Caption Contest on The Huffington Post

Susan Moeller: Media Literacy 101: The Doritos Challenge

2009-11-09T01:13:37Z

Today's your last chance to win a million bucks. The clock is ticking.

Don't throw your money away on a lottery ticket. Instead just write, shoot and submit a Super Bowl XLIV commercial for Doritos by midnight central time today (Monday, November 9th.)

If you make it as one of the six finalists, you'll win $25,000. If you are voted into the top 3, your ad will air during the Super Bowl. And if your ad makes it to first place on the USA Today Ad Meter, you'll win the cool million.

Oh, but you're not a Madison Avenue wannabe?

The Faces of Hunger in America film contest: Voting is going on now. Full disclosure: my 15-year-old son has entered an animated film. Check out his and the other entries here.

Well, perhaps you want to become a WashPo pundit?

Around 4,800 people wrote a short opinion piece to enter that contest--it closed for entries on October 21. Two days before Thanksgiving, the final ten will have been whittled down to the winner. The prize? The glory of having a weekly Washington Post column for 13 weeks (at $200 per column for a grand total of $2600).

What's with all the contests? We think of the Web 2.0 world as enabling multi-directional conversations and collaborative interactivity. (Think of your wall on Facebook.) But as media scholar Henry Jenkins has noted, global 2.0 culture increasingly values not just dynamic social networking, but innovation and collaborative knowledge-building. In other words, the Web 2.0 is an environment just right to host contests that are more than beauty pageants. "Industry leaders," Jenkins has written, acknowledge "the importance of the role that ordinary consumers can play not just in accepting convergence, but actually in driving the process."

That's what the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has banked on with its News Challenge. There's still time to submit your entrepreneurial web idea to that one. If you want to change your community for the better, consider entering your idea for how to give people access to the news and information they need. The Knight Foundation will be giving as much as $5 million dollars to underwrite the best ideas that are submitted. "Since good new ideas can come from anyone, the Knight News Challenge just makes sense," said Eric Newton, vice president of Knight's journalism program. And "that's why there are at least two dozen other media innovation contests."

"It's so easy now to have a contest," agrees Leslie Walker, the Knight Visiting Professor in Digital Innovation at the University of Maryland. "In the old days, a contest was limited by the single bandwidth of the contest creator"--which usually meant print notices and lots of posters. "Now that bandwidth is augmented by websites and blogs that link and virally pass on word of an online contest."

Today's digital-media-enabled contests, perhaps even the most familiar reality-TV, American Idol-type kind, are popular because they promise a rags-to-riches success for at least one contestant--and a riveting drama for those watching. "Contests have become an important part of participatory media culture," admits Walker. But the value of Web 2.0 contests is "not only for the 10 percent of an audience that actually enters them" hoping for some monetary or other kind of reward, she notes. All of the rest of us are beneficiaries of the ideas and innovations that the contests encourage. Different voices are heard than otherwise would be, blue-sky ideas are floated, business models are invented.

Contests are the pop-culture equivalent of crowdsourcing. Contests are cheap and quick, yet they manage labor-intensive challenges: they do our talent searching and our R&D. They mash-up new technologies and broadcast ideals of social justice. They provide feedback and build ownership.

Take one last example: hunger in America. There's no shortcut way to manage the grassroots food pantries and other on-the-ground projects that actually get food into people's hands. But there are more efficient ways of getting the word out that hunger is a problem in the United States. Create a film contest. Publicize it. Get contestants. Then, once all the entries are in, convince someone like me to help publicize the videos. And then as people come to your site, watch your message repeat in places that you couldn't buy your way into--at least without more resources than you have. That's the beauty of a contest. A contest not only encourages entries, it provides entrée to engagement.

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ps 1: Okay, so you didn't enter the Washington Post contest and you don't have time to get your Doritos ad together? But you want to be a player in at least one Web 2.0 contest? Well, you could always enter the weekly write-a-caption-to-a-New Yorker cartoon contest. The winning caption writer gets a signed print of the cartoon.

ps. 2: You want to learn a bit more about crowdsourcing? Take a look here at an article written (and widely reprinted) by Daren C. Brabham.

Rinku Sen: Caption Contest Post Has Moved!

2009-08-25T18:02:13Z

Hey all: Thanks for participating! Head on over to the new caption contest post, and bring your A game!

----------------------------------------------

AND SPEAKING OF: Last week's winner is (drumroll please) RaceWire commenter tonymacias, with:

"Y'all come on outside for a minute... and HL, be ready to hold that young man down... I'm going to cut me a switch in the rose garden- be right back with a world of hurt."

Totally reprehensible, Tony! Congratulations!

And thanks to everyone who commented on RaceWire, Jack & Jill Politics, and Huffington Post! As you can see, the competition is fierce, so enter early and often.

Rinku Sen: Caption Contest: President Obama, Professor Gates and Sgt. Crowley

2009-08-20T20:00:59Z

crossposted to RaceWire and Jack & Jill Politics.

official White House photo by Pete Souza

Almost two months later, the White House has officially released the photo above, with President Barack Obama walking to the Rose Garden, followed by Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates and Cambridge, Mass. police sergeant James Crowley.

So we're holding a caption contest. Give us what you've got. Bonus points if you make us ROTFL.

If you submit the epic caption and win, we'll send you a copy of Tram Nguyen's "Language Is a Place of Struggle: Great Quotes by People of Color."

We'll announce the winner over at RaceWire next Tuesday.

Obama Dolls & Bingo Protests: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-07-06T10:25:32Z

Original Caption: A souvenir seller displays matryoshka dolls, or Russian nesting dolls, painted with portraits of U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev near Red Square on July 5, 2009 in Moscow, Russia. Barack Obama will arrive for his first visit to Russia as president on July 6.

FRIDAY'S FAVORITES:

WEDNESDAY'S WINNER:

"OH NO !!! my wife just pulled into the driveway, quick hide under the lamp !" By -Dusso-.

Bingo Protests & German Fashion: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-07-02T07:32:32Z

Original Caption: Two women wearing Alistair Darling masks on their heads play a game of bingo during a protest in front of the Houses of Parliament against the Government's increase in bingo taxation from 15% to 22% on July 1, 2009 in London, England. The Bingo Association has criticized the increased taxation in a difficult time for the industry with over 90 bingo clubs closing in the last three years.

WEDNESDAY'S FAVORITES:

TUESDAY'S WINNER:

These two men misunderstood when she said, "Beat It!" By Ctron.

German Fashion & Imitating MJ's Moonwalk: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-07-01T11:50:23Z

ORIGINAL CAPTION: A model walks down the runway at 'Black Coffee Fashion Show' during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week S/S 2010 at Bebelplatz on July 1, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.

TUESDAY'S FAVORITES:

MONDAY'S WINNER:

And all the while Carla Bruni thought her husband was hiking the Appalachian trail... by Richard22

Read more: Caption Contest, Poll, Comedy News

Imitating MJ's Moonwalk & Sarkozy's Tabloid Moment: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-30T11:06:41Z

Original Caption: A Michael Jackson fan's moonwalk fails to impress the opposite sex outside a London rail station.

MONDAY'S FAVORITES:

THURSDAY'S WINNER:

"Does anyone have the cliffs notes version?" by Ctron

Read more: Moonwalk, Caption Contest, Poll, Comedy News

Sarkozy's Tabloid Moment & Biden's Favorite Book: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-29T09:21:42Z

Original Caption: French President Nicolas Sarkozy is greeted by locals as he arrives at the airport in Abymes, on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.

THURSDAY'S FAVORITES:

WEDNESDAY'S WINNER:

Performing Community Service in San Fransisco. by JoeJokester

Biden's Playbook & Bruno's Billboard: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-25T15:14:12Z

Original Caption: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood looks on at right as Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the Recovery Act Implementation Cabinet meeting, Thursday, June 25, 2009, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington.

WEDNESDAY'S FAVORITES:

TUESDAY'S WINNER:

"Hey everyone, party at Berlusconi's place!! by Drewbai

Read more: Poll, Caption Contest, Comedy News

Bruno's Billboard & A Bulgarian Folklore Festival: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-24T11:29:25Z

Workmen in pink shorts and hardhats install an advertising banner for Bruno, the latest altered ego of British comic Sasha Baron Cohen, on a building in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, June 23, 2009.

TUESDAY'S FAVORITES:

FRIDAY'S WINNER:

Doctors work feverishly to retrieve Goldilocks from the stomach of Baby Bear. by -Dusso-

Folklore Festivals & An Unhappy Slow Loris: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-22T16:41:53Z

Armenian young women dressed with their national costumes perform during the annual three-day international folklore festival in the town of Varna east of the Bulgarian capital Sofia, Sunday, June, 21, 2009.

FRIDAY'S FAVORITES:

THURSDAY'S WINNER:

Prom night in Candy Land. By oggiedoggie.

Read more: Caption Contest, Poll, Comedy News

Pygmy Slow Loris & British People Looking Stupid: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-19T10:38:06Z

Mr Ben, a pygmy slow loris, is administered anesthetic during one of Bristol Zoo's in-house veterinary clinic routine health check-up and teeth clean as part of the Zoo's standard animal husbandry and welfare procedure at Bristol Zoo on June 18, 2009 in Bristol, England. The furry, three-year-old patient, was diagnosed with some minor gum problems and given a dose of antibiotics, and is now recovering well after being given a clean bill of health, back at his home in Bristol Zoo's nocturnal house, Twilight World.

THURSDAY'S FAVORITES:

WEDNESDAY'S WINNER:

Monopoly Man Marries Fruit of the Loom Grape in First Gay Ad Icon Marriage. By jmby.

All British People Looking Stupid All The Time: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-18T13:02:07Z

Original Caption: Three young racegoers pose with their hats designed as Quality Street chocolates during Ladies Day, the third day of Royal Ascot, in Berkshire, west of London, on June 18, 2009. The five-day meeting is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar. Horse racing has been held at the famous Berkshire course since 1711 and tradition is a hallmark of the meeting. Top hats and tails remain compulsory in parts of the course while a daily procession of horse-drawn carriages brings the Queen to the course.

WEDNESDAY'S FAVORITES:

TUESDAY'S WINNER:

After a 12th tour in Iraq, four members of this unit do their best to avoid the 13th. By WriteStuffNYC.

Outrageous Royals And Skin-Tight Lederhosen: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-17T12:25:17Z

Original Caption: A lady holds on to her hat during a gust of wind on the second day of Royal Ascot 2009 at Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2009 in Ascot, England.

TUESDAY'S FAVORITES:

MONDAY'S WINNER:

The Italians first try at waterboarding. By taotedali.

Skin-Tight Lederhosen & Human Tomato Soup: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-16T09:18:14Z

Original Caption: Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Bruno' had its Parisian premiere Monday night as an early review gave it a rave. As always, Cohen was in character in Paris as the flamboyant fashion journalist. He wore legless gold glittered lederhosen and was joined by a lederhosen-wearing entourage of models.

MONDAY'S FAVORITES:

FRIDAY'S WINNER:

"Is was so much better when they threw rice." By MSNichols.

Read more: Bruno, Caption Contest, Poll, Comedy News

The Colombia Tomato Festival And Brides On Parade: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-15T09:30:13Z

Original Caption: A boy lies inside a bed of smashed tomatoes during the "V Annual Tomatina" in Sutamarchan, northeast of Bogota, Sunday, June 14, 2009.

FRIDAY'S FAVORITES:

THURSDAY'S WINNER:

When asked to explain what "oversight" actually means, Ken Lewis points to the area above his eyeballs. By Richard22.

Brides & Bankers: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-12T11:33:20Z

Original Caption: Participating in a joint wedding event sponsored by the USO and WE tv, military brides walk past bags of garbage in Times Square on June 11, 2009 in New York City. A total of five couples were married in a ceremony at the Military Island in Times Square to help launch a new television show on the cable channel and to celebrate the traditional beginning of the nuptial season.

THURSDAY'S FAVORITES:

WEDNESDAY'S WINNER:

"Claire, John, this month is Nancy's turn to be called a socialist." By mytwosense.

Read more: Caption Contest, New York, Poll, Comedy News

Bankers Testify, Obama Instructs: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-11T13:56:40Z

Original Caption: Kenneth Lewis, CEO and president of the Bank of America Corporation participates in a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on Capitol Hill June 11, 2009 in Washington, DC. The committee is hearing testimony on the Bank of America and Merrill Lynch deal that needed a federal bailout.

WEDNESDAY'S FAVORITES:

MONDAY'S WINNER:

The stars of NBC's shows say they find product placement to be largely unobtrusive. By richchaplin.

Obama's Not Taking Any Crap And Tracy Morgan Is Full Of It: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-09T17:02:41Z

Original Caption: President Barack Obama acknowledges members of Congress on stage in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, June 9, 2009, after delivering remarks on the new tax or entitlement policies for the pay-as-you-go plan. From left are, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif..

MONDAY'S FAVORITES:

FRIDAY'S WINNER:

Look, it doesn't matter how you adjust your antenna. You're still gonna need a converter box. By joeythekangaroo.

Tracy Morgan The Cell Phone And The Real Spider Man: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-08T10:32:38Z

Original Caption From Gizmodo: Apparently this was taken during the shooting of Kevin Smith movie A Couple of Dicks, but I prefer to think that this is how Tracy Morgan gets around normally.

FRIDAY'S FAVORITES:

THURSDAY'S WINNER:

Tripp Palin is enticed over the finish line with promises of a Glenn Beck podcast. By metter1.

The Real Spider Man And Lithuanian Baby-Racing: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-05T11:50:58Z

Original Caption: French 'Spiderman' Alain Robert (R) is watched by a police officer as he descends after climbing a city skyscraper in central Sydney on June 2, 2009. Robert, famous for his daring unaided ascents of skyscrapers and iconic sites around the world, was arrested once he descended.

THURSDAY'S FAVORITES:

WEDNESDAY'S WINNER:

"Here, let me shut this for you." By digital.

Lithuanian Baby-Racing And Gordon Brown's Chin-Pinching: HuffPost's Caption Contest!

2009-06-04T09:22:51Z

Original Caption: Something in Lithuanian. But apparently there's a baby race in the Baltic state that allows parents to bring toys and such to entice their kids to move quickly. For winner Kajus Aukščionis, it was a laptop. More pics here.

WEDNESDAY'S FAVORITES:

TUESDAY'S WINNER:

"Hey gang, Lord Cheney wanted me to remind you that the official talking point is that we kept the Death Star safe for seven years." By GolfingDevil05.

Gordon Brown, Stormtroopers and Prince Harry: Our Pics, Your Captions!

2009-06-03T09:16:17Z

Original Caption: A Labour party supporter grabs the chin of the Prime Minister Gordon Brown as he departs the constituency office of Emily Thornberry MP on June 2, 2009 in London, England. Mr Brown was visiting the Islington South and Finsbury Labour party office ahead of the elections for the European Parliament on June 4, 2009.

TUESDAY'S FAVORITES:

MONDAY'S WINNER:

Price Harry mashes his bangers. By hottingers.

Caption This Photo, Vote For Monday's Best, See Friday's Winner!

2009-06-02T11:26:12Z

Original Caption: An actor dressed as stormtrooper looks on during a preview to the 'Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination' exhibition at Scienceworks on June 2, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. The exhibition is the first to showcase over 80 costumes and props from all six Star Wars movies.

MONDAY'S FAVORITES:

FRIDAY'S WINNER:

Paris Hilton, circa 2056.

Caption This Photo, Vote For Friday's Best, See Thursday's Winner!

2009-06-01T10:30:32Z

Original Caption: Prince Harry reacts as he plays in the second annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic May 30, 2009 on Governors Island at the final event of a two-day visit to New York City.

FRIDAY'S FAVORITES:

THURSDAY'S WINNER:

Hermaphrodon't. By inthelandoftheblind.