Welcome to the DCMP Captioning Key!
Captioning is the key to opening up a world of information for persons with hearing loss or literacy needs. There are more than 32 million Americans with some type of hearing loss. Millions of others are illiterate, learning to read, or use English as a second language.
These guidelines are a key for agencies performing captioning for the DCMP. (The DCMP provides information on how to become an approved vendor on our Web site.) The information is applicable to agencies and other businesses that provide closed captioning (CC) and subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH). Thus, these guidelines will also be useful to media producers/distributors and others who are considering captioning their products or learning about captioning. Some background information and rationale are included for the novice.
A Definition of Captioning
Captioning is the process of converting the audio content of a television broadcast, webcast, film, video, CD-ROM, DVD, live event, or other productions into text and displaying the text on a screen or monitor. Captions not only display words as the textual equivalent of spoken dialogue or narration, but they also include speaker identification, sound effects, and music description.
It is important that the captions are (1) synchronized and appear at approximately the same time as the audio is delivered; (2) equivalent and equal in content to that of the audio, including speaker identification and sound effects; and (3) accessible and readily available to those who need or want them.
The DCMP Captioning Philosophy
The DCMP captioning philosophy is that all captioning should include as much of the original language as possible; words or phrases which may be unfamiliar to the audience should not be replaced with simple synonyms. Extreme rewriting of narration for captions develops problems, such as “watered-down” language and omitted concepts. Language should not be censored. Editing should only be done if required to meet a specified presentation rate.
Review by the DCMP
DCMP has access to Swift and CaptionMaker software. Agencies using these software packages should send DCMP electronic files for review (.o32 file, .tsd file, and video file for Swift, and .cap file and video file for Captionmaker). If minor changes are needed, the DCMP will make the changes and send a revised caption file to the agency for creation of the master. When major changes are required, the DCMP will request that the agency make the requested changes and send a new file for review.
For agencies that don’t have the aforementioned software, a time-coded window proof dub and electronic file of the caption script must be sent to the DCMP by all agencies performing DCMP work. The DCMP will notify the captioning agency if changes are to be made, and a second dub (check dub) and/or revised caption script may be requested. Requested changes are penned on script pages which are scanned and e-mailed to the captioning agency. (See our explanation of captioning proofreading marks and symbols used by the DCMP for information about how to interpret edits.)
Captioning agencies are expected to research spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Company scripts are not always reliable. All research work should be reported on the Captioning Research Record. The time code or caption number must be indicated. A copy of the record should be sent to the DCMP along with the caption materials.
Funding Credit
At the end of each DCMP media item, the following information should be added in caption form: “Funding to purchase and make this educational production accessible was provided by the U.S. Department of Education: PH: 1-800-USA-LEARN (V) or WEB: www.ed.gov.” No other credits or information should be added. Use the following line breaks:
this educational production
accessible was provided by the
U.S. Department of Education:
PH: 1-800-USA-LEARN (V) or
WEB: www.ed.gov.
