Images, media & accessibility
LEX is an online magazine, so how your contribution looks, sounds and works on screen matters.
You don’t need to be a professional photographer, filmmaker or designer. Send us the best material you have and we’ll help where we reasonably can.
What to send us
| Content | Preferred format | What to provide |
|---|---|---|
| Written contribution | Web form or DOCX, ODT, RTF | Editable text developed for LEX. Upload images/media separately. |
| Photographs | JPEG/JPG | Best-quality original available + caption and credit. |
| Illustrations / artwork | JPEG/JPG, PNG | High-quality digital file, photograph or scan + title/credit/context. |
| Maps / graphics / diagrams | PNG, JPEG/JPG | High-quality export + source/credit and explanation where needed. |
| Photo essays / image series | JPEG/JPG, PNG | Usually 6–12 ordered images + introduction, captions and credits. |
| Audio / podcasts | MP3 or agreed hosted link | Recording + title, introduction, credits and transcript where possible. |
| Video / film / animation | YouTube or Vimeo URL preferred | Hosted video + title, introduction, credits, still/thumbnail and captions/transcript. |
| Performance / dance / installation | Images, hosted video/audio as appropriate | Digital documentation + title, context and creator/performer credits. |
| Transcripts | DOCX, ODT, RTF preferred | Transcript accompanying audio/video where possible. |
| Background material | PDF, DOCX, ODT, PPTX | Reports, papers or presentations supplied for context only — not as the LEX contribution itself. |
| Other / interactive / digital work | Link or agreed format | Talk to us about the best way to present it. |
Where available, please retain the original high-quality files used to create your contribution, particularly for film, audio and creative work. Online versions and hosted links are useful for publication but may not be suitable for long-term preservation. We may discuss obtaining original files separately where appropriate.
Original files and preservation
Where possible, retain your original high-quality files, particularly for photography, film, audio and creative work. Files and hosted links prepared for online publication may not be suitable for long-term preservation.
For guidance on preserving research and creative outputs beyond LEX, see [Preserving and Sharing Your Research →].
Something different? These formats are a guide, not a limit. If your contribution uses another file type, platform or creative form, talk to us before converting it.
Images
Lead image
Where appropriate, provide a strong lead image. It may represent your contribution on the article page, browse/search pages, newsletters and LRG communications.
Choose something clear, engaging and relevant. Landscape-format images usually give us the most flexibility, and important details or text should not sit too close to the edges.
Image quality
Provide the best-quality original available, rather than an image copied from a website, presentation or social-media post.
Don’t artificially enlarge small images. For maps, diagrams or graphics, make sure important text remains legible on smaller screens.
We may resize, crop, compress or reformat images for different devices and layouts, where appropriate and without compromising the integrity of creative work.
Captions, credits and permissions
Where appropriate, provide:
Caption — what does the audience need to know?
Credit — who created the work?
Copyright/licence — who owns it and are there conditions attached to its use?
If you didn’t create the material yourself, make sure you have the right to allow LRG to publish it.
Photo essays and image series
Image-led contributions will usually contain around 6–12 images, supported by a short introduction and captions or accompanying text.
Consider how the images work individually and together, and identify your preferred lead image.
Artwork, performance and creative practice
LEX welcomes painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, performance, dance and other creative practice.
For physical, spatial or performed work, provide appropriate photographs, video, audio or other digital documentation, together with enough context for audiences to engage with it.
Include titles, dates and creator/performer credits where relevant. If other people appear in or contribute to the work, make sure appropriate permissions and consent have been obtained.
Not sure how best to present something online? Talk to us.
Accessibility
We want as many people as possible to engage with LEX.
Images
For important images, briefly tell us what someone needs to understand from them. We can use this to create or refine alternative text.
For maps, charts and diagrams, explain the important information rather than simply describing their appearance. Don’t rely on colour alone to communicate meaning.
Audio
Provide a transcript where possible.
If creating one would be a barrier to submitting, talk to us.
Video
Provide accurate captions or a transcript where possible, rather than relying solely on automatically generated subtitles.
People and consent
Take particular care with photographs, recordings, performances or video in which people can be identified.
You are responsible for appropriate permissions and consent, particularly where material involves children or vulnerable people, private or sensitive situations, communities, Indigenous or traditional knowledge, culturally sensitive material, performers or collaborators.
See the LEX Publication Terms → for the full requirements.
Help us make your contribution discoverable
Where relevant, please provide:
a strong lead image · a clear title · a short standfirst · relevant information about place and subject
These help us present and categorise contributions across LEX browse, search and filtered collections.
We’ll work with you where necessary — you don’t need to become your own web editor.