This week in j2150 we were introduced to audio and were taught how to write good captions. A good caption should answer the 5 W’s: who, what, when, where, and why.
When stating who is in your picture, you must make sure their name is spelt correctly and also explain why this person is significant to your picture. You also must learn to write so you are completely the story not just describing the picture literally. For the when and where of your picture, make sure you are specific. Be sure to name the venue, city and state you are in and use the exact date the picture was taken. Finally, why: explain the significance of your picture and why it is relevant and adds to the story.
The article below is a great resource that has some other great tips for writing great captions and also describes a journalistic method known as the “loop.”
In the loop, the viewer looks at the photo then reads the caption, then after receiving more information about the photo looks back at it again to appreciate it once more. The article also has many other tips and tricks to writing captions.
Lastly…
Have a great weekend!
kblp95 