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To Create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) Video

  1. Question the communication situation.
    • Subject: What idea are you presenting in your public service announcement? Why is this topic important?
    • Purpose: What do you want your audience to do after viewing the PSA?
    • Audience: Who are the people targeted by your PSA? Why should the message matter to them?
  2. Plan your PSA on a planning sheet. (See page 361.)
  3. Research your topic and technical requirements.
    • Topic:Research your topic and write the script.

      Topic ideas: overconsumption of energy drinks; texting and driving; bullying

    • Equipment: Create props, costumes, and backdrops if needed.
    • Practice: Rehearse your PSA with your actors and the recording crew.
  4. Create your PSA.
    • Beginning: Grab attention in a clever way—a startling image or statistic, an interesting anecdote, and so on. Provide a catchy title or memorable slogan.
    • Middle: Appeal to the needs of your audience.
    • Ending: Call the viewers to action.
  5. Improve your PSA.
    • Evaluate your PSA against your goal and situation.

      Goal: Did you meet it? How could you improve your work?

      Situation: Does the message cover a relevant topic? Does it appeal to your audience? Will it influence your audience to take action?

    • Revise your PSA as necessary.

      Cut unnecessary parts.

      Reorder parts to grab attention up front and make a call to action at the end.

      Redo parts that need improvement.

      Add information that supports your goal.

    • Perfect your PSA, polishing the video to professional standards.
  6. Present your PSA.
    • Share the video with classmates and post it online to a classroom blog or social media site.
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Public Service Announcement Video

The following is a 30-second public service announcement script about organ donation.

Talk to Your Parents About Organ Donation

The script identifies the setting, gives directions, and provides dialogue.

EXT: LAKE--AFTERNOON

A teenage girl sits on a pier next to her father, who is holding a fishing reel. Their legs dangle in the water.

GIRL 1

Hey, Dad, I’ve been thinking about saving somebody’s life.

The beginning introduces the topic and provides a surprising statistic.

CUT TO:

INT: KITCHEN--EVENING

A teenage boy is eating pizza. His mom is putting flowers into a pot.

BOY

There are over 100,000 Americans waiting for life-saving organs.

CUT TO:

EXT: NEIGHBORHOOD--MORNING

A teenage girl walks along a sidewalk with her mom.

GIRL 2

I don’t expect anything will ever happen to me, but just in case . . .

CUT TO:

The middle appeals to viewers’ emotions.

EXT: LAKE--AFTERNOON

GIRL 1

I want you to know that I’d like to register as an organ donor.

CUT TO:

INT: KITCHEN--EVENING

BOY

I could save eight lives and improve dozens more. Can we talk?

CUT TO:

EXT: NEIGHBORHOOD--MORNING

The ending calls the viewer to act.

GIRL 2

(Looks at camera) Have you talked to your parents about organ donation? Learn more about donating life at organdonor.gov or visit the Donate Life page on Facebook.

 
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