Caption Writing:Help the old lady remember

By Jeanne Acton

Why are captions important?

• In 5 years, you won’t remember the homecoming queen (unless it was you).

• In 10 years, you won’t remember the name of the quarterback or who sat next to you in algebra.

• In 15 years, you will forget that high school was fun, hard work, an adventure. You will forget, trust me.

Why are captions important?

• In 20 years, you will go to your high school reunion. Before you attend, you will pull out your high school yearbook. And if you are lucky, you will READ it. You will remember everything all over again. If not, you will spend the entire night trying to figure out who the person sitting next to you is.

What should a caption do?

• Should tell more than the obvious.

A softball player slides into home.

Tell the reader something they can’t figure out from looking at the picture.

Cary Jones scores the winning run during the State Championship game against Smith High School.

Avoid starting with a name.

During the ninth inning, senior Cary Jones scores the winning run in the State Championship game against Smith High School.

Write more than one sentence. Second sentence should be past tense.

During the ninth inning, senior Cary Jones scores the winning run in the State Championship game against Smith High School. The varsity girls won the game 1-0 to bring home the first state trophy in the school’s history.

Add a quote. A good quote.

During the ninth inning, Cary Jones scores the winning run in the State Softball Championship game against Smith High School. The varsity girls won the game 1-0 to bring home the first state trophy in the school’s history. “After I was called safe, the entire team rushed me,” Jones said. “Smith had beat us by four points earlier in the season, and everyone thought they would win.”

How do you get a good caption?

• Identify the people in the photo. Fully. Name, grade, title, etc.

• Research. What is the event or occasion? Who is in the picture? Where and when? Why is this moment important?

• Interview (talk to the people in the photo). Verify.

• Watch for accuracy• Write. Revise. Write.

Too many of this…

Nick Jones, a band member receives an award from UIL.

Let’s do this instead …

After the band won first at the 5A marching contest, UIL Music Director Dick Floyd congratulates drum major Greg Abbott. In December Abbott was involved in a serious car accident, and doctors told him he would never be able to walk in time for the performance. “When the doctors told me never, I said, ‘Just watch me,’” Abbott said.

Tips for captions…

• Avoid “this year.”• Avoid the name of your school in every

caption.• Avoid passive voice and weak verbs.• Don’t underestimated the importance of

captions.• Don’t wait until five months after the event to

write the caption.

Tips for captions…

• Don’t editorialize.• Write in third person.

Let’s look at a few good ones…

• While blood flows out of her arm and into a small plastic bag, senior Christine Lerma reads a pamphlet about donating blood. At the National Honor Society blood drive, the seniors collected more than 60 pints of blood. “I almost fainted when I saw the needle, but I have a rare blood type so I know how important it is to give,” Lerma said.

Let’s look at a few good ones…

• During the homecoming football game, senior Ted Stevens manages the Jumbotron from the video control booth. Instant replays were popular with fans and players. “I prefer working behind the scenes rather than on a stage,” Stevens said. “I like to run the show from above.”

Let’s look at a few good ones…

• After losing power to his headset, junior powderpuff football coach Treavor Stagner uses his cell phone to communicate with the offensive coach in the press box. The juniors upset the seniors for the 21-7 win for the first time in six years. “Everyone thinks powderpuff is just fun and games, but these girls take the event very seriously,” Stagner said. “And so did the coaches.”