Helpful tips on creating a successful PSA

• Pick a topic you are excited about. It’s much easier to come up with a good idea for your PSA if you are truly passionate about the message. 

• Do your research. The best PSAs have solid facts/statistics to go along with them. Read the Background Reading associated with your topic and take a look at our Research Page for more information and a few places to start.

• Be clear and concise; thirty seconds goes by quickly. 

• If you choose to use statistics, make them relevant by putting them in context. For example, stating that “1.1 billion people are affected by water scarcity” is not as impactful as “1 in 7 people are affected by water scarcity.”

• “Less is more” is often a good rule of thumb to make the most effective point.

• If you decide to have people talking in your PSA, be sure to speak slowly and clearly so that everyone can understand you. Make sure you articulate your words. Let other people screen your PSA before you turn it in to make sure that they can hear and understand your message.

• Be creative. You can use video, skits, pictures, voice over, music, flip-books - the sky is the limit! Get your friends involved and collaborate to make an even better project.

• Pick a tone for your PSA. If you want a funny PSA, use witty, clever puns to get your point across. Choose appropriate music to help guide your audience into the right mood.

• Try to keep it positive, as too much negativity can turn your audience off to the real message.

• Make sure you tell the audience what you want them to DO with the information you are providing.  PSAs are all about making people act. Whether you want people to conserve water or stop smoking, make sure you tell them how they can act to fix the problem.

• Pick an audience. Are you trying to reach children? Students your age? Adults or policymakers? Choose an audience and make your PSA relevant to them.

• Make sure you follow all of the Rules and Guidelines, including length, content, and copyrighting. Also, check to make sure you’ve turned in all of the necessary forms.

• Have fun! This is a great way to learn more about the issues regarding world population, and it should be a fun project for you and your friends.

Other websites worth checking out as you work on your PSA:

www.SchoolTube.com – Here you’ll find best practices for videos and a library of copyright-free music and images.