Yearbook Captions
Story Captions vs. Developed Yearbook Copy

The discussion concerning story captions vs. regular yearbook copy was fascinating to me. Those who know me know I am a copy nut, so I have to agree with what Kaz, Judy, Wayne and others wrote. However, those individuals also think there is a place for story captions as I do. Nevertheless, I think it is impossible to tell the complete story of a year in captions and photos alone. Good copy will be read. I'm elated that books today are working in more pictures, but the captions for most of those pictures are just names.

Names alone do not tell the story of what is happening. Three years ago I co-wrote a text which emphasizes the importance of yearbook copy. I am not writing this to publicize that text, but I would like to quote from the introduction. I talked about how copy writers for yearbooks should use fiction writers' techniques as they write facts. That's why the text was written in a fictional style.

"Fiction writers write about people. They make the reader think and care about those people. Fiction writers go into people's homes, into their classrooms, and into the places where they hang out. They tell about people's fears, their wants, and their needs. They pay attention to their opening words and their closing words. They usually know the ending of the story before they begin. They use dialogue that makes their characters come alive, just as good-in-depth quotes in yearbooks made students at a school come alive. Fiction writers reveal the personalities of the people they are writing about. Yearbook copy writers need to do the same with the students and faculty they are writing about. Fiction writers look for the unusual to make their piece of fiction different from all other fictional works. Yearbook copy writers need to do the same. Fiction writing requires the writer to research the topic. Good yearbook copy writers must also do the backgrounding necessary, including interviewing, to present an interesting s story."

If yearbook writers will use fiction writing techniques, their copy will be read. As Kaz said, "If people put as much effort into their words — their complete stories — as they do the designs and pictures, students WILL read them!"

Good school yearbooks should be as strong a journalistic product as a good school newspaper. I'm yet to see a newspaper using nothing but story captions. It's a lot easier to write a story caption than it is to write a "good" complete story. Somehow, however, I think we are not writing a complete history book if we rely on story captions alone. If I were still advising, I would hope my students would realize the importance of both.

—H. L. Hall
First Yearbook Adviser of the Year
June 17, 2002