Creating public service announcements on health disparities in the United States: A semester-long assignment

Abstract

Courses

This semester-long project can be included in a general health communication course, a health campaigns course, upper-level mass-media courses, and advanced courses on communication and social justice. This can also be used as a semester-long assignment in a course that fulfills a diversity requirement.

Objectives

After completing this project, students should: (a) develop a deep understanding of a health disparity in the United States and the social determinants associated with it, (b) create a public service announcement (PSA) that considers and incorporates research on effective health messages and structural oppression, and (c) present their work to a peer audience demonstrating the potential positive impact of their PSA.