If you want to get a PSA on the radio, make them short, and call ahead.
Those are two implications of a survey done by a PR firm that specializes in radio. It also found that the average station needs to fill 24 PSA slots in a typical week.
The firm said it talked to radio PSA directors in the top 75 markets. It said only 16 percent of stations use using 60-second PSAs, 24 percent prefer the 15-second format and 60 percent will use PSAs ranging from 15 to 30 seconds.
“Only 10 percent of stations are exclusively using pre-recorded PSAs, with 37 percent using a variety of scripted and prerecorded PSAs. Fifty-three percent of stations prefer only the scripted version of public service announcements to have their local on-air talent voice the PSAs.”
The firm, News Generation Inc., specializes in using radio techniques — such as radio media tours and audio news releases — to try to obtain placements for clients.
