Civic education PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS Types of PSA Public service announcements (PSA) are advertisements in the public interest, usually videos, that aim to raise awareness and change public attitudes or encourage action on health, safety, or social issues. Effective PSAs often have a powerful message that sticks with the viewer, sometimes becoming part of society s collective psyche. Unlike a commercial, which sells a product, a PSA video serves to educate the public and promote the common good, and, often, are created by governments or non-profit organisations for topics like environmental protection, disease prevention, or safe driving. Narrative: they engage viewers emotionally through storytelling techniques, creating a connection with the message. Endorsment: They feature real people sharing personal stories or experiences to inspire action. Educational: they focus on informing and educating about specific issues or topics, often using clear explanations, visuals, and statistics. 13 PAIR WORK Go online and find a PSA in the form a video that you consider particularly effective. Identify its strengths and weaknesses and discuss it in class. 14 GROUP WORK Split up into groups, follow the tips, and create a storyboard for a PSA to divulge on the medium you prefer. How to make a PSA Choose an issue and a type of PSA. Select a topic or issue that would benefit the public. Think about what you want to get across, to whom you are directing it, and the medium and style that would fit best. Hook your audience. Choose comedy, shock value, emotionality, or importance to the audience, but make it resonate with your audience. Use eye-catching images and use dialogue bubbles or other text boxes to explain your point. On the other hand, a very different but effective strategy would be to limit the text to a single word or slogan, or to leave text out entirely. Get your facts straight. Research the topic well. If you have incorrect information, you will lose credibility. Make sure the factual information that you present is correct 296 People and instruments and relevant. Choose appropriate scenes, characters, and items that enhance your message. Be straightforward. Be clear, concise, and to the point.