GUIDELINES FOR PRODUCING

PUBLIC SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSAs)
WHAT IS A PSA?
Public Service Announcements, or PSAs, are short PSA FORMATS
messages on radio, television, and/or social media that
are disseminated for free in order to raise awareness of,
and change public attitudes and behaviors towards a Film
social issue.

PSAs are often visual stories that provide information to

an audience, evoke an emotion, and often have a call to
action (donating money, spreading awareness, changing
Radio
habits, etc.)

Print
PRODUCING A PSA
STEP 1: PREPARE

Identify a topic or Determine your Determine what

cause that you want audience. Think your call to action
to highlight in the about what your will be and make
PSA. audience knows it as specific
or doesn’t know and concrete as
about the issue. possible.
Think about what
they care about
and what might get
them to take action.
STEP 2: RESEARCH

Research the topic Research other PSAs in Identify a ‘hook’. A

you want to make order to get inspiration hook is whatever
your PSA about. and ideas. Brainstorm you use to grab
Gather stats, facts ways to highlight the listener or
and imagery in your key message. If viewer’s attention.
order to effectively possible, have members Determine the
maximize your PSA. of your target audience format of your PSA.
take part in this process What would be the
to identify strategies for best possible way
maximum impact. to relay info: audio,
video or print?
STEP 3: WRITING

Based on the format For audio and video, For print, keep
you are using, write your script. Your information simple on
prepare an outline. PSAs should be under the layout of the PSA.
Write down the major 30 seconds, so make Don’t pick extremely
points you want to sure your script is short disturbing or violent
convey in the PSA. but impactful. Have pictures and don’t use
a beginning, middle images that are not
and end. Use simple, ethical. Start planning
conversational language. the layout of the PSA.
Keep your sentences
concise and to-the-point.
STEP 4: PRODUCTION

FILM

Storyboard
A storyboard is a visual
outline for your video. It
is made up of a series of
images that show what is
going to happen in your
video from start to finish.
A simple way to look at it Storyboard: Keep it simple:
is that a storyboard is like Create a Your storyboard
storyboard for doesn’t have to
a comic strip of your video. your PSA. This will be complex. You
Storyboards can be simple help you to plan can do a simple
or complex. They’re usually your PSA. sketch or doodle
that shows how
hand-drawn, although the PSA will look.
some people prefer to use Sort of like a comic
book.
storyboarding software to
create their images.
STEP 4: PRODUCTION

FILM

Film: Use a Audio: You can Actors: If your Edit: If your

camera phone use your camera PSA features PSA needs to be
or any available to record audio. people, then you edited, use free
camera and film You can also use can use both editing software
your PSA. When a phone to record professional and such as iMovie
filming with a audio using a non-professional or Movie Maker.
camera phone, voice recording actors depending You can also use
make sure to app. If your on your budget. editing software
shoot in landscape budget allows, Make sure to get to add sound
(holding the use professional signed consent for effects and music
phone sideways). recording any audio, video or to make it more
equipment. picture of people. interesting.
STEP 4: PRODUCTION

RADIO

Actors: If the budget Recording: You can use a Editing: If your PSA needs
allows, hire professional recording device such as a to be edited , there are free
voice recording artists. recording app available on editing softwares available.
You can also use non- your phone. Make sure to use You can also use editing
professional voice artists either headphones with a mic, softwares to add sound
(like friends, family and an external mic or a headset effects and music to add
colleagues). while recording in a quiet flair.
area. Also make sure to record
multiple versions. If you have
the budget, record your PSA
in a recording studio using
professional equipment.
STEP 4: PRODUCTION
PRINT

Design: Design a PSA Style: Exhibit personal

poster or graphic using style, voice and design
design softwares. Make to enhance the written
sure the poster is eye- informational content.
catching and conveys the You can use icons, images,
message through less text. colorful backgrounds
and a variety of fonts to
convey the message to the
audience.
STEP 5: DISTRIBUTION
SOCIAL MEDIA
You can distribute your
PSAs on a variety of social
media platforms such
as Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, Youtube, Vimeo and
Whatsapp. Make sure to use
appropriate hashtags for
maximum reach.
TELEVISION RADIO
Contact a TV station by phone Reach out to a radio station.
or e-mail; briefly explain Make sure your PSA follows
the purpose and message of their guidelines. Send both
your PSA, and why the topic digital and hard copies once
is relevant to the particular you get approved.
station. Explain how the PSA
fits into your overall media
campaign, the goals of the
campaign, and how running it
at the times you’re asking for
will help the campaign be more
effective.
TIPS
• BE AUTHENTIC BUT KEEP IT SIMPLE

• CONVEY YOUR MESSAGE USING FACTS BUT ALSO

USE EMOTIONS

• MAKE SURE YOUR PSA IS EASILY RELATABLE

• DELIVER ONE CORE MESSAGE WITH CLARITY

• USE FREE RESOURCES TO CREATE YOUR PSA AT A

LOWER COST

• GET INPUT AND FEEDBACK BEFORE DISTRIBUTION

EXAMPLES
FILM RADIO PRINT

Example 1 Example 1 Example 1

Example 2 Example 2 Example 2

Example 3 Example 3 Example 3

Example 4 Example 4 Example 4

Example 5 Example 5 Example 5

RESOURCES
http://unsplash.com
http://pexels.com
http://pixabay.com
https://www.apple.com/
imovie/
https://www.lwks.com
https://moviemakeronline.com
https://www.pexels.com/videos/
https://pixabay.com/videos/
https://www.videezy.com
https://www.audacityteam.org
https://free-audio-editor.com/
https://www.apple.com/mac/
garageband/
http://www.soundzabound.com
https://www.purple-planet.com
https://www.jamendo.com/
explore
https://www.freepik.com
https://www.vecteezy.com
https://www.canva.com