Metadata definitions
This list of IPTC metadata categories includes Associated Press and US Government definitions. Some may be relevant to our work in categorizing our images. Those in italic are less relevant.
Byline
Lists the name of the person who made the photo/graphic.
Byline Title
Lists the title of the person who made the photo/graphic.
- STF: By staff photographers.
- FRL: By freelance photographers.
- MBR: Picked up from members.
- MAG: Provided by magazines..
- SUB: Picked up from foreign subscribers.
- TEL: Framegrabs from television.
- POOL: Made by pool photographers.
- HO: Handout photographs.
- STR: Made by stringer photographers.
Caption
Text that accompanies the photo/graphic that contains the Who, What, When, Where, and Why information.
Caption Writer
Lists the initials of all the people who wrote or edited the caption, header fields, or image file. This includes toning and pixel editing.
Category
The Category field lists codes that aid in a more detailed search.
- A – News or features
- F – Financial
- I – International
- S – Sports
- V – Advisories
Creation Date Time
The Creation DateTime field is the date the object was originally made.
City
Where the object was originally made. Do not use the transmission points city.
Country
Lists the three-letter country code where the object was originally made.
Credit
The name of the service transmitting the object.
Headline
Lists keywords to aid in a more detailed search for an object.
Instructions
Lists special notations that apply uniquely to an object, such as Correction, Advance, or Outs.
Object Name
Lists the story slug associated with an object.
Source
Lists who is the original provider of a photo/graphic, such as AP, an AP member, pool photo provider, or handout photo provider.
State
Lists the state where the photo/graphic was originally made. Use U.S. postal code abbreviations. For file photos, do not use the transmission points state. See the state abbreviations list.
- AL – Alabama
- AK – Alaska
- AZ – Arizona
- AR – Arkansas
- CA – California
- CO – Colorado
- CT – Connecticut
- DE – Delaware
- DC – District of Columbia
- FL – Florida
- GA – Georgia
- HI – Hawaii
- ID – Idaho
- IL – Illinois
- IN – Indiana
- IA – Iowa
- KS – Kansas
- KY – Kentucky
- LA – Louisiana
- ME – Maine
- MD – Maryland
- MA – Massachusetts
- MI – Michigan
- MN – Minnesota
- MS – Mississippi
- MO – Missouri
- MT – Montana
- NE – Nebraska
- NV – Nevada
- NH – New Hampshire
- NJ – New Jersey
- NM – New Mexico
- NY – New York
- NC – North Carolina
- ND – North Dakota
- OH – Ohio
- OK – Oklahoma
- OR – Oregon
- PA – Pennsylvania
- RI – Rhode Island
- SC – South Carolina
- SD – South Dakota
- TN – Tennessee
- TX – Texas
- UT – Utah
- VT – Vermont
- VA – Virginia
- WA – Washington
- WV – West Virginia
- WI – Wisconsin
- WY – Wyoming
Supplemental Categories
The Supplemental Categories field lists codes that aid in a more detailed search for an object.
General
- ADV – Advance
- APN – APNewsFeatures
- ENT – Entertainment
- FEA – Non-news feature pictures
- MAP – Map or graphic
- WEA- Weather
- OBIT – Obituary
- FILE – File photo
- HFR – Hold for release (embargoed photos for same-day release)
- NAT – National Geographic weekly package
- SPF – Special Features weekly package
- SPCL – Specials
- PM – PM cycle
News Events
- CVN – National Political Conventions
- ELN – Election Campaigns
- XGR – State Legislatures
Sports
- BBA – Pro baseball (American league)
- BBN – Pro baseball (National league)
- BBO – Pro baseball (minor/no league)
- BBC – College baseball
- BKN – NBA basketball
- BKC – Men’s college basketball
- BKW – Women’s college basketball
- BKO – Other basketball – school/semi-pro
- BOX – Boxing RUN Track and Field
- CAR – Racing (car, boat, or bike)
- FBC – College football
- FBN – NFL Football
- FBO – Other football – school/semi-pro
- GLF – Golf
- GYM – Gymnastics
- HKC – College hockey
- HKN – NHL hockey
- HKO – Other hockey – school/minor league
- OLY – Olympics
- RAC – Racing (animals)
- SKI – Skiing
- SOC – Soccer
- TEN – Tennis
Trans Reference
The Trans Reference field lists a call letter/number combination associated with an object. It includes the originating sources call letters and number of offerings for a given day. Example: NY105.
Urgency
The Urgency field is not used by the Associated Press at this time.
4/3/02 – (JC); adapted from the Associated Press