What does Public Service Announcement (PSA) mean?
Public Service Announcement (PSA) is a non-commercial advertisement produced to raise public awareness of a social issue, promote a cause, or communicate important information to the public. PSAs are broadcast on television and radio as a public service, often without charge. In the entertainment industry, PSAs provide work for actors — but union agreements treat PSA work differently from commercial work. SAG-AFTRA has specific agreements governing PSA pay rates and residuals, which are generally lower than standard commercial rates because PSAs serve a public benefit rather than a commercial purpose.
Example:A child actor was hired to appear in a PSA promoting childhood literacy, filmed by a SAG-AFTRA signatory production company under the union’s PSA agreement — which set specific rates for the session fee and any future broadcast use.
Example: The casting director sought a young performer for a health organization’s PSA campaign, specifying that compensation would follow SAG-AFTRA PSA rates rather than standard commercial rates.
Did you know?
One of the most effective PSA campaigns in American history was the ‘This is Your Brain on Drugs’ campaign launched in 1987 by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The simple fried egg visual was instantly recognizable and generated enormous public awareness — and has since been parodied and referenced so widely that it has become a lasting piece of American pop culture.
You can also find “Public Service Announcement (PSA)” and related terms in this category: Acting Jobs and Auditions.
