Picturedesk

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The function in a newspaper or newsagency which accepts photojournalistic images for publication, and agrees or negotiates rates.

Picturedesks generally accept pictures by email, but it is important to confirm with the specific picturedesk that they are happy with this, and to make sure they are watching out for the picture.

When no fee is expected, for example for a PR image, it is also common practice to email a journalist who has requested the image.

Most newsdesks look for images which are 8 MB (not MP) JPEG compressed to around 420 KB in RGB format, sRGB colour space, without final sharpening applied, and with no manipulations applied, or any corrections beyond colour correction and dust and scratch removal.

Unless a journalist is supplying the caption, and this has been specifically agreed beforehand, newsdesks will generally only be interested in pictures which are properly captioned. Although there is an IPTC standard for captions, many picturedesks ignore it, so it is safest to include the caption with the email. In some cases, it is best to include the caption on an additional line at the bottom of the picture. However, newspapers have been known to print this bottom line by accident.