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Community Service Opportunity!
Public Service Announcements - the Contest

It’s time to get your creative juices flowing for a chance to win great prizes and save lives at the same time! Students ages 10-19 who are residents of Yorktown are invited to take part in a Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest, sponsored by ASK. The mission of the Alliance for Safe Kids is to protect our kids from substance abuse and other destructive behaviors, providing a safety net to keep them out of harm's way. This contest is focused on those same goals.

You know what it takes to get your peers’ attention and convince them to take action that could save their lives or others. That’s why we need your unique perspective and ideas for public service announcements aimed at fellow teens to educate them about the dangers of substance abuse, smoking, school violence, bullying, internet misuse, peer pressure, gambling, sexting, texting while driving, eating disorders and any other harmful behaviors.

We are looking for the best student-created PSAs (video, audio and/or print) to help us inform teens about these dangers. There will be five winners chosen from each of the three categories. In addition to cash cards and prizes, the winning video, audio and print PSAs will be given to the media to start airing on local television, radio and newspapers.

What is a PSA? A public service announcement is a free advertisement on radio, television or print that informs the public about safety and health information, community services or public affairs. They are intended to modify public attitudes about specific social issues.

This is an invaluable community service which will have an impact on many families. A small group can make a big difference.

The Alliance for Safe Kids will sponsor instruction workshops for both Windows-based and MAC film editing software. Video training dates will be posted by mid-October for those who would like to attend.

Some Tips

  • What’s the message? Do your research. Focus on a simple, clear message or theme. You only have 30 seconds so use your words, images, and time wisely. Consider writing a catchy slogan. Most memorable slogans are descriptive and capture the entire message of your campaign in just a few words.

  • Who’s the audience? Are you trying to reach teens or adults? How does your audience feel about the issue? Appeal to your audience’s emotions. Remember that your PSA may be broadcast or printed if it wins, so keep it appropriate and in good taste.

  • Brainstorm ideas. It may be helpful to test ideas on others and harness the collective creativity of friends, family, or a school club. Search the Web and watch PSAs created by others.

  • Consider humor. Even though these subjects are very serious, your PSA doesn’t necessarily have to be. Sometimes something funny gets more attention and drives home a point.

  • “Grab” your audience. Think of ways to hook your audience’s attention so they will hear or see your message. A “hook” can be a funny message, a fact or statistic, an emotional story, etc.

  • Check your facts. Make sure your information is accurate and current.

  • Search for sound and music. Sound effects and music can add a powerful dimension to your PSA. Remember that copyrighted music cannot be used without permission.

  • Speak clearly and concisely in your copy. Avoid buzzwords, clichés and puns. Speak to one person, not the masses, to make your ad feel personal. Pick one message and don’t try to cram everything into your PSA. Ads that try to be all things to all people usually fail to reach anyone.

  • Write a script. Read it aloud to friends. Does it sound natural? Each element of the dialogue should be essential to your message. Consider breaking your PSA into small steps by drawing a storyboard that pulls together the slogan, images, sound and script outlining the flow of the PSA.

  • Take time to write a strong headline for print ads. Keep in mind your audience and test different headlines with your friends.

  • Round up your gear. You’ll need a video camera, video/DVDr, and microphone for the video PSAs. A high quality tape recorder will be needed for the radio PSA.

  • Practice. Save time and frustration by practicing your shots before recording.

    • Contest Rules and Guidelines

    The contest challenges students to use their creativity in the development of an original public service announcement that convinces their peers of the dangers of substance abuse, smoking, school violence, bullying, internet misuse, peer pressure, gambling, sexting, texting while driving, eating disorders and any other harmful behaviors. PSA’s will consist of one of the following:

    • 15 to 30-second video for television

    • 15 to 30-second recorded message for radio

    • 8.5x11 visual ad for print media (photos or drawings)

    PSAs will be judged by a non-biased panel of individuals selected for their involvement with teen issues. The PSA’s will be judged based on persuasiveness, logical organization, clarity, quality and creativity. Winning entries must:

    • Clearly communicate the importance of teens not participating in the destructive behavior

    • Identify a target audience and feature a call to action

    • Show original and creative ideas

    • Be appropriate and professional in presentation

    The deadline has been moved to December 10, 2010. Completed PSAs may be delivered to ASK by one of the following methods:

    • Mail to: ASK PSA Contest, PO Box 106, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, or

    • by email
     

    Additional Resources

    MyTube: Make a Video Public Service Announcement invites teens to explore issues that are important to them, and then write a script and film a video public service announcement.

    MyTube: Changing the World with Video Public Service Announcements helps students as they think about the meanings of words and images in public service announcements from YouTube before creating a PSA of their own.

    Verizon Thinkfinity offers Campaigning for Fair Use: Public Service Announcements on Copyright Awareness, where students can explore a range of resources on fair use and copyright then design their own audio PSAs.

     

    Disclaimer

    By entering, the entrant represents and warrants that the entry is his or her original work and that it does not contain previously published and/or copyrighted material and agrees to release, indemnify and hold harmless The Alliance for Safe Kids and any other organizations related to the contest from any and all claims, injuries, damages, or losses to the person or property and/or liabilities of any nature that in any way arise from participation in this contest or acceptance or use of a prize or parts thereof. All submissions, and any and all rights in submissions, become the property of ASK. No entries will be returned. ASK, Inc. reserves the right to make creative adaptations to the winning entry in order to comply with copyright laws, trademarks and other licensing issues which may prevent ASK from executing the PSA exactly as it is written.