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Public Service Announcements |
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Radio Salaam Namaste is proud to air Public Service Announcements (PSAs) or, "non-commercial" announcements to provide information to the public. Consequently, most PSAs are produced by nonprofit associations, but commercial, for-profit organizations may also use them to promote their nonprofit activities and events.
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Air time (usually 15- to 30-second spots) is available to groups such as community associations, advocate groups, nonprofit organizations and for-profit organizations that are promoting their community, nonprofit events with PSAs. |
PSA message requirements:
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The ad Must contain information that is beneficial to the community. |
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Should not include controversial or self-serving material. |
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| RADIO PSAs |
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Audio CDs
Radio Salaam Namaste requires audio CDs PSAs that are ready to air. Audio PSAs produced by your organization may be as simple as having one person record the scripted message on audio CD; however, you may also incorporate music and sound effects. Write and format the copy for the recorded PSA in the same manner as you would prepare live copy for broadcast (see below).
Live Copy
We encourage the preparation of live-copy PSAs, which are short, scripted announcements to be read by the station's on-air hosts during regular programming. ("Copy" is a term used to refer to text in brochures, press releases and, as in this case, a broadcast script.) PSAs are read as part of a community calendar or used whenever there is spare broadcast time. It is very important to contact the program director to determine the preferred format and length for PSAs.
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Guidelines for Radio PSAs |
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Length
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Fit your message into the standard time slots of 15 and 30 seconds. Names and phone numbers included in the message should be included in your timing. If you are submitting live-copy, read the message out loud and time yourself. |
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Message
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Include the most essential information in the first paragraph (the lead paragraph). |
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Use the active voice. |
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Active voice: The company offers several products. |
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Passive voice: Several products are offered by the company. |
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Use short, upbeat sentences written in everyday language. |
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Tell how this information can help the viewer/listener. |
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Ask for action. |
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Tell viewers/listeners where they can go, what they can do or who they can call. |
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Edit tightly; look for ways to shorten phrases and sentences. |
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Submitting Audio-CDs
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Please be sure the CD is labeled with your name, telephone number and the topic or headline of the PSA. |
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Submit a printed copy (script) of the PSA, along with your pre-recorded CD, to the station and type "CD Enclosed" at the top or end of the PSA script. |
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Standards (for PSA Copy)
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Print the PSA, if possible, on your company's letterhead (or with a heading that includes your business name, address, numbers, etc.). |
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Type PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT at the top of the page so the journalist immediately knows what she's reading. |
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Indicate whether the announcement is for immediate release or for a later release date. For example, you can type "For Immediate Release," "For Release on April 1st , 2006" or "For Release On or After April 1st, 2006." |
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Include a contact name (most likely yours) and phone number. Be available to answer questions or provide further information. |
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Include a reading time (how many seconds it should take to read the PSA on the air). |
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Provide a short headline that summarizes the content at a glance. Try to include your company name in the headline to build instant name recognition. For example, "ABC Electronics Offers Free Software Training." |
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Type a "dateline" in front of the lead paragraph. A dateline includes the location from which the news is being generated (city in all caps) and the date. For example, a dateline might look like this:
DALLAS, TX (April 1, 2006) - ABC Electronics introduced a switch. . . |
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Format (for PSA Copy)
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Lead Time
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Please send us your PSA as far in advance as possible. |
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