about Girl Scouts Speak Out!

So, what exactly is a PSA anyway?

It's simple. PSA stands for public service announcement. It's a type of advertisement. But instead of trying to sell us something, a PSA tries to:

  • Raise awareness about an issue.
  • Shift public attitudes about a behavior
  • Get us to make a change or act on something important.

Some PSAs are among the most famous and effective advertisements in history. They often introduce us to characters or slogans that become a part of the culture. Campaigns featuring Rosie the Riveter helped send millions of American women to work during World War II. In the 1980s, Smokey the Bear helped us prevent forest fires and Vince and Larry the Crash Test Dummies urged us to wear our seatbelts.

Whether help us clean up our environment, saving lives by showing us how to prevent deadly diseases or keep ourselves safe from every day dangers, or urging us to read more books and make ourselves smarter, PSAs have the power to change the world.

Visit the Ad Council for more examples of famous PSAs and information on how they changed the world.

What do we want from you?

We want you to think about an issue important to you that fits within the theme of the contest, make a PSA and submit it here. A PSA based on the winning entry for each theme will be professionally produced by GSUSA.

Your idea doesn't have to be ready for Hollywood. There are three ways to enter:

  • Make a short video (cell phone or standard digital camera quality is just fine)
  • Create a photo slideshow with captions that tells your story
  • Write a script. Be sure to set the scene and tell us what's happening on screen in addition to the dialogue.

Develop a character. Write the next big slogan. Come up with a memorable image that inspires people to go out and create change. We need your best ideas.

Some helpful things to keep in mind (you may not need to answer all of these):

  • Who is in your PSA? What are they doing? Where are they? What do they say? When does it occur?
  • What can the people who are looking at the PSA see? What can they hear?
  • Is your goal clear? Are you trying to raise awareness? Do you want people to take certain action? Or, do you want to challenge them to think differently or change a behavior?

Where do I upload my PSA?

If you're ready to upload your PSA, click here.

How can I use Girl Scouts Speak Out! with Journeys?

If you'd like some ideas on how to use Girl Scouts Speak Out! with Journeys, click here.