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.

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The Creation DateTime field is the date the object was originally made.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Where the object was originally made.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Lists the three-letter country code where the object was originally made.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Lists the state where the photo/graphic was originally made.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