What are captions?
What is the difference between open and closed captions?
How can I view closed captions?
Who benefits from captioned programming?
How can I use captions as a literacy tool in the classroom?
What programs air with captions on NJN?
How can I find movies and videos available with captions?
Where can I learn more about captioning in the United States?
Where can I discuss captioning with other users of this service?
Where can I learn more about NJN captioning?

What are captions?

Captions are a lot like subtitles. They reflect the spoken word in a text format. Captions also describe special sound effects and important musical elements in a program.

Open and closed captions have the same structure. The difference is in how they are viewed. Open captions are a part of the video of a program and are always visible. Closed captions are "hidden" in the video signal and can only be viewed through a special decoder.

In 1990, the Federal Communications Commission passed the Television Decoder Circuitry Act, which requires that as of July 1, 1993, all televisions manufactured in the United States or for sale in the United States that have a picture of 13 inches or larger must have a closed caption decoder built into the set. To view the captions, all you have to do is turn on the decoder by following these simple steps:

1. Access your TV menu screen using your remote or by pressing a button on the face of the TV.
2. Select the closed captions heading. Several different caption options may appear.
3. Select the "CC1" option.
4. Exit the menu.

Closed captions should appear within approximately one minute of adjusting this setting. If they do not, review this portion of your television's operating manual or contact the manufacturer of the television set.

Captioning was first introduced as a service for deaf and hard of hearing people, which is equal to about 10% of the general population. Research has shown that many more people, (up to 25% of the general population) can benefit from captioning as well. The National Parent Teachers Association, the National Education Association, and ACT for Children's Television have all endorsed captioning as a tool to increase literacy. Studies have shown that viewing captioned programming increases reading speed, language proficiency and self-confidence among both children and adults learning to read, as well as students of all ages learning English as a second language.

• Always turn on the captioning when watching films and videos that offer this service and encourage students to do this at home.
• Begin showing an interesting program with the captions displayed. Halfway through the show, turn off the sound. The students will have to read in order to learn how the story ends.
• As a homework or extra-credit assignment, ask the students to watch a popular television program with the captions on. Have them record any discrepancies they notice between the spoken word and what's written in the captions.

NJN provides closed captioning for our nightly NJN News, five of our local weekly programs-- State of the Arts, Due Process, Another View, Images/Imagenes and New Jersey Works -- and all of our local specials and documentaries. All national programs offered in prime time (8 - 11 p.m.) and most children's programs are also aired with captions. For more information about specific programming, please refer to our listings guide. Shows that have captioning available are marked with the symbol "(CC)".

Try these links:

• Captioned Media Program - Provides free-loan open captioned media, supported by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of the Deaf. Includes movies, documentaries, educational materials, and more!
• InSight Cinema - Arranges open-captioned screenings of films in theatres around the country.
• The National Captioning Institute - Provides a listing of captioned home videos.

Try these links:

• The Closed Captioning Web
• The Caption FAQ
• Federal Communications Commission
• The Caption Center

The captioning discussion list is the place to discuss open and closed captioning and subtitling. This was formed with a special focus on advocacy for more captioning on television, home video, and DVDs. To subscribe go to groups.yahoo.com/group/Captioning

For more information about NJN's captioning initiative or services, please contact Nichol Gee via e-mail at ngee@njn.org, or by calling (609) 984-9449. TTY users should direct their calls to (609) 292-5000.