MetaFilter posts tagged with PSA

Advertising in the public interest

Rhaomi — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:54:54 -0800

"What if America wasn't America?" That was the question posed by a series of ads broadcast in the wake of the September 11th attacks, ads which depicted a dystopian America bereft of liberty: Library - Diner - Church. Together with more positive ads like Remember Freedom and I Am an American, they encouraged frightened viewers to cherish their freedoms and defend against division and prejudice in the face of terrorism (seven years previously). The campaign was the work of the Ad Council, a non-profit agency that employs the creative muscle of volunteer advertisers to raise awareness for social issues of national importance. Founded during WWII as the War Advertising Council, the organization has been behind some of the most memorable public service campaigns in American history, including Rosie the Riveter, Smokey the Bear, McGruff the Crime Dog, and the Crash Test Dummies. And the Council is still at it today, producing striking, funny, and above all effective PSAs on everything from student invention to global warming to arts education to community service.

Additional resources: A-to-Z index of Ad Council campaigns - Campaigns organized by category - Award-winning campaigns - PSA Central: A free download directory of TV, radio, and print PSAs (registration req'd) - An exhaustive history of the Ad Council [46-page PDF] - YouTube channel - Vimeo channel - Twitter feed

What am I doing, I don't even LIKE beets!

Monster_Zero — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:51:20 -0800

Many TV-savvy Canadians will be familiar with the distinctive painted exclamation mark of the Concerned Children's Advertisers. For nearly 20 years, the CCA has partnered with broadcasters across the country in order to produce and air PSAs aimed at kids. This has resulted in some classic spots on such topics as drug use prevention, media literacy, and more recently a series on the importance of fitness. A personal favorite: the alternately endearing and terribly creepy Don't You Put It In Your Mouth (feat. Scary, Anemic Lion). (The CCA has a Youtube channel and also provides a great deal of extra material and higher-quality video at their website. The final spot is thanks to the inimitable RetroWinnipeg.)

IT'S ALL PIPES!!!

Sys Rq — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:35:56 -0800

Brazil's new water conservation campaign: Xixi no Banho! (slyt)

Don't Talk to Robots

Pater Aletheias — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:02:52 -0800

PSA's from the Future

Huh. Kinda reminds me of that guy in Casino Royale.

miss lynnster — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:36:55 -0800

Bleeding billboard. Yeah, that's what I said.

That Wasn't in the Script

kittens for breakfast — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:37:03 -0800

Via The A.V. Club (which was in turn via Jezebel): Actress Keira Knightley stars in a (graphic) domestic violence PSA for the UK charity Women's Aid. Probably SFW, but may be very upsetting to watch.

PSAs Gone Wrong.

gman — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:31:04 -0800

The Nine Weirdest PSAs Ever Made.

Aunt Bee and Big Al say vote McCain!

miss lynnster — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:51:36 -0800

Okay, this election is officially weird. Opie, Andy, Richie and the Fonz apparently want us to vote Obama. Sadly, it's missing the kind of catchy songs featured in Fonzie's other PSA (NSFW).

That's so... the children's insult of choice!

Ambrosia Voyeur — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:16:32 -0800

AS OF 10/08/2008, THERE WERE OVER 80,100 PAGES ONLINE WITH THE PHRASE "That's so gay."

Hillary Duff is here to elevate teen discourse! And here's a handy printout.
How 'gay' became children's insult of choice.

Who cares?

OverlappingElvis — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:38:32 -0800

Don't vote.

Batman and Joker care about your safety.

spec80 — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:01:20 -0800

Better Living with the Batman & Joker Supersquad. Respect. Heavy Lifting. Bike Safety. UV Protection. Taking Time for Play. Herpes. Sexual Harassment.

"There really are no accidents"

orthogonality — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:05:35 -0800

Absolutely horrifying, not for the squeamish, you've been warned Canadian public service announcements. Also, the only slightly less gory German educational film "Forklift driver Klaus". An unaired and disturbingly violent Canadian PSA on domestic violence. Graphically violent Irish PSAs warning against speeding, terrorism and Harry Chapin. A French Canadian worker slowly and gruesomely loses his arm. An Australian PSA featuring a blood-covered baby. Finally, an essay (with linked video examples) by a marketing consultant on "Turn-off Tactics" in public service advertisements.

I learned it from watching you!

louche mustachio — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:29:35 -0800

Remember when TV raised us right? Time for Timer taught us about cheese, carrots, breakfast, and oral hygiene. The Abominable Snowman taught us about lunch, money, advertising, and the Food Group Disco! Woodsy Owl taught us to Give a Hoot! and keep America lookin' good! and Mr Yuk SCARED THE LIVING CRAP OUT OF US. Gordon Gantz taught us about being a metrosexual decades before the term entered the lexicon. We learned about chewing, eating fruit, the four food groups. A giraffe and a squirrel taught us about saving energy. The Tin Woodsman told us how he would care for his heart, if he had one. And dolphins mind very much if you smoke.

PSA and the media

roofus — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 08:45:06 -0800

“If you’re a prostate cancer survivor, one of the hardest things to question is whether your treatment was worth it.”
In 2003 Professor Alan Coates, then chief executive of the Cancer Council of Australia, caused a media storm, when he suggested that based on available evidence he personally would not undergo PSA screening for prostate cancer. This month's RSM journal analyses the Australian media response in detail.

condom earworm PSA from India

madamjujujive — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:11:32 -0800

The Condom Song is a charmingly bizarre safe-sex message from India. Music and humor are often used to promote safe sex and pregnancy prevention, alternatives to shock tactics. Bangkok's safe sex theme restaurants represent a slightly more novel approach, a chain called Cabbages and Condoms. Whatever the style, condom promotion is much more mainstream than when the Golden Girls' had their first awkward encounter and British comedians tackled uncomfortable condom language. NSFW

Spidey Sez: Masturbation won't make you insane or harm you in any other way.

Alvy Ampersand — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 22:27:34 -0800

The Amazing Spider-Man and Planned Parenthood team up to thwart a baby-stealing alien who encourages young people to have unprotected sex. [Via scans_daily]

Down in front!

miss lynnster — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:44:31 -0800

The Fonz & Henry Winkler teach us about sexual abuse. Yes, you read correctly.
Special appearances by John Ritter, Fred Flintstone, and a creepy singing guy in overalls.

Dark Sith Lords who use lightsabers have children who use lightsabers.

brownpau — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:16:19 -0800

Vader Dad. "I learned it by watching you!"

Pat Riley Raps about Drugs

jonson — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:39:57 -0800

Three years prior to the Superbowl Shuffle, another group of eventual sporting champions gathered in a Los Angeles studio to bring a powerful anti-drug message to the children.

Suicide Bombing: Just Say No.

CunningLinguist — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 21:09:42 -0800

Suicide Bombing: Just Say No. Hollywood-style anti-suicide bombing PSA now in heavy rotation on Iraqi TV. Previously discussed here before the spot was finished.

How close?

Eideteker — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 16:02:39 -0800

How close does a motorcyclist have to be before you see them? [link is qt video] As was recommended by the original poster, put down any beverage; this will probably startle you. (from livejournal's motorcyles community) [you bet there's more inside!]

Very Special Duke Trading Cards

sdrawkcab — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 08:54:43 -0800

Tips from the Blue Devils - Dunking the ball is a flashy move. In some instances, it can be the wrong move. Pot and cocaine are wrong moves. They mess up your thinking and can kill you instantly.

Stop, drop, and promptly soil yourself.

icosahedral — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:55:35 -0800

One dry scotch pine tree, plus one string of old christmas lights, has the potential to add up to a really bad day. [qt] This can happen after a tree has been drying for three weeks or so. [pdf] So please - keep them watered!

The Sims 3?

davehat — Thu, 21 Apr 2005 02:50:11 -0800

Teenage Mum. A public information film for the gaming generation (embedded Quicktime movie). [via Edge]

It's the place where content is free

ulotrichous — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:34:30 -0800

Cursor Miner's Library (flash). [via screenhead]