Public Service Announcements (PSA) and Posters

Public Service Announcement (PSA) 

Definition

Public service announcement/advertisement (PSA) is a free commercial for a non profit organization. It is aired volountary by individual radio and/or TV sations.

The goal of a PSA :

To get someone to take a specific action, it is not talk about the sponsoring organization and motivate the targeted audience to act.

When should you consider using PSA's?

Here are some guidelines for deciding when you might want to incorporate PSA's into your media campaign. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily have to meet all of these criteria this is just a list of times that PSA's may be a good idea for your group:

•When your group is a nonprofit organization

•When you have a specific announcement to make .

•When you have a clear and easy-to-understand issue

•When you're requesting a very specific action

•When you have good contacts for getting your PSA on the air

•When you have good writing and production skills

•When you've previously used PSA's with success

•When it's going to be part of a larger media campaign

Advantages of PSA's

1.PSA's are generally inexpensive.

2.Most stations will allow you to include a telephone number for more information in your PSA. 

3.PSA's tend to be really effective at encouraging the audience to do something.

4.PSA's tend to be really effective at encouraging the audience to do something.

How to write a PSA?

1)Target your audience. What type of people are you hoping to reach through your PSA? This will help you focus in both your desired media outlets, and also upon your PSA content.

2)Prioritize your media outlets. That is, you need to   know which   outlets your target audience is most   likely to prefer. For example, is your audience more   likely to tune in to the 24-hour country music   station than to the one that plays mostly golden   oldies? If so, then you point toward the country   music outlet. 

3)Survey your media outlets to best reach that   audience. That means that you need to know what   media outlets are available in your particular   geographic area. 

Key points to remember about the writing:

1.Because you have only got a few seconds to reach your audience (often 30 seconds or less), the language should be simple and vivid. Take your time and make every word count. Make your message crystal clear.

2.The content of the writing should have the right "hooks" -- words or phrases that grab attention -- to attract your audience (again, you need to know who your audience is). For example, starting your PSA off with something like, "If you are between the ages of 25 and 44, you are more likely to die from AIDS than from any other disease.“

3.The PSA should usually (though maybe not 100% of the time) request a specific action, such as calling a specific number to get more information. You ordinarily want listeners to do something as a result of having heard the PSA.

 Example of PSAPosters

Definition of Posters

A poster is an informative and decorative way to attract the attention to the information it contains. It is usually displayed in a public place. It is often decorated by designs or ilustrations.

 
Some ways to use posters in a literacy program :

1.To advertise events or product;

2.To display information or instructions;

3.To teach about some kinds of information.

Goals for Effective Posters

The first goal : To sufficiently attract the casual onlooker’s attention so that he or she will stop take a second took.

The second goal  : To consicely communicate the results of your research. People who want more details and information can refer to a section on the poster that provides author contact information and can follow up with your afterthe conference.

Key Points to Remember about Designing Effective Posters

1)Make it easy for your readers. Viewers attention will be in demand, so no matter how interseting your results may be, if they are badly, no one will take the time to read them.

2)The purpose of your posters is to present scientific information. Don’t get carried away with using a lot of colors and fonts, which might distract from the presentation of your research.

3)Your poster is a visual means of information. If you have graphics that will help communicate your research results, you should include them. Additionally, keep the key point save the lengthy explanations for journal article.

Example of Posters