1. Choose an Issue
Select a topic or issue that would benefit the public. This topic may address social or environmental issues such as bullying, littering, or industrial pollution, but also might be on a smaller scale like “push in your chair” or “cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.” Think about what message you want to get across and to whom you are directing this message.

2. Hook Your Audience
A good PSA will be noteworthy for at least one reason. Maybe a PSA will grab attention because of its comedy, shock value, emotionality, or importance to the audience. Make use of the various character positions and expressions to demonstrate an array of emotions. Use eye-catching images in your storyboard and try not to leave much empty white space. Use dialogue bubbles or other Textables to explain your message. A very different, but effective, strategy is to limit the text to a single word or slogan, or to leave text out entirely.

3. Get Your Facts Straight
Research the topic as necessary. If you have incorrect information, your message will quickly lose its credibility. Make sure the factual information that you present, such as statistics examples, is correct and relevant. Use a blend of figurative language, images, and jokes to prove a point, but be sure that you are not insinuating untrue things. Choose appropriate scenes, characters, and items that enhance your message.

4. Be Straightforward
Your public service announcement should be clear and concise. Get your point across without dawdling. If you choose to make a more thought-provoking message, you still want your audience to understand after a moment of consideration, rather than spend time puzzling over the higher meaning.
(Source: Story Board That)

How Can I Use PSAs in the Classroom?

Use PSA storyboards as an introduction to a unit on persuasive writing. Public service announcements usually do not have legitimate opposing stances, but many public service announcements want to persuade the audience in some way. Creating a PSA storyboard can help students think about their passions, important issues in our society, and convincing reasons to back up claims.

Make storyboards to understand and address contemporary issues in your school, town, country, or world. PSAs can cover numerous serious topics like racism, sex trafficking, drunk driving, drugs, but also smaller concerns in modern life.

Use storyboards as a means of planning for video assignments. PSAs are great templates for advertisements, and often occur alongside commercials on TV, on radio, or in print. Storyboarding is very useful when planning for the needs of filming: set, actors, props, etc.

For recurring issues in your classroom or a reminder about rules and expectations, a comic strip can make a delightful public service announcement. Sometimes making light of a simple (and potentially important) issue, can make a discussion on it easier to start or even have a bigger impact on students.

You or your students can create posters and PSA infographics to hang in the classroom or in the halls of the school to start a movement, like encouraging recycling or reminding their peers about bullying or peer pressure. Often these types of PSAs have a clear statement and call to action, and are made with vibrant, eye-catching colours.(Source: Story Board That)

PSA with a flair - Film

PSA with a flair - Film - Wiki How

Follow-Up Discussion Questions
  
Showcase or present a public service announcement storyboard. Discuss the effectiveness of the various elements. Use some of these questions to guide the discussion.


What message should you take away? Is the message presented explicitly or implicitly?

Who is the intended audience? Where would you post or present this public service announcement?

Do you believe it? Do you understand why you should [follow the message]?

Do you have an emotional reaction or a personal connection? What in the PSA makes you feel that way?

Are you convinced by this PSA? What are the reasons or evidence, if any, provided on the storyboard?

What would make this a stronger PSA?

How else could you present the same message in a different way? (i.e. use comedy as opposed to emotional connection) Which approach is more effective? (Source: Story Board That)

More Resources About this Strategy

Infographics - a wide range of programmes here	Scholastic - PSA Lesson Plan
MyTube: Changing the World with Video Public Service Announcements Years 9 - 12	Share My Lesson - Creating PSAs Years 9 - 12

Examples of Public Service Announcement within On the Job website
#TC means that The Conversation was the stimulus material

Home Entertainment Store Assistant	Make an up-to-date Public Service Announcement (PSA) about "Netflix [or another streaming service] and Australian Content". Middle  Secondary Lesson Strategy:  Expert Jigsaw Strategy, Discussion, PSA Movie
International Aid Worker	International Aid Workers - the effects of Climate Change on their work? #TC Middle  Secondary Lesson Strategy: Cornell Note-taking Method & Public Service Announcement
Nurse Manager	Want to improve care in nursing homes? Mandate minimum staffing levels #TC Secondary Lesson Strategy: PSA
Oceanographer	Social Media Action: Plastic and how it affects our oceans #TC +BTN Primary Middle Secondary Lesson Strategy: PSA within Social Media
Osteopath	The correct or right school backpack? Primary Middle Secondary Lesson Strategy: PSA or Prezi