Creating Your Own PSA (Public Service Announcement) w/ ideas and examples

PLEASE WATCH THIS QUICK VIDEO, THEN START READING.  

How many of you remember this anti-drug ad?  The commercial is from the 1990s but the message is still strong.  Public Service Announcements were (are) those creative informative commercials of that have made millions of viewer pause and think about the issues of drug use, environmental pollution, and safety.

This blog proposes that you can make your own earnest PSA (not the endless spoofs and parodies on the web and tv)  and you may actually get to share it with your school, local county community access station, public schools channel, website, or blog.  Below are more examples and steps to creating a PSA.  Keep in mind PSAs can also be posters, pamphlets and even songs, but that is another blog.  Get your learners together in groups of at least 4 people

 PREPARING TO TELLING THE STORY

How can you grab the attention of a viewer and present the cause of your message.  Do you use a true life statement, a fictional story, a cartoon, a teaser (meant to keep a viewer guessing till the end).  There are endless ways to tell your stories about abuse, sickness, financial awareness and poverty.


WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE (or your cause)
Ask yourself and your students what is of great concern, anguish or alarm in their lives and the world around them.  What are things that are being ignored and overlooked.  What do want people to be more informed of.  Autism, Staying Out of Debt,  Teen Driving Safety, Reducing Pollution, Knowing Your Community Resources are just a few of numerous examples.      


WHO ARE YOU TEACHING?
Scruff McDuff is mostly for children but what if you want to teach adults about how they can reduce crime?


RESEARCH
What are some important facts that you want to present or is there one overwhelming point you to get across.  Look into what the experts say.  Look at the risk factors that are contributing to the problem.

BRAINSTORM, BRAINSTORM, BRAINSTORM! (don't forget creativity)
How will you take this information and create a script or scenario and develop a short story to inform the public.  Is  a parade appropriate?  A music video?  A cartoon (which can be made in PowerPoint or by hand)?  Will fantasy be incorporated or grim reality?  Does your video include a mascot or a spokesperson?

PRODUCTION (what you need to create the video)
Does your group need to film inside or outside?  Are you going to make costumes and props?  Conduct interviews or create re-enactments?

SOME INTERESTING EXAMPLES

UNWRAPPING A POPULAR IMAGE

It is unbelievable today that the idea of a cigarette being life threatening was at one time, shocking.  One of the first organizations to try to use PSAs on television to inform audiences of the risks of tobacco use was the American Heart Association.  According to many interesting (and unintentionally funny) posts on YouTube, the famous Johnny Smoke anti-smoking ad created by the American Heart Association in 1968 left a chilling impression on the baby boomer generation.    Take a minute to watch this famous commercial, then continue reading.

Why a cigarette bandit on horse back in the Old West?  In the late 1960s nearly 69% of high school seniors smoked cigarettes.  Many of the nations most popular television programs were sponsored by tobacco companies.  Johnny Smoke was most likely created to strike directly at a popular image in the 1960s; the cool, macho, smoking cowboy, popularized in westerns, and especially "The Marlboro Man" TV commericials.   PSAs like Johnny Smoke must have had an effect on the general public.  Cigarette ads were no longer shown on television after 1971.

*NOTE - Many creative PSA's have used limited animation and graphics since realistically they carry a message more effectively.  This is also a rule of effective instructional design.

*NOTE - Encourage your learners to think about a particular image in their culture that they would like to unwrap.


TELL A TRUE STORY

Actor Yul Brynner  (1920-1985)was a very popular actor and director who was diagnosed with lung cancer.  This video was released after his death.  It is a straightforward testimony from a legendary start.  Also of interest are the John Wayne ads for the American Cancer Society.

RESOURCES AND SUGGESTIONS

WHAT TO USE
A simple digital camera can go a long way.  For college students working in groups their can be a collaboration of editing a commericical with the cameras on their cellular devices.   The most common video program in public school classrooms that this blogger is aware of is Microsoft MovieMaker.  Many classrooms have at least one computer where groups of students can take turns using the software.  If you are an educator or student with Apple Software use iMovie to the fullest.

Use notepaper, white boards and scrap paper and have teenage and adult students plan their video like professionals



LINKS/RESOURCES
The AD Council - Creaters and promoters of the some of the most acclaimed PSA campaigns in history, from Rosie the Riveter to Smokey the Bear.  http//:www.adcouncil.org

History of Public Service Announcements -  An interesting article from the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago, Illinois.  http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=publicservic

Alcoholics Anonymous - The organizations page with several of their PSAs  http://www.aa.org/lang/en/subpage.cfm?page=42

ONE FINAL VIDEO:  The World Famous Iron Eyes Cody "Keep America Beautiful" Commercial

International Poster Design (A Lesson on Language, Art and Promotion)

I do not know if it is necessary to translate the poster above.
If you are asking what language, it is Italian.   

A fun way to have students briefly learn a new language or a different custom is for them to make a poster about any idea in a different language and maybe using the artistic style associated with that language.  Posters have been used for propaganda, advertising and public safety;  for this blog I will use film posters.  When advertisers promote a film, book or any product internationally, they have always had to take into consideration the translation of a film title and the culture of the audience.   While I recommend this use of historical media for educators and researchers of art, media and foreign languages for this post I am using mostly images from famous family movies because of the appeal this idea may especially have for young children.  Most of the images will also be from an earlier era of poster design as reproduced promotional art work was more likely to very from artist to artist and country to country.  


  Below are some lesson adjustments

Literature and Foreign Language - If you are teaching a world literature class or your students are reading stories from another country, have students design a book cover or a promotional poster for the text you are reading in the language of the book's origin.

This will be really fun for readers of folk tales and historical novels.

The story of Cinderella was already world famous before the Walt Disney version (1950)  Some students still read the German version called "Ascenputtel"as well as the famous French version "Little Cinder Girl" or "Cendrillion"

The Mark of Zorro (1940).  Also known as Zorros Marke (Russian) and  Il Signe de Zorro (French)

This also works for texts and film titles of an American origin, that take place in another setting.  Zorro is a Spanish character but was created by an American author, Johnston McCulley.  If you are reading story about an character who lives in America but has a distinct cultural heritage then students can create a poster or book using the language or text of that culture.


Art - Movie poster designs could vary from continent to continent possibly based on culture or taste.
Looking at posters from around the world focusing on the same topic will help young learners see how the same idea may be interpreted in another country.

Disney's version of Snow White is instantly recognizable in all over the world after nearly 75 years.  Artists in different countries (left to right: Mexico, France and Russia) used different colors for the princess' dress.  In some countries she is depicted wearing all white, and red & gold perhaps reflecting varying ideas of culture.   

SOURCES FOR POSTER ART
With the nature of the internet, I am aware that many poster sites are not appropriate for young children or the poster with violent and sexual themes are accessible.  When possible search for the examples firsts.  If your pupils ask about a particular book or movie title, search with them.  So far I am only able to recommend using image search engines that may screen or block sites for content.

• Goggle Images - images.google.com -  Just type in the title of the subject you are studying and what language you want to find.  CHECK the web URL before selecting an image.  
• Library Books- Many public and private libraries carry collections of posters from different eras.  Do not just search in the arts section, but also advertising and world history.  

USING VINTAGE and CONTEMPORARY SYNDICATED CARTOONS AND COMIC STRIPS

                                                                    (Above:  Gasoline Alley, September 11th 2011)

If you've used an English textbook or taken a philosophy class then you may remember seeing classic Peanuts comics strips, with Charlie Brown and Snoopy, to illustrate a contextual point being made by the author.  The art of the comic, cartoon or caricature dates back several centuries, but even without knowing the full history it becomes clear that cartoonists are artists who are keenly aware of the issues, customs and ideals that were important to them and their audiences and thus their illustrated panels can be a window into understanding history.  Plus there is the fun of using recognizable characters. 

On the world wide web there are literally dozens of comics strips and political cartoons online that can be viewed daily for free.  Many sites gives viewers the option of emailing comics and posting them on websites.    Also teachers can ask for copies of comic strips from the daily newspaper in their media center.  If you pay close enough attention you easily spot a comic strip related to an import social issue, cultural event or curriculum objective.

The following are just few examples.  

HOLIDAYS (or cultural events)

Christmas, New Year's, Easter, Fourth of July, and many other special occasions are celebrated each and every year by cartoonists around the world.  Printed versions can make great gifts.  A single panel cartoon can even be used as a backdrop for a presentation.  For a staff party (or a culinary educational experience, for the kids) a colorful Sunday panel can be projected onto a screen to set the mood. 

Gasoline Alley is one of several comic strips to feature an annual Christmas Sunday Page.  This beautiful panel is by Jim Scancarelli.  Every Christmas panel he has illustrated since 2001 can be viewed at gocomics.com.
Copyright 2011 Tribune Media Syndicate.

For teachers of foreign languages, search for cartoons from other countries related to national holidays and festivals.


SOCIAL ISSUES

Curtis by Ray Billingsley, October 23rd 2010.

Curtis is one of the most critically praised comic strips in recent decades.  Many of Curtis's story lines and Sunday panels have touched on important issues: i.e, smoking, Facebook, bullying, unemployment, technology in the classroom and in this example from 2010, sagging. Many different artists have used relevant social issues of their time periods and culture as subjects for their panels. Doonesbury is famous for it's political commentary.  Rex Morgan M.D. recently had a storyline concerning a young woman who was suicidal because she felt responsible for the deaths of co-workers in a natural disaster overseas.  Comic strips featuring families (especially teenagers) like Blondie, Curtis and Zits will frequently make comical and intelligent observations about youth and technology.

SECRET SOURCE:  Free Newspapers from Peers.  Teachers can ask for copies of comic strips from the daily newspaper in their media center.  Some public libraries and museums receive free copies of Sunday papers during the week.   If you still subscribe to a newspaper, take glance at the funnies, even if you do not read them.  You may easily spot a comic strip related to an import social issue.  If you see a theme that is not relevant to your field then share the funny paper with someone you know.  Teachers can even set up an e-network to share articles, upcoming programs and events related to their students curriculum.    

POLITICS

Your students may not recognize Laurel and Hardy, but they may still laugh at this clipping with it's still relevant topic.
Exact date and artist unknown.

Just like in the example above, a downloaded or clipped cartoon can be scanned as part of a Web 2.0 tool. In a blog a political cartoon can begin an interesting discussion.


HISTORY

This 1942 panel illustrated by the popular cartoonist H(arold) T.(ucker) Webster is a good example of the American Homefront from a child's perspective.
This scan comes from Cartoon Cavalcade 1943 Ed. by Thomas Craven, Simon & Schuster Inc. 

From the above cartoon, imagine being that little boy and saying something about your mother (she makes planes!) that perhaps no child could have ever said before.  Older cartoon panels and strips invite learners to see the past a little differently.

SECRET SOURCE:  Many public and college libraries have a habit of holding on to older cartoon book collections for decades.  Brisk through them to find some good visual aids.  This blogger bought this discarded book at a public library bookstore for $2 dollars and it was filled with art from the Great Depression and World War II.  



LINKS

http://www.gocomics.com/ -  Free online home to over 200 syndicated comic strips with archives, some dating back to 2001.  For elementary school educators Peanuts and Nancy are recommended.  Peanuts is also recommended to English and Social Studies teachers.

yahoo.com/comics - Yahoo!'s Comics page featuring many of the same strips as Go Comics

Your Local Library - (do all links have to be e-links ?)

LEARN NC - Comics in the Classroom - A UNC-Chapel Hill based curriculum guide for using comic art in the classroom.  http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/631

USING VINTAGE JUVENILE RADIO PROGRAMS FROM WWII (Or Incorporating media from another time period into a lesson)

Dear Reader,

When you were in school, many of the courses that you had to take may have seen miles away from your everday life and interest.  When the lesson did seem to connect to you suddenly the information had more meaning.  When your teachers or professors tried to explain the many great wars of history did you remember the statistics or the posters, music and images of those events.

History can be exciting with movies, audio recordings, movie posters, book covers, renactments forgotten history facts and exhibit items from and about different time periods.  They can also give you a better understanding about the beliefs, attitudes, fears, hope and dreams of a generation. 

This blog will present random ideas about how to use digital and traditional media to enhance a history lesson for learners of all ages. 


Evey holiday season millions of people love to watch "A Christmas Story" (1983) a movie based on the works of Jean Shepherd.  From the main character Ralphie, a viewer can  pick up on the entertainment of the times.  Favorite juvenile radio programs like  Red Ryder, The Lone Ranger, and Little Orphan Annie are mentioned and we get a feel for what was exciting to a young boy in the late 1930s and 1940s.



Anyway the point that I am making is that it can be fun to give a young learner an idea of what a time peroiod was like by exposing them to the media of the period.  I'll continue to use World War II as an example.  Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, wartime proganda ideas spread to every medium:  comic books, box-office blockbusters, songs and radio "the theater of the imagination". 

Image from Comic Vine http://www.comicvine.com/little-orphan-annies-junior-commandos/49-36002/

Almost every popular hero of the time faced off against the Axis powers.  Radio and comic strip herione Little Orphan Annie led the fictional Junior Commandos.  This concept of young people making a difference on the home front was was so popular that many local Junior Commando units were iniatied throughout the country. The Associated Negro Press praised Annie's creator, cartoonist Harold Grey, for including an African American in the comic version.  The projects that young Americans contributed to include metal scrap drives and paper collections to add to resources overseas.  An idea like the Junior Commandos can lead to a project in which young learners compare volunteering of the past to the present and create a new community service project.

Image From http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/281/

The Green Hornet fought spies and saboteurs with his sidekick Kato on the NBC Blue (now ABC) network during the war.   The Hornet was popular enought to appear his own comic book series.  Most comics were aimed at young audiences and often featured brutal caricatures of Germans and especially the Japanese.  Motion pictures and radio broadcasts were not much different.  For learners over 14 years of age and older, war-time media of any kind can initiate a conversation about portrayls of ethic groups during wartime, a history of violence in media consumed by children and comparison to today's culture. 

The most outstanding example from radio's golden age may be The Adventures of Superman (1940 - 1951) which featured the title hero in adventures against the Nazis and perceived postwar communists and un-American threats.  The serial's famous 1946 "Unity House" story line featured the Man of Steel fighting the Ku Klux Klan; a storyline that might not have been possible a decade earlier as post-war America was now beginning to confront racism from within.   The show's climax may have been "The Atom Man" story line of 1945 in which Superman was nearly killed by a Krytonite powered Nazi criminal.  The "Batman's Great Mystery" episodes from 1947 are a good example of how juvenile audiences were beginning to be introduced to concepts that showed anti-semitic people as un-American and they can be heard at this link.

http://www.archive.org/details/Superman_page13 


HERE ARE SOME DISCUSSION TOPICS.

• Media always shapes how we feel about the past, present and future.  How does the media from the past make you feel about that time period?
• Is the media portrayl accurate and if not why any exaggeration?
• Are there any simularities between the media of this time period and media you are experiencing now?
• Is there any thing you would like to see re-emerge in our society? Not re-emerge?
• What do you think about the technology?

TO USE WITH OTHER TIME PERIODS.

• Use Radio broadcasts of historical events to re-create the surprise and wonder of Americans.  For example you can download the news bulletins of John F. Kennedy's assassination, the moon landing and Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have A Dream Speech"  for a study of the 1960's. 

HOW TO INTEGRATE WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Many radio programs are in the public domain (although for the best quality it much better to order from a radio drama company).  The Internet Archive http://www.archive.org/ has hundreds of wartime broadcasts including news broadcasts, music and speeches which can be downloaded and incorporated into a presentation, or a blog.

• Audio clips can be mixed with visuals to create an effective presentation. 
• Projects can be planned to recreate the entertainment style of a time period like recreating a war-time news or entertainment broadcasts using Voice Thread or Microsoft PowerPoint. 

LINKS
Internet Archive Old-Time Radio Page
http://www.archive.org/details/oldtimeradio

Radio Spirits - America's leading seller of high quality old-time radio broadcasts.
www.radiospirits.com

Dont' Touch That Dial:  Radio Programming In American Life:  Wartime Radio 1939 -1945.
This is an impressive history that covers programs that adults would have also enjoyed.
http://jfredmacdonald.com/wartime.htm