Students Create Public-Service Announcements for Area Nonprofits

Published 04.25.2007

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Mass media communication students at Pennsylvania College of Technology created public-service announcements for area nonprofit agencies that began airing locally on cable television in early April.

Comcast, the cable-service provider for the Williamsport area, has donated airtime to run the PSAs on its cable stations. The first PSA began airing this month; each will run for about three weeks.



The students, all enrolled in the Advanced Digital Media Production course taught by Bruce E. Huffman, instructor of media arts/video production, formed teams to devise 29-second messages for their clients and went through the approval process that they can expect in post-graduation jobs.

The students' message topics are:

  • "Monitoring the Media," produced for Lycoming County District Attorney Michael Dinges and Community Alliance for Progressive Positive Action (CAPPA Inc.) by Kyle T. Culley, Landenberg, and Adam J. Miller, Lewistown

  • "People Like You," produced for The Learning Center by Joseph T. Suddath and Patrick R. Rogers, both of Williamsport

  • "Recycling," produced for Lycoming County Resource Management Services by Justin K. Bloom, Curwensville, and Cole J. Reese, Muncy

  • "Storm Water," produced for the Lycoming Creek Watershed Association by Robert D. Kessler, Oley, and Jordan P. Seiler, Shippensburg

  • "STD," produced for Penn College Student Health Services by Kara J. Myers, Three Springs, and Renee A. Smith, South Williamsport

  • "Save the Music," produced for the Uptown Music Collective by Andrea L. Hinds and Jordan K. Sedlock, both of Williamsport; and Ryan T. Weaver, Catawissa

  • "They'll Thank You in the Morning," produced for Valley Prevention Services by Nickolas A. Falvo, Cogan Station; Drew E. Curtin, Mingoville; and Matthew W. Stoner, New Cumberland


The project encompassed the full planning, production and editing of a television spot, including each student pitching ideas to classmates (with the class as a whole voting on the strongest topics) and teams presenting their initial concepts to nonprofit agencies and then modifying them as needed.

The students created storyboards and shot lists, identified locations and actors, and then began shooting footage on location using college-owned equipment. The teams then edited a rough-cut version to again present to their clients, made changes and final edits, and sought approval again from their clients to have the spots aired by Comcast.

The project helps students learn what it's like to work on a production team and to be responsible to a client.

For more information about the mass media communication major and other programs offered by the School of Integrated Studies at Penn College, call (570) 327-4521, send e-mail or visit online .