How to Get Your PSA on TV

Step #1: Budget

Before you start on aspect of production, you must first establish a budget. This is where you need to decide if you're going to produce your own PSA or purchase one off of a credible media organization. If you were to produce your own PSA, keep in mind that it could cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands depending on your quality and level of professionalism. If you are not planning to produce your own PSA, purchasing one saves both money and time. Consider if your local station were to refuse to air the PSA at all. A lot of money could potentially have been wasted.

Say you had the motivation and ideas necessary to create your own PSA. You would then need to decide how exactly you would finance the project. Remember that you must have the money secured before you contact your local stations to ensure your credibility with that particular media outlet. You can secure such many from special fundraising events to asking for sponsorship from local organizations that support your message.

Step #2: Contacting TV Stations

The first thing you need to do when contacting your TV station is to determine who the Public Service Director is. Once you have done that be sure to offer him or her a call and formally introduce yourself.

The next thing you'll want to do is write down the contact information along side the directors name for the stations you wish to send your PSAs to. You will essentially be making a contact list that will prove to be a prime reference for future attempts to broadcast.

Step #3: Meeting with the Public Service Director

After you've contacted the director and set up a formal meeting time make sure that you are completely prepared for the meeting. Bring in your demo tape as well as a script of your PSA announcement. Also have a prepared presentation on the positive reasons why your message needs to be aired.

Keep in mind that you will also have to provide some information for the station. The director may ask you for the information of a contact person in your group, the date that the final broadcast tapes will be sent to the station, and the time frame in which you would like your PSA to be aired on their station.

Remember to make a good impression. Having these meetings versus a simple phone call will help you build a relationship with the station, gain credibility as well as improve your chances of having your PSA aired.

Step #4: Checking with the Station

Don't forget to keep checking up with the station after your initial meeting with the director to make sure everything has been received and is in order. Offer your services to help with anything regarding your PSA announcement that may potentially help the station. When you call, be sure that your call isn't construed as useless and nagging. Ask for the director how he or she liked the tapes or how they plan to use them as oppose to just asking if they have arrived.

Step #5: Thank You's

This rule may seem basic and self-explanatory but that doesn't mean it's not of the utmost importance. In order to help build and establish a good relationship with the station and make future broadcasts easier and more effective remember to show your appreciation for their help. Say thank you personally to the Public Service Director but also make an effort to say thank you to the entire station via a letter or card or something of that sort.