Online Promotion Guide: Active Parenting Now in 3 Sample Public Service Announcement

Tips for Success:

• Use only one side of a standard 8.5" X 11" sheet of white paper; the official letterhead of the sponsoring organization is ideal.
• The words “PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT” should be typed in the top left-hand corner to indicate this is a request for a non-paid/non-advertising community announcement.
• The words “RELEASE DATE” and “KILL DATE” tell the station when to begin airing the announcement and when to stop. Then type in contact information including your name, phone number/e-mail address.
• Write a headline summarizing your message. Then type in the number of seconds (i.e. :30 sec) it will take to read the message. Note that most stations prefer announcements in :15, :30, or :60 second increments; with :30 being the best length. Remember, the station is making the announcement without charge.
• Write an announcement describing the program and its benefits. Be sure to include the basic facts— who, what, when and where. Find a clock with a second hand and read the announcement in a reasonable rate of speech to be sure it fits in the allotted time frame. NOTE: ALL BODY COPY IS TYPED IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
• Mail, e-mail or hand-deliver the public service announcement to the community events calendar manager at the station at least two weeks before you would like it to be run. Call ahead to check the specific deadline for each station.
• A few days after mailing or delivering your announcement make a follow-up telephone call to be sure it has been received and offer to answer any questions.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Released: September 15, 2003

Kill Date: October 9, 2003 (this is the date for the announcement to end)

Contact: Name, Phone Number/E-mail Address

Mitchell Middle School Offers Active Parenting Now in 3 Workshop

:30 sec

(Body copy typed in capital letters:)
BEDTIME BATTLES, CHORE WARS, HOMEWORK HASSLES… IT'S NOT EASY BEING A PARENT THESE DAYS. AT AN UPCOMING ACTIVE PARENTING NOW IN 3 WORKSHOP YOU CAN FIND NEW WAYS TO TACKLE PARENTING CHALLENGES AND LEARN HOW TO RAISE CHILDREN WHO ARE COOPERATIVE, RESPONSIBLE AND BETTER ABLE TO RESIST PEER PRESSURE.

BEGINNING OCTOBER 9, MITCHELL MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL OFFER THE NEW VIDEO-BASED WORKSHOP ON THREE CONSECUTIVE THURSDAY EVENINGS.

CONTACT: (Name of the School) Office at xxx-xxx-xxxx TO REGISTER.