Public Service Announcements at Simmons College Radio

Christina TaddeiCourtney DillonMegan McLean

Background

Simmons College Radio

In production the past two and a half years

Live internet streaming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Responsible for creating five Public Service Announcements (PSA)

Problem

Obesity epidemic

As of 2008, 32% of Men and 35% of Women in the US

were obese

Over 68% of the population is either obese or

overweight

Heart disease as a leading cause of death

Problem2010 Dietary Guidelines

Balance between calories in and calories out

Consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, fat-

free milk and low fat dairy products

Consume fewer foods with sodium, trans fat,

cholesterol, added sugars and refined grains

Physical activity

Methods

Literature Review

Public Service Announcements

Survey Development and Delivery

Literature Review

PSA History

Effective messages

Positive framed ads

Repetition

Public Service Announcements

Writing and Producing PSAs

Writing style: teasers, word choice, length

Production considerations: speed, music, tone

Breakfast

Physical Activity

Portion Control

Survey

Pre-PSA Questions

Radio habits

Identification of past PSAs

Past behavior change

Post-PSA Questions

Current behavior

Likelihood of behavior change

Analysis of PSA

Results: Pre-Survey

Results: Post-Survey

Discussion• Pre-Survey

– 84% Listen to AM/FM Radio

– 87% Heard PSA on AM/FM Radio

– 37% Talked about PSA

– If did talk about PSA, only 52% take action

– 23% Tuning into Simmons Radio

• Post-Survey

– 97% PSA Informative

– 67% PSA caught attention

– 78% PSA provoked thought about habits

– 36% Likely to change habits

– 60/40 Eating Breakfast vs. Skipping or Occasionally Eating• 100%: Found Informative

• 75%: Catch Attention

• 92%: Thought About Current Habits

• 58%: Change Habits

Limitations

• Population

• Time Period

• Setting

• Topic

• Number Tuning into Radio

Thank you: Professor Len Mailloux

All who listened to 1st Show