Originally Posted By: CWilson
Effective PSAs are rifle shots that cut through the clutter. A "survival" PSA? I'm doubtful, because I don't think it'd be clear enough. I'm having a tough time coming up with the unifying thread, and (especially) the single action.


I absolutely agree.

However, there are no rules without exception. I want to give you a case where exactly this kind of PSA actually has worked quite well:

Originally Posted By: CWilson

They'd better not run PSAs that have any kind of "to do" list. That would make the survival community all warm and fuzzy, but wouldn't accomplish anything.


The Norwegian mountain code is exactly that - a "to do" list of 9 bullet points, repeated each easter because a lot of people will then swarm into the mountains. At TV, one or more of those bullet points is enacted by a single TSA announcement that nails the point home. I've litterary grown up with that on the radio, in the papers and on TV...

More about the mountain code here: http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=190824


Why does it work? I think because it adresses a specific activity in a specific environment: Skiing in the high mountains. Therefore, this bullet list is clear and consice enough to be your "rifle shots through the clutter".