care for children and vulnerable people.
Write captions in complete, factual sentences. Identify people from left to right when practical and verify names and titles. Avoid captions that merely repeat the press release or assign emotions the image cannot prove. Include the photographer or source credit exactly as required.
Send a useful selection rather than dozens of near-duplicates. Provide high-resolution originals through an accessible link and lighter previews for quick review. Do not alter an image in a way that changes its meaning; disclose material edits or illustration status. Add descriptive alternative text for web use.
Keep a rights record showing permitted uses, expiry dates and restrictions. A beautiful photograph with uncertain consent or an inaccurate caption creates more risk than value.
Editorial note: Align this checklist with the publication’s safeguarding and image-rights policy.
A newsroom-ready photo and caption checklist
