WHAT IS A PSA or COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT?

Pre-recorded PSA's and community calendar listings are a service provided to the community by KPFA for promotion and/or announcement of community events.

A public service announcement (PSA) is a non-commercial announcement of an event. PSA's are
recorded at KPFA for events that collect a fee that will benefit the non-profit organization submitting
the request or a tax exempt fiscal sponsor of the organization.

Public service announcements run anywhere from one to three weeks preceding an event.

Community calendar announcements include events that do not charge an admission fee. Additionally community calendar announcements are linked in groups of three events per announcement and are posted on the KPFA website event calendar. Community calendars air the week before the event date about 5 times per week.

What are the PSA requirements?

All PSA requests must be submitted by an organization that qualifies as tax-exempt under
Internal Revenue Service Tax Code 501 (c) 3 or have a 501(c) 3 fiscal sponsor.

If your event or your organization does not meet the above criteria, your announcement can be
considered for the community calendar.

Organizations are allowed one announcement per 30 day period - in the form of a PSA or
community calendar announcement. Only one announcement per organization will be broadcast at any given time.

The following event announcements cannot be produced as PSA's but can be listed in the Community Calendar:

- Rallies/Demonstrations
- Benefits for Individuals
- Book Signings/Public Appearances
- Workshops or Classes

Exceptions to these will be considered on a case by case basis.

How Do I Submit A Request For an Event Announcement On KPFA?

Please contact the KPFA First Voice Apprenticeship Program to request a PSA appointment or submit an event for the community calendar.

It is recommended that organizations submit PSA and community calendar requests at least four to six weeks in advance of the event. Events may not be scheduled if requests are received less than 21 days in advance. Please note: not all recorded PSA's are guaranteed to be scheduled, and not all Community Calendar submissions can be included.

Items Needed for the PSA Appointment:

1) Two (2) typed or computer printed copies of your script.

The script must state that the event is a 'benefit' and name the 501(c)3 organization the funds are benefitting.

No advocacy, it must be informational. The script cannot  have direct commands: ie 'Come join us...' or 'Go to...' 

Finished PSA's will be exactly 60 seconds. Therefore, scripts should total no more than 50 seconds
reading time. All scripts are subject to editing by the Apprenticeship Program or other programming
staff at the station.

2) At least one minute of instrumental music in CD format.

3) A copy of 501(c)3 documentation or letter from fiscal sponsor along with a copy of the
sponsor’s 501(c)3 documentation or other proof of 501(c)3 status.

Can I Produce My Own PSA?

If you choose to record your own Public Service Announcement, it must meet the KPFA PSA
guidelines, must be ready for broadcast, and will need to be approved by KPFA staff. A copy of your
script and a copy of the 501 (c) 3 approval information required must be included with submission.

PSA & Community Calendar Contacts:

PSA Appointment Line: (510) 848-6767 x 617

Additional Information: (510)848-6767 x 235

Email Requests:
psa@kpfa.org or calendar@kpfa.org

FAX Submissions:
(510) 848-3812

USPS Mail:

KPFA, Mailbox 113 (Dev Ross)
1929 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Berkeley, CA 94704

Recording time is available Wednesdays between 1-2p.  Contact Dev Ross at  dross@kpfa.org .

Public Service Announcements and Community Calendar Listings are a service of the KPFA First
Voice Apprenticeship Program. Questions about our PSA or Community Calendar guidelines can be forwarded to the following:

Training Co-Directors
KPFA Radio 1929 MLK Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
Telephone: (510) 848-6767 ext. 213
Fax: (510) 848-3812

Sample Script:

Sunny Acres invites you to a concert performance featuring the music of Tuna and the Chunks. The concert takes place at 8 pm at the People’s Community Forum, 1234 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley. $10 admission. This event is wheel chair accessible and is a benefit for Media Progressivo.  For more information, call 510-123-1234.