When I encounter photojournalism images like ones posted by news outlets or images on social media that show current events, I often find myself wondering what is happening in different images. Things like crowds, less than ideal lighting conditions, and vague captions can make it challenging for me to know what I am looking at, and I really appreciate it when someone posts alt text or image descriptions for context and clarity so that I can know what is happening, and also stay in the loop. Here are my tips for how to write alt text and image descriptions for photojournalism images that show current events in the context of social media.
WHAT IS ALT TEXT? WHAT IS AN IMAGE DESCRIPTION?
Alternative text (alt text) and image descriptions are text-based descriptions of visual details in an image written primarily for people who are visually impaired (inclusive of blind, low vision, and neurological visual impairment). If an image fails to load on a website, alt text will be displayed in its place, and alt text is also used for search engine optimization and image search tools.
Image descriptions are similar to alt text descriptions that are used by screen readers to recognize images, though there are a few key differences between alt text and image descriptions:
LOCATION
Alt text is typically attached to an image metadata or added in the “alt text” box on social media. Image descriptions may be in the image caption, in a text post, or shared in a text link for extended descriptions.
VISIBILITY
Alt text is usually only visible to screen readers, which read the alt text out loud or display it on a braille display. Image descriptions are “exposed” and can be read by anyone. Saving an image does not save its alt text, and neither does copy/pasting an image into a document.
BlueSky, X, and Mastodon are examples of social media platforms that allow users to read alt text whether they have a screen reader or not by selecting the ALT button on an image or gif that has alt text included. If a user has a specific word/phrase muted on BlueSky and this phrase appears as alt text in an image, then the content will be hidden from the user’s feed as part of default content moderation settings.
LENGTH OF TEXT
A picture is worth a thousand words, but there may only be room for a thousand characters! Alt text is typically limited to 100-250 characters, though most best practice guides recommend keeping alt text to around 125 characters. Image descriptions can be the same length or even longer, since they are included in the photo caption, in a text post, or text link.
For social media platforms that have larger character limits for alt text, many users will write longer image descriptions in the alt text field, and reprint the same descriptions in the caption of the post. However, this is not completely necessary for platforms that offer exposed alt text that can be viewed without a screen reader.
LEVEL OF DETAIL
Image descriptions tend to go more in-depth about visual details than alt text due to the larger character limit. For example, alt text might tell a user there is a puddle on the floor, but an image description might go into further detail and say there is a puddle of orange juice on a white tiled kitchen floor, with light reflecting from the surface.
It’s worth noting that some people will use the same text for both alt text and image descriptions, which is an accepted practice. However, I prefer to include more detailed descriptions as exposed image descriptions so everyone can read them whether they have a screen reader enabled or not.
SHOULD I USE BOTH ALT TEXT AND IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS?
I recommend using both alt text and image descriptions when possible, since image descriptions can also be read in large print or by people who aren’t using screen readers. Some people use the same text for both, while others prefer to write more detail in exposed image descriptions and treat them like image captions. Another strategy to share lengthy image descriptions on social media is to write a basic description of the image as alt text and then link an extended image description to read on another page.
When sharing exposed descriptions, I recommend using the label “ID:” or “Image Description:” in front of the text so that it is easier to locate. Some creators choose to enclose the description in parenthesis or brackets, which is also helpful for separating the description from the rest of the caption. Using the label “Alt text:” in a caption is also acceptable and conveys the same message, but the term image description is more appropriate.
Related links
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
- Options For Writing Extended Image Descriptions On Social Media
- How To Make Accessible ASCII Art and Emoji Memes
- How To Write Alt Text For Amateur Art
How to share alt text and image descriptions on other posts
Understandably, people who are posting photojournalism images or primary source images in real time are likely under a lot of stress/pressure, so unless it is a news outlet I don’t recommend reminding someone that they forgot alt text since they are likely not in a position to do so (and most platforms don’t let users go back and edit alt text anyway). In those situations, it can be helpful for other users to make images accessible to audiences who are visually impaired by using the following strategies:
- Quote a post or reply or a post with an image description
- Add a comment to the post with a link to an image description, or write the description in the comments if space allows
- Repost the image while quoting the original post and add alt text. I recommend reaching out to the original poster for permission before reposting an image when possible, and avoid doing this for users that have a private profile.
- Reposting images with added alt text and credit is okay for images originally posted by a news outlet or similar verified account, since those are likely designed to be shared.
Related links
- Options For Writing Extended Image Descriptions On Social Media
- Tips For Censoring Text With Accessibility In Mind
- Zine Accessibility and Low Vision
- How To Add Alt Text On Social Media
What to include when writing alt text and/or image descriptions for photojournalism images
When it comes to learning how to write alt text and image descriptions for primary source images or photojournalism images, I find it helpful to use an informal “checklist” of helpful information to describe, which focus on elements of the image that are essential to understanding what is happening and that would be likely to come up when talking about it in conversation or on a news story. While not all of these details may apply to an individual image or be shared in this exact order, here are examples of elements to include:
TIME AND LOCATION WHERE THE Photo was taken, IF KNOWN
In the context of photo journalism and primary source content, the time, date, and approximate location of where an image was taken can be essential to understanding what is happening. If the exact location is not disclosed in the post caption or other tags and is not easily recognizable (e.g. outside the White House or a place where street signs are visible), the describer should not try to guess where the person is and instead focus on what information is known, such as if they are on a city street or in a more rural or suburban area. As for time, knowing if an image was taken during the day or at night can also be significant for understanding context.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURROUNDING AREA
Is it raining? Are there lots of police cars surrounding a street? It can be helpful to share names of landmarks, descriptions of buildings, and if areas are especially crowded or deserted. While things like a stop sign in the background may not have any significance or contribute to understanding what is happening, it would be important to include information about damage to the surrounding area, if the stop sign has graffiti on it, or if it was on fire or otherwise deviating from its standard appearance or purpose. Alternatively, I might expect to see a stop sign on the street, but I would want to know if there was a stop sign being held by someone or if it was inside a building.
There’s also no need to describe what common objects look like, as many people will have a visual model for what a traffic cone is or what graffiti writing looks like. However, the goal of the description isn’t to explain what these items are, but rather why they are significant in a given context.
DESCRIPTIONS OF PEOPLE WITHIN VIEW OF THE CAMERA
Who is visible within view of the camera? What do they look like? Depending on the context of the image being shared, visual descriptions can include the type of clothing being worn, the race/ethnicity of subjects, their gender, age, or similar information. The level of detail that is appropriate will vary depending on the context in which the content is being shared. It can also help to know how large crowds are, though exact precise values may not be necessary unless they represent something— for example, knowing there are exactly 403 people in a line may not be relevant to communicating that there is a large crowd, unless the number 403 is significant to the event.
If a person identifies themselves by name on a profile or in their own caption, it is okay to include the subject’s name when writing a description, or to identify them by their username (e.g. “Twitter user @veron4ica standing on the street”). However, if the describer recognizes someone in the image who has not identified themselves or disclosed their identity (like a friend or family member), they should not add their name to the alt text or image description if this could compromise their safety.
ITEMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Are people holding signs that have text or images on them? What do they say? If it is significant to the image, other details such as clothing and other items can be acknowledged, such as the use of shields or other protective gear. Symbolic items or scenes should also be mentioned if they provide context, such as the ground being covered in broken glass or having something on fire in the background. Text should be written verbatim if it is relevant to the image.
BODY LANGUAGE AND MOVEMENT
Emotions, movement, facial expressions, and other body language can communicate a lot about what is going on in an image, and are often significant to understanding what is happening, especially in images with multiple people who are interacting with each other. A good example of how to figure out what should be described is to think about how this image would be described in a conversation— what would the conversation partner need to know about what the image looks like in order to form an opinion of it?
DIRECT LANGUAGE, NO EUPHEMISMS
Alt text and image descriptions are not meant for someone to communicate their own opinions or tell the audience what they should think or how they should respond— the goal is to present this information so the audience can come to their own conclusion. This can be more difficult if the narrator uses euphemisms or decides to censor language, which can make it harder for the audience to know what is going on or take what is happening seriously. Alternatively, using language that is vulgar or explicit when it is not otherwise included in the image can also be confusing, as the audience will then wonder what part of the image description is about the image and what part is about the describer’s opinions.
Avoid emoji and excess punctuation
Emoji and excess punctuation can distort the reading experience for alt text and image descriptions, as they may be read out loud individually or not render correctly depending on the platform. If an emoji is specifically included in an image, some ways it can be written include:
- Red heart
- Red heart emoji
- 5 red heart emoji
- Five red hearts
If excessive punctuation is included as part of a sign or environmental text, the best way to write it will depend on the context of the image. Some potential options include:
- Including just one exclamation point!
- Mentioning the word “image” has 25 exclamation points after it!
- Sharing that a large sign is filled with exclamation points
Related links
- How To Write Image Descriptions For Buildings and Architecture
- How To Describe Dance Choreography Videos For Visually Impaired
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
- How To Make Accessible ASCII Art and Emoji Memes
- Tips For Censoring Text With Accessibility In Mind
More resources for writing alt text and image descriptions for photojournalism images
- I gave a talk at Protest Access-a-Thon about creating accessible images for current events- a recording and transcript can be found at Writing Media Descriptions For Current Events: My Talk At Protest Access-A-Thon
- I wrote these guidelines with current events in mind, but there are options for making historical images more accessible as well. I share more in How I Access Historical Documents With Low Vision
- Need tips for creating accessible videos for visually impaired audiences? A lot of my tips from this post overlap with my post on video descriptions, but I share several options in How To Describe Primary Source Videos For Visually Impaired Audiences. I also share examples of accessible news sources in Accessing The News With Assistive Technology
Published May 31, 2020. Updated November 2024