How to use the credit line and why

 The line that acknowledges the source of a news report, photograph, chart, mao or graphics is called the credit line.

A news report may be credited to PTI (Press Trust of India), AP (Associated Press) or ANI depending on which news service has moved the story.

The moment you see the credit line you know the source of the news report. The newspapers too are able to differentiate between news reports filed by their reporters and agency reporters.

Besides giving credit to the rightful source, the credit line also gives newspapers a fig leaf in case a question is raised about the veracity of the report. The newspapers can always attribute the blame to the wire service that fed the report. This way, the credibility of the newspapers stays intact.

 Credit line styles

Different newspapers follow different styles while assigning credit to news agencies. The most common ways are:

Style 1
The name of the agency can be inserted just before the text taken from the news agency or wire service. For instance, if the last two paragraphs in a Staff Reporter’s copy are from a news report moved by UNI, then you should indicate this by saying:

UNI adds:

Style 2
Brackets can be used to separate text that is inserted in the middle of a running copy. Also, the inserted text must carry proper credit line as shown in this story:

By a Staff Reporter
MEERUT, January 11: Five persons were burnt alive and another 33 suffered serious burn wounds when a fire broke out in the city’s Global Mall on Wednesday evening.

(According to PTI, the number of those killed in the fire stands at 11.)

The fire, which broke out on the first floor, destroyed three electronics good stores and one apparel store.

Style 3
When copy from two agencies is clubbed without clear demarcation then the credit line must state the name of the agencies at the top. You can either credit the story to:

Agencies
or identify the agencies
PTI, ANI

Style 4
In case of a photograph or graphic the credit line must be stated clearly at the end of the caption or beneath the graphic.