Extension Marketing Resources

Radio

Putting a Radio Public Service Announcement Together
and Getting It on the Air

Most radio stations take great pride in community involvement. They try to make air time available for public service announcements (PSAs) they believe will be of interest to their listeners.

What is a PSA?

A PSA is a short notice designed to tell about some special service, or an upcoming program, activity or event. Generally, stations accept PSAs from local, tax-exempt, nonprofit groups and charitable organizations.

Some Tips on Preparing a PSA

PSA lengths may vary from station to station. Some smaller-market stations may use PSAs as long as 60 seconds, while larger-market stations may use 15- or 30-second lengths exclusively. Check with the station to determine your options. Stations generally prefer written copy to taped spots to assure professional quality, with station announcers or personalities delivering copy for “live” announcements.

Other Hints

• Make the PSA interesting and conversational.
• Grab the listener’s attention in the first few seconds, communicate a clear message and lead the listener to take action.
• Decide on a good, strong close. Generally, you’ll want the audience to act, so be sure to tell them clearly what you want them to do.
• Include a short cover note explaining the reason for the announcement, with a start and end date, and a contact person with phone number so listeners may call for more information.

Send your announcement at least two weeks prior to the event, if possible, to the station and follow up with a phone call. Of course, a personal visit to the station is an even better way of increasing your chances of getting the spot aired.

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