How long should a public service announcement be when read out loud?

Question

I am doing some public service announcements for the first time, and I wonder if something that take 30 seconds is too long?

Answer 1

A public service announcement should be long enough to get your message across but short enough that people will not stop listening. This would be the same on TV or on radio, where the audience is more attuned to listening. If you can get it done in 30 seconds, fine. If 10 or 15 seconds, maybe better. I once wrote PAs for local radio for a youth agency and had the young people enact roles in them. These ran up to 45 seconds each, but were a hit with the local audience because these were their kids. So it all depends. But try to make them interesting, even somehow unique, and you can get away with longer air time, even on TV.

Answer 2

I'd say thirty seconds. If you can find "The More You Know" commercials on the web those should give you a pretty good idea. The PSAs at the end of the GI Joe cartoon were usually pretty short and sweet.

Answer 3

Depends on the event and how many basic facts need to be included.