WASHINGTON—The National Association of Broadcasters has launched a redesigned Spot Center website that makes it even easier for local radio and television stations to access high-quality public service campaigns from trusted nonprofit organizations.

Local broadcasters have a long history of serving their communities beyond news and entertainment by being involved in local issues and organizations with PSAs, volunteer efforts, education or fundraising.

The NAB's Spot Center is designed to support that mission by providing stations with educational resources to inform and engage their audiences.

The improvements to the site aim to provide a cleaner, more intuitive experience where broadcasters can browse, download and voluntarily air public service announcements on issues affecting their communities, including heatstroke, Alzheimer’s and drug-impaired driving.

More specifically, the NAB’s Spot Center includes:

• Broadcast-ready public service materials for local stations.
• Free-to-use campaigns available at no cost to broadcasters.
• Credible content from established organizations on important public issues.

More information on the new Spot Center is available here.

WASHINGTON—NAB is launching a yearlong, nationwide effort to celebrate the role radio and TV stations play in recording the history and connecting their communities as the nation commemorates the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

NAB will make new public service announcements and a comprehensive toolkit available to local stations highlighting how broadcasters have captured defining moments in the life of the nation and presented them to the American people.

“From world-changing speeches and moon landings to hometown triumphs and moments of heartbreak, local broadcasters have been there, informing our communities and preserving the stories that define us,” said NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we are proud to spotlight the unique role broadcasters play as trusted recorders of history.”

The association has released new “We Are Broadcasters” TV and radio spots highlighting the role of broadcasters in carrying the nation’s most consequential moments to viewers via the airwaves and continue serving their communities and the nation at large delivering news, emergency information and community stories.

NAB is providing “Our American Story, Local Edition: A Guide for TV and Radio Stations” to support stations’ voluntary efforts as they plan coverage and community engagement efforts tied to America 250. In addition to the TV and radio spots, the customizable toolkit includes suggested station activities as well as digital and creative assets designed to support year-long participation.

More information is available online.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has launched the 2023 NAB Congressional PSA Campaign, which promotes important messages in local communities across the country. 

The public service announcements, which feature more than 150 members of Congress and their families, are available to local television and radio stations across the country through their Extreme Reach inbox.

For the first time, the Congressional PSA program was filmed in NAB’s elite production facility, which includes a studio and media hub. The studio features a curved, 28-foot interactive video wall, energy-saving LED lighting and robotic cameras and a powerful edit suite capable of 8K post-production.

Since 1985, this biannual program provides donated airtime on local broadcast television and radio stations for PSAs covering a variety of health, public safety and community service issues that run through the end of the year. Topics of this year’s PSAs include preventative cancer screenings, suicide prevention, supporting small businesses, supporting veterans and encouraging blood donations.

“The NAB Congressional PSA Campaign is an opportunity for legislators and local stations to share timely and important messages with millions of viewers and listeners that can positively impact their lives, families and communities,” said NAB president and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. “NAB thanks all of the members of Congress who participated in this year’s program and local broadcasters for donating airtime to share critical information with their audiences.”

WASHINGTON—New PSAs encouraging Americans to register and vote launched today.

The National Association of Broadcasters and the League of Women Voters announced a voter education campaign that runs through Nov. 3.

It features public service announcements that radio and TV stations can obtain from NAB’s 2020 Election Toolkit.

“The PSAs encourage citizens to participate in democracy by registering to vote, learning about issues and political candidates, and casting their ballots on or by Election Day,” they stated in an announcement.

Listen or view the PSAs here found here. The PSAs direct voters to VOTE411.org, a site run by the League as “a nonpartisan resource for general and state-specific election information.”

NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith, a former U.S. senator, encouraged stations to air the PSAs.

“The right to vote and a free press are intrinsically linked pillars of American democracy. As ‘first informers,’ local radio and TV stations understand the indispensable role they play in helping citizens exercise their right to vote.”

Jeanette Senecal, senior director of mission impact for the League of Women Voters, said that accessible information about voting is particularly important during the pandemic.

Other resources are also available at the NAB’s 2020 Election Toolkit.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided some details on its plans to purchase public service announcements on local broadcast media stations regarding public health as it relates to the coronavirus pandemic.

This comes in a letter from HHS to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), who was part of a bipartisan group—including senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)—that reached out in April to stress the importance of utilizing and supporting local media during COVID-19.

“Our radio and television broadcasters and rural newspapers provide local and national news, emergency alerts, educational programs and more to all corners of the United States. In many rural areas, broadcast stations are the predominant or only form of local information,” the senators wrote. “We encourage the Office of Management and Budget to work with federal agencies throughout the government to increase advertising in local newspapers and on broadcast stations in order to help ensure they are able to continue to operate throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”

According to HHS’s response, the department is building a large campaign of purchased PSAs that will provide information as the virus evolves and the country attempts to safely reopen. The department says it intends to buy ads on both local TV and radio stations for a flat fee, not a commission.

HHS says that the administration has worked with private-sector and nonprofit partners to get public health messages out on airwaves, including providing free content to local media outlets, but it agrees that more must be done. The letter reads, “[w]e agree that local media institutions—the key sources of public health information for small- and mid-sized markets—are vital conduits for disseminating the information Americans need right now.”

A number of organizations, including NAB, have also been pushing for federal ad spending to support local broadcasters. NAB, in response to the HHS letter, said that it intends to stay in close contact with HHS and provide more detail to local broadcasters about the advertising initiative as they become available.

The full letter from HHS is available online. 

WASHINGTON—The NAB has released a series of new public service announcements focusing on mental health wellness amidst the current coronavirus pandemic that can be used by local TV and radio stations.

The new PSAs direct people to WeAreBroadcasters.com/Hope, which provides mental health resources and tips for practicing wellness.

This is a new addition to NAB’s Coronavirus Response Toolkit, an online resource the organization launched in March meant to assist broadcasters with coverage of COVID-19 outbreak. Part of the toolkit has been PSAs educating people on the dangers of COVID-19, which have aired more than 411,00 times since their launch.

NAB’s new PSAs provide a message emphasizing that it is normal to feel overwhelmed, sad, anxious and afraid, and encourage people to pay attention to their mental health in addition to their physical wellbeing.

PSAs are available in 15- and 30-second spots in both English and Spanish. The TV spots are closed captioned.

“During times of emergency, America’s broadcasters have always provided critical information to keep families and communities safe,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “Now, as many Americans struggle emotionally during these trying times, I encourage TV and radio stations to air these public service announcements that connect people with the help they need.”

The PSAs for TV are available online. 

WASHINGTON—NAB’s mission to help get the word out on COVID-19 has turned into more than 175,000 PSAs that account for more than $42 million in donated airtime since the initiative launched on March 12.

The numbers released by the NAB are from PSAs created with the use of the organization’s Coronavirus Response Toolkit that have played on local broadcast TV and radio stations to help educate Americans on how to prevent the spread of the virus.

“The response from America’s local broadcasters to this extraordinary crisis is truly incredible,” said Gordon Smith, NAB president and CEO. “From donating unprecedented airtime for PSAs to promoting struggling small businesses to covering the latest public health developments, I am so proud of radio and TV broadcasters for their support of local communities. As our nation faces these challenging times, broadcasters will continue serving as ‘first informers’ by  reporting, comforting and educating.”

PSAs independent of the NAB’s resources have also been airing on TV and radio; these are not reflected in the NAB’s numbers. PSAs produced by Ad Council in partnership with the CDC are also not included in the count.

For more information, visit the NAB’s Coronavirus Response Toolkit resource page. 

WASHINGTON—Broadcasters are doing their part to get the word out on the coronavirus (COVID-19), as the National Association of Broadcasters has shared details on the PSA campaign it began on March 12.

Since the launch of the campaign, NAB says that almost 36,000 PSAs created to help educate Americans about preventing the spread of coronavirus have aired on broadcast TV and radio, representing an estimated donation of more than $10 million in airtime. Those numbers only represent the NAB’s campaign, the organization reports that broadcasters have produced and aired their own public service ads as well.

“America’s hometown broadcasters are always on the front lines when it comes to keeping the public informed during times of emergency,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “That’s why I am so proud of the unprecedented level of support for this PSA campaign from local TV and radio stations. As our nation faces these challenging times, broadcasters will be there to report the facts, keep the public informed and help in the education effort to keep people safe.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has also been complimentary of broadcasters’ efforts to inform the public through PSAs and uninterrupted service.

NAB’s PSA campaign is part of its Coronavirus Response Toolkit, which broadcasters can access online. 

WASHINGTON—NAB has created a Coronavirus Response Toolkit to serve as a resource for TV and radio broadcasters to help provide critical information to viewers, listeners and employees, including new public service announcements about preventing coronavirus (COVID-19).

These TV and radio PSAs can be downloaded online and feature scripts in both English and Spanish.

“As America’s ‘first informers,’ local radio and TV broadcasters and our network partners have long been committed to ensuring public health and safety during times of emergency,” said Gordon Smith, NAB president and CEO. “As COVID-19 impacts everyday life, it is important for broadcasters to communicate credible news and information to keep people safe and informed. I encourage all broadcasters to utilize resources in the toolkit to help their local communities during this critical time.”

In addition to the PSAs, the toolkit also provides resources to help local broadcasters prevent and address COVID-19 at their stations, as well as editorial guidelines to help journalists combat misinformation and provide accurate coverage.

NAB’s Coronavirus Response Toolkit is available at www.nab.org/coronavirus and will be updated as new information becomes available. 

Petaluma, Calif.— Point Source Audio (PSA), manufacturer of specialty sub-miniature body-worn style microphones, has launched Mic Finder, an interactive web-based tool designed to help sound teams—from TV to theatre—pinpoint specific mic elements and mic styles to suit applications from corporate presenters to rock n’ roll musicals to violin mic’ing.

Expanding beyond traditional lavalier and headset style microphones, recent advances in the company’s approach to body-worn mics include the patent-pending Confidence™Collection microphones highlighting built-in redundancy, and the EMBRACE™Collection of concealable microphones that are twice patented. The company emphasizes that these additions present a world of fresh possibilities when sound teams are challenged with unique requisites—from facial hair to drop hoop earrings—when fitting mics on actors or speakers.

The Mic Finder web tool is accessible online via desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. The tool presents a series of questions to narrow microphone choice and shares successful experiences from real-world examples that best match the users’ needs.

“What we’ve learned in working closely with our customers is that no two mic’ing situations are the same; the smallest variable can make one mic selection perfect in one situation, and a disaster in another,” said Yvonne Ho, sales and marketing VP for Point Source Audio.

Users looking for the right microphone simply select the relevant application with various considerations from Mic Finder’s menu settings. Product recommendations are then presented along with customer use cases including:

• Mics that hide
• Mics that survive heavy water/sweat
• Mics for fast-moving musical theatre
• Mics for preaching
• Mics that fight feedback
• Mics that shape and bend
• Mics that accept custom color
• Mics for bearded performers
• Mics that backup themselves

Besides finding the right microphone performance features, sound teams must also battle variables such as costuming, concealment, venue size, loudspeaker placement, vocal projection, and more. Ho explained with examples: “We get questions routinely on how to head mic an actor with no hair, or one who sweats heavily, or sometimes both at the same time.”

The novice sound person can learn about mic choice with consideration for speaking or singing, whereas those new to Point Source Audio mics can discover unconventional mic’ing possibilities including how EMBRACE microphones can be used for violinists or boom headsets for flutists doubling on several instruments in one performance.

The company expects to continue expanding the tool with new products and technology solutions alongside noteworthy applications in real-world environments. To access Mic Finder, visit www.point-sourceaudio.com/mic-finder

About Point Source Audio

Point Source Audio (@PSA_audio) manufactures and distributes worldwide their SERIES8, EMBRACE, and CONFIDENCE collection of miniature microphones—a unique line of headset, earworn and earmounted microphones known for their robust bendable boom and waterproof features. The company also holds two patents for the EMBRACE concealable microphone as well as the patent for the world’s first modular in-ear comms headset that is supporting the hearing health for audio, lighting and camera techs using headsets everywhere from sports to space. Founded in 2004, Point Source Audio is headquartered in Petaluma, Calif. For more information call (415) 226-1122 or visit www.point-sourceaudio.com. Follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PSA_audio.

WASHINGTON—Broadcasters have been trying to do their part in helping battle the ongoing opioid crisis in the U.S., with NAB announcing that more than $32 million in air-time has been donated by TV and radio stations and broadcast networks for public service announcements on raising awareness and prevention on opioid abuse. This is part of a campaign launched by NAB and the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.

The PSAs included Partnership-produced messages directing viewers and listeners to life-saving information as well as PSAs produced in conjunction with NAB’s bi-annual Congressional PSA Campaign. From September 2016—when the initiative was launched by a bi-partisan group of senators and members of the House—through December 2017, there have been 253,783 TV and radio airings of the PSAs.

Additional efforts by broadcasters to support raising opioid abuse awareness have included long-form programming and special news reports, including Arizona stations airing a 30-minute commercial-free investigative report, “Hooked Rx: From Prescription to Addiction.” Broadcasters have also helped organize town halls and provide information online.

“We appreciate broadcasters’ generous support of this important initiative and encourage stations to continue to access the online toolkit at NAB.org/addiction for facts and statistics related to the epidemic, as well as programming and community outreach ideas,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith.

WASHINGTON – Hundreds of members of Congress are reaching back out to their constituents today as part of the bi-annual campaign from the National Association of Broadcasters that allows Congressmen and women to record radio and TV public service announcements that address important issues to their constituents.

First instituted back in 1985, the Congressional PSAs allow members of Congress and their families to professionally record messages for free. A record number of 307 members of Congress representing 49 states and three U.S. territories participated, creating more than 550 PSAs that will run across the country.

The PSAs will air on local stations in congressional districts or states through the end of 2015. A percentage of spots are offered in Spanish.

Some of the topics bridged in the PSAs include cancer prevention, cyberbulling, distracted driving awareness, emergency preparedness, literacy mental health awareness and support for returning troops.

To download the PSAs, visit www.nab.org/cpsa.