1. Cadet Correspondent EO 102
Cadet Correspondent EO Captioning Imagery and Creating a Hometowner

2. Captioning Imagery for the CCO Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
Module Outline
Captioning Imagery for the CCO
Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
Approval Process
Practical Exercise
Just an outline of what is to be covered.

3. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
5Ws
Photo Credit
Active Voice
First topic: Captioning Images – we will look at these three things.

4. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
5Ws: W?
The ‘5ws’ are at the heart of journalistic writing. So what are they?
Ask for ideas.

5. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
5Ws:
WHO W?

6. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
5Ws:
WHO
WHAT W?

7. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
5Ws:
WHO
WHAT
WHY W?

8. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
5Ws:
WHO
WHAT
WHY
WHEN W?

9. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
5Ws:
WHO
WHAT
WHY
WHEN
WHERE
The best image captions and the best opening sentences have these features in this order. EG Ethen went for a walk to burn off some energy this evening in the park.
Those 5Ws cover everything. The rest is just details.

10. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
Add a photo credit in italics: Photo by: Rank Name Name
We always want to know who took the photo.
However – often in the newspaper they will write ‘submitted photo’ if it was not taken by a staffer.

11. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
Cadet Bloggins checks the fuel in her plane as part of her pre flight checks yesterday at Victoria Airport. Photo by Capt. Bill Singgolb
Here is an example.

12. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
USE THE ACTIVE VOICE In an active sentence, the subject is doing the action. Eg. The cadet flew the glider.
Captions are always in the active voice (as opposed to the passive voice).

13. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
THE PASSIVE VOICE In passive voice, the target of the action gets promoted to the subject position. Eg. The glider was flown by the cadet.

14. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
ALWAYS USE THE ACTIVE VOICE!!!
It is shorter.
It has more impact.
It is immediate.
Always in captions – the passive voice is more descriptive for prose.

15. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
Active or Passive?
Cpl. Chen tidied the laundry room.
The four gliders were all flown by cadet pilots.
He watched the regatta.
Mt Robson was the last to be climbed by 1234 Corps.
Which sentence is active and which is passive?
Get the cadets to answer. I and 3 are active, 2 and 4 are passive.

16. Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
HOMETOWNERS
Free local advertising!
One of the big reasons we still send out hometowners is that it showcases local cadets to a local audience. It tells the community what those youth that are seen marching in parades do some amazingly cool things …. Like fly planes….learn survival techniques…..sail boats…..learn to parachute …volunteer for the community etc.
It often results in recruitment.

17. Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
Take a compelling photo.
Interview the subject
LISTEN to the answers
Ask secondary questions
Dig for the emotion
Find the strong quote

18. Creating and issuing a Hometowner
Take a compeling photo in the context you will write.
This photo will not work if you are talking about this cadets' trip to the UK.

19. Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
Interview the subject
By asking most questions on this sheet you will get some good material but not enough for a compelling story.
This hometowner sheet is good and gives a lot of information that you realy could use to complete a hometowner. For my taste it is not enough to get a story – it just gathers facts.

20. Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
LISTEN to the answers
Eg; ‘I want to be a fighter pilot like my dad.”
Obviously you are going to ask more….
The answer can be much more simple ‘I got GT but I wanted Band, but I am loving the survival… never thought I would do it.” Then you would ask about band in the home corps/squadron.
Headline ‘Cadet Tuba Player discovers a talent for survival.’

21. Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
Ask secondary questions
‘Your dad was a fighter pilot?’
‘Yes four years in the Snowbirds… so was my grandpa and two uncles!”
Seriously I got this answer once! This is a story for a hometowner that is pure gold it can also be extended to an in depth article so ask lots if questions.

22. Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
EXTRA QUESTIONSI LIKE TO USE:
Why did you join cadets?
Why did you stay?
What is the best part?
What cool things have you done?
What would you say to someone thinking about joining cadets?
These will give great quotes and tease out as good story.

23. Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
Take your time with the interview be prepared to dig a bit.
Try to build up trust and rapport – comment on their hobbies, be friendly.
It is when the subject relaxes that the best information is revealed.
You do not tell personal details to someone unless you trust them and feel comfortable. You may have to put the subject at ease very quickly.

24. Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
The shy cadet
one word answers or shrugs.
Keep it simple:
‘What is the best part of this?’
Sometimes you get an awesome photo but the cadet hardly says a word to you. Give them a short question … you may even have to suggest answers. “is the food the best part… are the sports the best part….. Is the best part making new friends?” etc. Then weave that into the facts from the sheet. It may not be the best hometowner but you may still get published in a small community.

25. Creating and Issuing a Hometowner
Just walk through this step by step explaining that it is a fill in the blanks. The template is on the left the example is on the right.
I would print copies of both and hand them out.

26. You have access to zone UPARS to check your work and give advice.
Approval Process
All Hometowners must be approved by your corps/squadron CO or higher before release.
You have access to zone UPARS to check your work and give advice.
ALWAYS….keep a record of what is sent out and to whom.
Follow up with the media outlet to see that they received it and when they intend to publish.
Explain that NOTHING goes out without approval.
Explain how useful the UPAR can be.

27. Take the image you created from class102.2 Caption it now!
Practical Exercise
Take the image you created from class102.2
Caption it now!
Take a hometowner interview sheet and interview the subject.
Write a hometowner on your subject.
Exercise due in the final class
Explain what they have to do. The caption is due now.
The hometowner is homework due in the final class– give them the date it is due.

28. Captioning Imagery for the CCO
5Ws:
WHO
WHAT
WHY
WHEN
WHERE
Leave this on the screen as they caption the photo.