Photo / Video sourcing & caption writing guide

Editorial and Stock Suppliers

Getty Images 

Our premium subscription to Getty Images includes access to iStock and Unsplash digital assets. Search results for all three suppliers will appear in the main Getty Images dashboard. Getty Images also has dozens of partners that supply digital assets to the inventory. 

Our annual plan includes:

• 360 downloads, which includes Editorial and Creative photos; Creative and some Editorial videos, music, motion graphics, animations, and other content.

  • ACLED License Agreement with Getty Images: Creative RF; Editorial; Editorial RF; Video RF; Video RR

• We are allotted the full 360 downloads each new subscription cycle

  • Monthly; this breaks down to 30 downloads

Adobe Stock 

• 45 downloads on Adobe, which includes Editorial and Creative photos and videos, music, motion graphics, animations, and other content

Other sources available to the public are:

• Openverse

• Wikimedia Commons

• Pexels

• Pixabay

• Al Jazeera Creative Commons Repository

• UN Women | Flickr

Please take into consideration the licensing requirements for each of these sources. This information should be listed clearly. If this information is not clear, consider looking for another digital asset that clearly provides information on usage rights. 

 Considerations when Selecting Photos or Videos for ACLED Pieces 

Photography is a key element for a compelling visual narrative that can be used in various communication tools. When used effectively and ethically, a single image can attract individuals to engage with a piece of writing or dataset, and in the case of ACLED’s work, help them understand conflicts, societies, dynamics, geographies, events, and more. It won’t be necessary to include photography in all static or motion graphics, and conflict or human-centered B-roll in all videos. Please refer to the Brand Guidelines for information on when editorial or stock images should be incorporated into a report, infographic, presentation, social media card, newsletter, and on the website. Details on this can be found in slides: 6–9, 13–14.

Importantly, experts of the regions or countries being depicted should be consulted if possible when the context is complex and not straightforward and the External Affairs team is unable to make informed decisions on what kind of depictions should be included in outputs. This communication should be done as early as possible while avoiding waiting until publication day to seek approval or feedback about an image or video.

Considerations when selecting creative assets to feature alongside ACLED outputs:

• If a single photo or video is used with an output, the main theme, essence, or event of the piece should typically be featured foremost.

• If multiple photos or videos are featured, the creative assets selected should be associated and relevant to the text they are placed closest to in the layout.

• Creative assets should generally be from the same time period as the corresponding text or data visualization.

• For video projects or outputs featuring photography that include general information or summaries of conflict, photos, and images from a wider timespan can be used, but they should not be older than 10 years if possible. However, if the subject of the video or photo project discusses historic events, archival footage may be more appropriate. 

• Use your discretion to safeguard ACLED pieces from bias and inaccuracies.

• We adhere to the Associated Press guidelines on visuals: “We avoid the use of generic photos or video that could be mistaken for imagery photographed for the specific story at hand, or that could unfairly link people in the images to illicit activity.”

Note: When creating content for social media or the website or adding photo imagery components to reports or videos, it could be possible that the most accurate or appropriate photos/videos of the real-life event cited in the piece might not be available. In this case, and if possible, some creative stock images relating to the text (for example, a shattered window to indicate mob violence, smoke stacks from battles in the country being written about, destroyed buildings from the city cited in the piece, etc.) could be used instead of editorial content.  

Examples can be found starting on page 6. If there are no appropriate available images and choosing one of these alternatives risks confusion, opt to avoid including imagery and instead solely rely on the text and any data visualizations. 

Sourcing Images or Videos From an Organization or Other Entity

If working on a project that requires images that are difficult to source but you have found an organization or entity that has published photos corresponding to the project, you may reach out to that organization using your ACLED email to seek permission to use the photos. When doing so, please describe why ACLED is reaching out, how the images would be used and when the essence of the piece is they would be used with. You should also explain that attributions to the organziation or entity as the provider of the digital assets will be included. In some cases, these photos might have watermarks and requirements to use them might be to retain the watermark. This is acceptable in the cases that these photos would be difficult to obtain by other means.

This is important for the those being approached to understand the conditions for using the photos to maintain transparency during the process. This might include providing a list of images used or a final copy of the product that features the images.

Being Supplied with Materials from an Anonymous Source

In some occasions, ACLED documents events and gathers information from anonymous sources. Due to security concerns or for other person reasons, ACLED upholds this understanding that an anonymous source should never be revealed, however, it’s fundamental that the highest judgement is applied and trust is established between ACLED employees and anonymous sources before accepting information or digital assets from them. This also applies when anonymous source provide photos or videos of events recorded in ACLED’s database. This is not a common occurrence, however, if there are materials that are relevant to a piece and can support the data and analysis in a way that does not incriminate or infringe on any of the good practices provided below, then materials could be incorporated into a report. A considerable amount of jduegment should be applied, and the Head of External Affairs should be part of this process. 

Good Practices

Please review the following good practices before sourcing and using images and videos: 

• No manipulated or AI-generated for editorial pieces

• AI-generated images of data visualizations for creative purposes can be used, but should never be used when showing real-life in AI

• Stock imagery and videos should be used sparingly and not in cases of editorial projects

• Content must not stereotype individuals or groups. Respecting subjects' privacy and dignity is crucial.

• Images and videos should accurately be associated with the content they’re depicting.

• Visual content should not put anyone in danger or criminalize individuals or groups in any way. 

• Images and videos should not depict people in an exploitative way.

  • Keep in mind these considerations from The Canadian Photojournalism Foundation:

    • Avoiding intrusion of privacy

    • Stay away from graphic or shocking images

    • Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects

    • Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy

    • While photographing subjects, do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events

    • Respect the integrity of the photographic moment

• Avoid imagery that has a clear single subject if they are not also the direct subject of the report or have not given consent to the photojournalist to be named and specifically associated in the context being photographed.

• Creative content should not be misleading or manufacture a narrative that does not factually describe the scenario.

• Images that have another entity’s digital watermark should not be used unless the provider of the images requires this under their conditions of use. 

  • For example, an association documenting the destruction of a country’s heritage allows ACLED staff to download images from their website and those images include a watermark. A caption stating permission was given would likely be required.

• Always read through the terms and conditions of the digital library or the attribution information for the photo/video. If in doubt, please refer to different license types.

• Copyright Infringement: Using others' works without permission is unethical. Always ask for permission and give credit where it's due.

Captions and Photo Credits

Captions should adhere to the Associated Press style formula and should always include attribution to the photographer. The AP instructs the following:

“The first sentence of nearly all AP captions follows a simple formula: 

• Describe in the present tense who is pictured and what is going on within the photo. 

• Name the city and state (or country, if it was made outside the United States) where the image was made. For U.S. states, use the abbreviations in the "state names" section of the Stylebook. 

• Provide the date the photo was made, including the day of the week if the photo was made within the past two weeks, and preceded by a comma. (e.g., Tuesday, 27 January 2015). Note that this formatting follows the ACLED writing style guide. 

These three elements are mandatory and no caption is complete without all of them. Names should be listed in order, left to right, unless it is impossible for the caption to read normally otherwise. With multiple people identified within the caption, enough representations to placement are necessary so there is no confusion as to each subject's identity.

The second sentence of the caption is used to give context to the news event or describe why the photo is significant. While a second sentence can be illuminating, it also has the potential to create problems and is often where errors can be found. A photo caption's second sentence should be carefully crafted to include information from the text wire story when appropriate or additional relevant observations from the photographer on scene. 

There are some instances when a second sentence is not needed. Many sports photos taken during a game or match, for example, do not require a second sentence; nor do photos from some ongoing news events. Most captions should be no more than two concise sentences, while including the relevant information. Try to anticipate what information the reader will need.”

Best practices for editing captions that relate to ACLED events and are included in ACLED outputs

• Captions should be written in the present tense to describe what is happening in the photo or video. 

• Ensure language in the caption being edited is free of bias and assumptions that the photojournalist may have included. This is to ensure ACLED remains objective and does not inadvertently convey a message that undermines the data and analysis.

• Photos and videos should be linked directly to the text they’re associated with. Consider removing any unnecessary information that detracts from the narrative in the text.

• Alternatively, if the caption includes additional context that does not risk undermining or contradicting the data and analysis, consider leaving that information in the caption.

• Keep the captions as concise as possible.

• If relevant information, like the exact location of the subject of the photo, is missing, it should be identified and corroborated with other photos depicting the same subject. This should be verified and cross-checked from reliable sources.

• The date included in the caption should maintain the form outlined in the Writing Style Guide: day-month-year, and should typically be included in a sentence instead of listed on its own.

  • It is ideal if the data is included in the caption, but if that information is not available, and digital assets are scarce, the caption may be included without the date.

• If a person is identified in the photo, in most cases, their name can be removed, and “a person” or “people” can be used in place of their name. The gender of a person should not be assumed, so it’s best to avoid pronouns. 

• However, if a person is well-known, for example, a head of state or renowned figurehead, then that person’s name should be included, along with their official title or description of their notoriety. 

  • It is important to verify a government official on the official government website to ensure that the most accurate and up-to-date information is included. 

• If the photo is an award-winning photo taken from a reputable source of journalistic material such as Getty Images or governmental sources that are in the public domain image resources, a person’s name can remain with the understanding that the journalist carried out the due diligence in obtaining permission from the subject of the photo. 

  • The award the photo has won can also be included to present the high-level quality digital assets we re-publish. 

• Getty Images often capitalizes the photographer’s name. This should be changed to be in Title Case, and if possible, it might be necessary to search online to check the correct spelling and formatting of the person’s name. 

Best Practices for formatting photo credits within the captions

• Photo credits should be listed at the end of the caption and not have a period after them. 

• The editorial or stock provider should be formatted according to their branding, for example, AFP would be in all-caps, and Getty Images would be in Title Case. There should be a forward slash separating the person’s name/and the source. 

• At times, some photos and videos will be provided by partners, and therefore, two sources are listed. This is how these situations should be handled: AFP via Getty Images. 

Examples of how to format photo and video credits depending on the source of the photo. At this time (2024/2025), the first one will be the most frequently used. 

• XXX XXX/Source 

  • [If sourced from the internet/stock image collection]

  • *This will make up the majority of photo credits until the Submission Guide is fully developed

• XXX XXX/Collection via Source 

  • [If sourced from the internet/stock image collection]

• XXX XXX for ACLED  [If ACLED  hired photographer] 

• XXX XXX/ACLED  [If ACLED  employee] 

Getty Attribution Guidelines

Photos: It is not necessary to include a photo credit for commercial use, but content for editorial purposes must consist of a credit adjacent to the content or in production credits. The credit should be in the following form or as otherwise stipulated in the caption information accompanying the content on the Getty Images website: "[Photographer Name]/[Collection Name] via Getty Images"

Videos: If licensed content is used in an audio/visual production where credits are accorded to other providers of licensed material, credit must be included in comparable size and placement. The credit should be in the following form or as otherwise stipulated in the caption information accompanying the content on the Getty Images website: "[Video] [Imagery] supplied by [Artist Name]/[Collection Name] via Getty Images"

Example of an original caption rewritten for an ACLED output

Original:

Armenians fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh sit in a long traffic jam of vehicles along the Lachin corridor on September 28, 2023. Azerbaijan on September 28, 2023 said it wanted ethnic Armenians to remain in Nagorno-Karabakh after its lightning offensive crushed the rebel region's independence bid. (Photo by Siranush ADAMYAN / AFP) (Photo by SIRANUSH ADAMYAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Edited:

Armenians fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh on 28 September 2023 sit in a long traffic jam along the Lachin corridor. Photo: Siranush Adamyan/AFP via Getty Images

Data-inspired illustrations that are not cartoonish or gimmicky and imagery created from ACLED dashboards

Infrastructure with conflict-related damage

Infrastructure with sunset/orange/red backgrounds

Split buildings or gaps in buildings

Infrastructure, landscapes, or visual elements that mimic graphs/charts

Silhouettes of people/things/cityscapes (against dramatic backdrop or foreground)

Obscuring people's identities

Plumes of smoke from attacks

Aerial shots

Law enforcement/Armed forces / Armed groups

Government buildings; include buildings of regional bodies, such as the African Union, European Commission, Arab League, etc.

Demonstration events; images that identify the group by banners, flags, signage, or other objects.

Flags and emblems

*Please ensure that the correct flag or emblem is represented for the group and avoid associating flags with negative or appropriated connotations