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.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/72040/how_to_get_your_psa_on_tv.html?page=2&cat=59