Guidelines created December 1999
by Crystal Kile, Public Service Director (1999-2000)

Each hour, WTUL DJs read at least one public service announcement as part of the station's FCC-mandated duty to the Greater New Orleans community.

Announcements will enter rotation at the of the discretion of the public service director. The station does not air pre-recorded public service announcements.

To submit a PSA, you may fax it to the attention of Public Service Director, WTUL-FM @ 504.862.3072; mail it to the attention of Public Service Director, WTUL-FM, Tulane University Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118; or e-mail it to psa@wtul.fm

To assure that your PSA makes it onto the air -- and for maximum effectiveness -- please submit dated announcements at least two weeks prior to an event or kickoff of an informational campaign. At present, the PSA air folder is updated each Friday morning.

Please observe the guidelines detailed below...

TYPES OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public service announcements break down into five general categories:

Announcements of intellectually-themed events -- lectures, symposia, films, readings, conferences, meetings, et cetera -- happening in the Greater New Orelans area which are of probable interest to an educated general audience. (Note: Please send announcements of musical and/or theatrical performances and art exhibitions to the attention of the WTUL Arts Calendar Director. Such announcements should follow the same basic guidelines listed below.)

• The announcement should fit on one 8.5" x 11" page, and must be printed in an easy-to-read, legible font. (Note: Often, organizations mail flyers, posters, or multi-page press releases announcing events to the station. These announcements generally do not make it into the PSA rotation because these formats are difficult for already harried air staff to interpret on the fly, and because it is difficult for the PSA director to edit to fit station guidelines.)
• The header of the announcement should include the title of the announcement and a kill date the date and time at which you wish the announcement to stop running.
• The body of the announcement must contain the name of the sponsoring organization and a phone number which the public may call for more information about the event or program.
• At the bottom of the page (separate from the body of the announcement), please include contact information -- name, phone and/or e-mail -- for the person responsible for the event publicity.
• All announcements should include some appropriate combination of the following information: What's going on/About what should listeners be mindful? When? Where? Why? What will happen at this event?/Why should people care and/or participate? Who is sponsoring the event or campaign? Is it open to public participation? How can listeners become involved? What phone number may the public call for additional information and/or to participate? (Note: If you are announcing a series of lectures, films or other events, it is best to create separate readers for each event in the series.)
• Please write in complete sentences.
• If the announcement includes a difficult-to-pronounce word, include a phonetic spelling in parentheses.
• VERY IMPORTANT! Use value-neutral wording only, please. That is, PSAs may contain absolutely no statements that are not based in fact. Adjectives tend not to be value-neutral: "good," "delicious," "complete," "high-quality," "special," "famous," "fun" and "interesting" are all value judgements and/or statements of opinion which cannot be part of an announcement. Of course, the words themselves are not banned. "The New York Times has called 1999 Alchon Lecturer 'Spike Lee one of the best, most influential, and controversial filmmakers working today'" could be part of an acceptable announcement, assuming that the quotation actually was printed in the paper.
• Please be brief. When you read the PSA aloud to yourself, it should take no longer than one minute at a moderate pace. 30-second PSAs are preferable. Some organizations include "short" and "extended" versions of and announcement on the same reader sheet.
• We can no longer announce that events are "free," "free to Tulane students, staff and faculty," or "free and open to the public." Additionally, as a non-commercial radio station, we cannot announce admission or registration fees. In the case of events which require payment of some sort of fee, we do accept phrasings such as "for registration information, please phone..." or "for ticket information, please phone..."
• Make sure that your announcement does not include a call to action, e.g., "Come on down to Armstrong Park for..." or "The Leukemia Association Walk/Run: Just do it!" or "Stop by!" or even "Don't forget!!" As a non-commercial radio station, we cannot broadcast calls to action.

EXAMPLES (excluding headers/footers)

The Xenthugian (Zee-n-thug-ian) Consulate of New Orleans invites you to an evening of dance from the outer rim of the Tog Galaxy, featuring the Marathax Normoo Collective. In a recent article in The Drama Review, critic Amy Smith called the Collective "the most engaging performance group from Tog since the Solstice Supernova Steppers." The performance will begin at 7:30 in Dixon Hall on the Tulane University Uptown campus, and will be followed by a reception. This event is free and open to the public. Please phone the Xenthugian Consulate at 555-2222 for more information.

The Xenthugian (Zee-n-thug-ian) Student Association of Tulane University is organizing relief efforts to assist those left isolated by the pulse event that devastated communications across the Zeebooz system. The XSA is collecting portable communicators, simulation warez, and personal medical scanners for distribution by the Intergalactic Relief Organization. Please contact the Xenthugian Student Association at 555-1111 to discuss your proposed donation. Again, the number is 555-1111.

New Orleans University Consortium students planning to study off-world next year may take advantage of a immuno-enhancement clinic to be offered Saturday, April 1st by the Tulane School of Public Health. Completion of this regimen satisfies the Intergalactic Health Organization requirement for travellers to most sectors of the Milky Way, Cazoeriix (Ka-zo-e-rix), and Tog Galaxies. Participants will be asked to bring identichip keys with them so that their wellness status may be updated on site. The clinic is free, but participants are asked to pre-register. To register, phone the Tulane School of Public Health at 555-8888.

According to a recent report by the Hoverhound Rescue Foundation, after they are retired from the arena, the lives of racing hoverhounds are too often abuse-filled and short. Across this sun system alone, an estimated two million otherwise healthy creatures past their racing prime are destroyed each year. As a breed, the hoverhound is noted for its loyalty, gentleness, and generousity of spirit. Plus, it won't leave dirty paw prints on your carpet! If you have room for such a companion in your life, please contact the New Orleans Hoverhound Rescue Unit at 504.555.9999.

On Saturday April 1st, the New Orleans Liver Society will hold a benefit 5K run-walk starting at 10 a.m. from Shelter 10 in Audubon Park (near the Magazine Street entrance). Proceeds from the event will support liver disease research and transplant registry efforts in the greater New Orleans area. Post-race entertainment will be provided by The Toasts and The Hepaticats. For registration information, please phone the New Orleans Liver Society at 555-8686.