If you’ve watched TV or used the internet, chances are, you’ve come across a Public Service Announcement or two. PSAs are tools intended to educate the public. These short, impactful videos cover a range of topics and aim to feature compelling content that resonates with audiences, and some have been very successful at doing what they do. So how do you educate the masses in a meaningful way?
How about educating people through telling a story that captivates? When an amazing narrative is at the heart of it all, you can’t go wrong.
But what about taking things a step further and telling a story that makes people feel uncomfortable? It’s a risk, sure. But we live in such a fast-paced world, and so many of the messages that we receive wind up forgotten. A carefully crafted PSA has the capacity to educate, evoke feelings, inspire action, and more. It has the power to create a strong memory that people will carry with them.
A gripping (and risky!) PSA from anti-gun violence group March for Our Lives is a solid case in point. March for Our Lives came into existence after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, when thousands of students took to the streets in protest, sending out a rallying cry in support of increased gun control. March for Our lives remains a dedicated, powerful movement, inspiring young people across the nation to take action and continue fighting for sensible policies that save lives.
This PSA is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and it stayed with me long after I’d viewed it. The PSA, titled Generation Lockdown, is in response to the ongoing 2020 gun debate. The story involves a child teaching adults things she shouldn’t have to, and the narrative carries the two-minute video. What begins as a team-building event turns into something unexpected, yet perfectly within the realm of possibility, given where we are at this time and the way things are in our country right now.
I won’t say any more about this PSA, other than to tell you that you should watch it, from beginning to end. Naturally, the best way for you to understand its impact is by experiencing it yourself…
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