PSA 101: Seven Effective Public Service Announcement Examples to Inspire You
By Chelsea Olsen, Connect360
If you’re about to start creating a public service announcement, you might be looking for some good PSAs to inspire you. Look no further. We’ve pulled these public service announcement examples from our PSA Connect distribution library just for you.
These videos run the gamut from serious to silly, but each one has an important message to share. We hope that watching them will spark your creativity and help you explore the many forms a PSA can take.
The Arc: Say Yes!
This PSA from The Arc puts the people they serve front and center. The man in the video is a member of the intellectual and developmental disabilities community who shares his experience of working in a corporate setting. This “own voices” approach is ideal for organizations that want to create awareness of and empathy with the populations they support.
https://c360m.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CMNB3747422.mp4
V Foundation: Halftime
This PSA knows its audience. The spokesperson is an actor, but there is a cameo appearance from a well-known figure — the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State University basketball coach, ESPN commentator, and foundation co-founder. The intensity of the music and sound effects demands attention, despite the reserved visuals. This approach is perfect for organizations that have a niche audience likely to respond to interest-specific imagery and language. Note that this PSA also comes in a version that does not ask for donations. Many networks do not run PSAs that explicitly ask for donations. If you do choose to ask, make sure you provide an alternative version as well.
https://c360m.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/vfound_halftime_donate.mp4
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Talk Away the Dark
This PSA from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention boldly models the advice the AFSP offers the public. The young woman asks her father “Have you been thinking about suicide?” This question may sound shocking to some, but is also a key suicide prevention strategy. Dim lighting and soft music makes this PSA feel intimate and real. This shock-value approach is useful for organizations that want to change minds and spur action.
https://c360m.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/afsp_talk.mp4
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation: Find Your Best Self
The voice over takes this Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation PSA to a new level. An expressive narrator delivers a rhyming poem in time with each scene. Poetry and song lyrics can be hard to deliver well, but this PSA hits all the right notes. The voiceover adds momentum that keeps viewers riveted until the end. This works only because the video has a strong narrator. If you want to try this style, put in the effort to find the perfect voiceover artist.
https://c360m.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/rbff_find.mp4
Peace Corps: Bold Invitation
This PSA from the Peace Corps relies on the power of inclusivity. It invites viewers to become a part of the mission, and clearly lays out that mission in just 30-seconds. The series of clips chosen to make up this PSA create a heart-warming atmosphere that viewers will want to join. This style of PSA is great for organizations seeking volunteers.
https://c360m.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pc_bold_a.mp4
Ducks Unlimited: Healthy Wetlands, Healthy Communities
This PSA from Ducks Unlimited uses animation to tell its story. Animation is a great choice in this case, because it allows the PSA to easily show how water moves through the environment. Animated PSAs are useful for organizations that need to describe a complex process in a simple way or show the science behind their mission.
https://c360m.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ducks_healthy.mp4
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Get Treatment
This simple yet powerful PSA from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs relies on testimonials from real service members. There’s no music and no flashy graphics to distract from these veterans. This ad is proof that you don’t need a huge budget or a block-buster production team to put together a compelling PSA.
https://c360m.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/va_get.mp4
Your Partner for PSA Distribution
After you’ve made your PSA, the next step is to get it in front of the right audiences. Connect360 helps nonprofits and professional organizations distribute their PSAs on TV, Radio, and digital platforms. We consistently deliver industry-leading results, because we take the time to get to know your organization and its audience. Contact us to learn more.
About the author: Chelsea Olsen is Connect360’s Account Director and Senior Business Development Director. She is responsible for managing client public service campaigns as well as spearheading the company’s new business development and marketing.
