PSA
Public Service
Announcement
Assignment
Definition:
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
“Defined by the Federal
Communications Commission as an
unpaid announcement that promotes
the programs of government or
voluntary agencies or that serves the
public interest. PSAs can be
produced for television and radio
broadcast.”
aba.org
Definition:
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
“Announcements that inform the
public about safety and health
information, community services or
public affairs. Produced and
programmed much like commercials,
but usually not produced for profit.”
PBS.org
Public Service Announcement:
You will individually:
•Select a topic
•Research the topic
•Write and pitch proposal
•Write script
•Draw storyboards
•Direct and shoot video (if you
act it must be a small part)
•Edit video
Public Service Announcement:
Can be aired on our
Morning Bulletin
and on Student DV (cable)
Can be entered in County Fair
and SEVA Awards
Public Service Announcement:
Our assignment is exactly
60 seconds plus 3-5
seconds of credits.
Everything must be original
Music and images. (Photos
from the Internet will disqualify
your project.)
PSA Examples
Critique and Analysis
Filmmaking Technique
Target Audience
Lecture Examples
PSA Examples…websites
Adcoucil.org
AdGalleryWhitehouseDrugPolicy.org
PsaResearch.org
PSA Topics
Pick one of the
following:
PSA Topics
Smoking
Health Consequences
Social Consequences
Jobs-Hiring
Dating
PSA Topics
Drug Abuse
Health Consequences
Legal Consequences
Psychological Issues
PSA Topics
Prescription
Drug Abuse
Health Consequences
Legal Consequences
Psychological Issues
PSA Topics
Personal
Safety
• Tips for keeping safe
from crime.
• How to get additional
information
PSA Topics
Eating
Disorders
• How to identify if you
Have a problem.
• Where to seek additional
information
PSA Topics
Alcohol Abuse
PSA Topics
Depression
•Symptoms
•Treatable
•Resources for help
PSA Topics
Teen Drunk Driving
Consequences
• Legal consequences
• Deaths and injuries
PSA Topics
Pollution/Littering
PSA Topics
Campus Littering
PSA Topics
Household
Chemical
Disposal
PSA Topics
Pet
Adoption
PSA Topics
Steroid
Use
PSA Topics
Stereotypes
PSA Topics
Stay in
School
PSA Topics
Peer
Pressure
PSA Topics
Sexual Harassment
PSA Topics
Teen Dating
Violence
PSA Topics
Domestic Violence
PSA Topics
Runaway
Hotline
PSA Topics
Suicide Prevention
Hotline
PSA Topics
California Youth
Crisis Line
PSA Topics
Sexual Assault
Hotline
PSA Topics
Skin Cancer Prevention
PSA Topics
Study Habits
PSA Topics
Distracted Driving
Texting or
cell phone
use while
driving
PSA Topics
Guidelines
for using 911
(from a cell phone)
PSA Topics
Personal Fitness
PSA Topics
Calories of Various
Foods
PSA Topics
Healthy Eating
Choices
PSA Topics
Benefits of
Breakfast
PSA Topics
Youth
Volunteerism
PSA Topics
VolunteerMatch.org
PSA Topics
Safety on the
Internet
PSA Topics
Online
Bullying
PSA Topics
Illegal File Sharing
PSA Topics
Internet
Addiction
PSA Topics
Hearing Damage
(Loud
Music)
PSA Topics
Goal
Setting
PSA Topics
PALS
PE Personal Activity Logs
For broadcast on
Morning Bulletin
PSA Topics
Student Ideas?
Discuss unlisted
ideas with your
teacher for preapproval
PSA Examples
Successful PSAs:
• Tell a story
• Use a voiceover
• Gives facts
• Refer viewer to a resource
for additional information.
PSA Examples
PSA Student Examples
Examples from Mr. Clark’s Lecture
Preproduction
Teacher presents topics
 Students commit to one
 Student pitches idea to teacher
 Students begin research of topic
 Students brainstorm ideas
 Students identify a Method of Advertising

Preproduction
Students pitch concept to teacher
 Students write concept:
 Your name, period and date in the upper right hand
corner.
· Topic: (selected from the list)
· Actors:
· Hook: (what is going to keep you audience from
changing the channel?)
· Facts: (what do you want your audience to know
about this issue you are presenting)
· Locations: (where are you shooting?)

Preproduction

Students develop A/V script
 Split column format
 (Example: Next slide)
Video
Audio
Seconds
LS: Person #1 is lying across a
glider and is talking on the phone.
Then person #1 receives a text
message.
Narrator: “We were best friends, and we
used to tell each other everything.”
5
ECU: Close up on the text message.
Narrator: “Then things changed when he came into
the picture”
5
MS: Person #1 is sitting on the stairs
talking on the phone, camera is angled
upward at the person.
Narrator: “At first she was happy, and told me
every detail”
5
MS:Person#1 is lying down on the
stairs, the phone rings, she looks at
the phone, doesn’t answer it, and
tosses it away. Camera is angled
downward on her.
Narrator: “But then she stopped calling.
When I tried to call her, she didn’t pick up.”
6
XLS: Camera is on Person #1’s
house.
Narrator: “She barely came to school
anymore and never answered the door.”
3
MS: Person #1 drinks from a bottle.
Sitting in the closet; cornered.
Camera is angled downward.
(Voice Over)
Narrator: “What was she doing? Rumors
were spreading that her boyfriend was
beating her, but if that was the case wouldn’t
she tell me?”
8
Preproduction


Students draw storyboards
 Students take turns drawing frames.
 Each student initials the corner of the frame
they drew.
Storyboards are always done on national
commercials and PSAs for client approval.
Production
Students shoot projects
 Locations outside of school are more
interesting
 Record narration track right into camera

Post Production
Edit Project
 Copyright Issues
 Music
 Royalty Free
 Garageband / Sony Acid Express
 Images
 Make a playable DVD for SEVAs
