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How to write text descriptions (alt text) in BBC News articles

This guidance is for staff who use digital images when creating content for BBC News.

A small image with a BBC logo and About text descriptions is on top of a dark ambient background

About text descriptions

An introduction on text descriptions, their benefits, and principles.

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Decorative images

How to write text descriptions for images that are only included for aesthetic reasons.

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A small image with a BBC logo and informative images is on top of a dark ambient background

Informative images

How to write text descriptions for images that communicate information, convey a mood, or add to the user experience.

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Functional images

How to write text descriptions for images of interactive elements, like links or buttons.

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Images of text

How to write text descriptions when text is burned into the image and can’t be read by screen readers or braille displays.

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Complex images

How to write text descriptions for graphs, charts, maps or infographics that convey detailed factual information.

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Describing people

How to write text descriptions for images that include people.

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Captions vs text descriptions

How to differentiate the two descriptions of an image.

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A final checklist

A summary of points to keep in mind.

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