Media Planning
Welcome to our resource for Ad Council’s trusted media partners to explore and access our latest and upcoming PSAs. Below you’ll find the newest campaigns and creative launches to reach segmented audiences, along with a guide for key moments to run these important messages throughout July, August, and September. With the support of partners like you, these PSAs reach millions of Americans and help them live safer, healthier and happier lives.
See other seasonal campaigns in Q3
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New Creative in Q3
Skills-First Hiring
The Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign raises awareness of STARs—workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes—and the barriers that hold them back. STARs face a "paper ceiling" – the invisible barrier that comes at every turn for workers without a bachelor's degree. New PSAs highlight the benefits of skills-first hiring and call attention to the millions of workers with in-demand skills who are being overlooked, undervalued, and filtered out before even being considered.
Who to Target:
Adults: ages 25-64
Employers: Hiring influencers and decision-makers at businesses in the U.S.
STARs: 70+ million workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes rather than a bachelor's degree
Who to Target:
Adults: ages 25-64
Employers: Hiring influencers and decision-makers at businesses in the U.S.
STARs: 70+ million workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes rather than a bachelor's degree
Available:
September
English
TV, Online Video, OOH, Digital, Print, Radio
Extreme Risk Laws Education - Illinois
In any crisis, time is precious. Those in crisis need time to think, seek support, and heal. In Illinois, Firearm Restraining Orders (FROs) can provide a pause by temporarily preventing someone in crisis from purchasing or possessing firearms.
The Ad Council has partnered with Illinois Department of Public Health and Brady to develop 3 new PSAs, based on actual events, that raise awareness of FROs as a crisis intervention tool available to the residents of Illinois.
Who to Target: Adults 18+ in Illinois
The Ad Council has partnered with Illinois Department of Public Health and Brady to develop 3 new PSAs, based on actual events, that raise awareness of FROs as a crisis intervention tool available to the residents of Illinois.
Who to Target: Adults 18+ in Illinois
Available:
Early August
English
TV, OLV, Radio, OOH, DOOH, Digital, Print
Veterans Crisis Prevention
Veterans are at higher risk for suicide compared to the general population. 6,407 Veterans lost their lives to suicide in 2022, according to the latest data from the 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. There are many challenges Veterans may face that, if left unaddressed, can become risk factors for more serious struggles. The campaign takes an upstream approach to suicide prevention, encouraging Veterans to access support for any life challenge they may be struggling with, before anything reaches a crisis point.
Who to Target: All Veterans
Who to Target: All Veterans
Available:
OOH, Print, TV/OLV, Radio
English
Mid-September
Buzzed Driving Prevention
In 2023, there were over 12K fatalities due to alcohol impaired driving – representing 30% of all traffic fatalities in the US that year. New Buzzed Driving Prevention PSAs remind young male drivers that decisions they make behind the wheel can impact both themselves and their loved ones, and that buzzed driving is drunk driving.
Who to Target: Young men, 21-34
Who to Target: Young men, 21-34
Available:
July
English
TV, Online Video, Banner, OOH, Print
Q3 Seasonal Calendar
July
Summer Season
With summer temperatures rising across the country, urge parents to prevent child hot car deaths. Hot car deaths are the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related fatalities for kids 14 and younger, and they are more likely to occur during the summer months. Parked cars get hot, fast – and can be deadly. Encourage families with young children to always “Stop. Look. Lock.” before walking away from their vehicle.
Wildfire Season
As summer activities take us outdoors, it’s important to do your part to help prevent wildfires. With nearly nine out of ten wildfires caused by humans, Smokey Bear reminds us, “Only you can prevent wildfires.” We all have a role to play. Learn wildfire prevention tips at SmokeyBear.com.
August
Back-to-School Season
Run PSAs during the back-to-school season to remind people of the impact that going back to school and getting their High School Equivalency can have on their loved ones and community.
This back to school season run PSAs that educate young people on the dangers of fentanyl and the importance of carrying and knowing how to use opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone to save a life.
With back-to-school season approaching, these PSAs highlight that parents are the best people to talk to their kids about the dangers of using e-cigarettes, and encourages parents to visit TalkAboutVaping.org for resources.
Summer Season
With summer temperatures rising across the country, urge parents to prevent child hot car deaths. Hot car deaths are the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related fatalities for kids 14 and younger, and they are more likely to occur during the summer months. Parked cars get hot, fast – and can be deadly. Encourage families with young children to always “Stop. Look. Lock.” before walking away from their vehicle.
Wildfire Season
As summer activities take us outdoors, it’s important to do your part to help prevent wildfires. With nearly nine out of ten wildfires caused by humans, Smokey Bear reminds us, “Only you can prevent wildfires.” We all have a role to play. Learn wildfire prevention tips at SmokeyBear.com.
September
Back-to-School Season
Run PSAs during the back-to-school season to remind people of the impact that going back to school and getting their High School Equivalency can have on their loved ones and community.
This back to school season run PSAs that educate young people on the dangers of fentanyl and the importance of carrying and knowing how to use opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone to save a life.
With back-to-school season approaching, these PSAs highlight that parents are the best people to talk to their kids about the dangers of using e-cigarettes, and encourages parents to visit TalkAboutVaping.org for resources.
Suicide Prevention Month
During Suicide Prevention Month, raise awareness of Firearm Restraining Orders (FROs) as a crisis intervention tool available to the residents of Illinois.
During Suicide Prevention Month, we can all do our part to encourage Veterans to reach out for help before their challenges become overwhelming or reach a crisis point.
The majority of gun deaths in the U.S. are suicides, and having access to guns increases the risk of death by suicide by 3 times. Safe gun storage is an effective way to put time and space between a person in crisis and access to guns. Encourage gun owners to store all their guns securely to help prevent gun suicide.
Summer Season
With summer temperatures rising across the country, urge parents to prevent child hot car deaths. Hot car deaths are the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related fatalities for kids 14 and younger, and they are more likely to occur during the summer months. Parked cars get hot, fast – and can be deadly. Encourage families with young children to always “Stop. Look. Lock.” before walking away from their vehicle.
Wildfire Season
As summer activities take us outdoors, it’s important to do your part to help prevent wildfires. With nearly nine out of ten wildfires caused by humans, Smokey Bear reminds us, “Only you can prevent wildfires.” We all have a role to play. Learn wildfire prevention tips at SmokeyBear.com.
Some Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers!)
- How does the Ad Council distribute PSAs?
- Through our emails, we distribute our TV, Radio, Magazine and Newspaper materials, all free and ready to run! We've also partnered with Extreme Reach to provide all Ad Council TV and Radio PSAs to Extreme Reach subscribers. Let us know at ACinquiries@adcouncil.org if you'd like to sign up for our emails!
- How do I download Banner/Online Video assets?
- To keep track of our digital placements, banner and online video assets must be "Requested", not "Downloaded." While you can preview our PSAs, requesting assets allows us to begin work on your 3rd party tags. Implementing these tags requires access to an ad network or server such as Doubleclick for Publishers. Our assets are only to be served within the United States. 2-3 assets are recommended per campaign. Typically, tagged assets are available within 24-48 business hours of the request. More than one campaign is recommended for publishers serving a large inventory. Remember to enter the URL where the asset will run and your organization into the request pop-up for the digital content you are requesting.
- How do I find the specific PSA I'm looking for?
- On the Find Assets page, you can search by keyword, select a media type, search by language, issue area, target audience, as well as release and expiration dates. Be sure to select your media type first to see other possible filtering options.
- Why do I need to register to download?
- We would like to provide you with a customized user experience. By logging on to the site, adcouncil.org can store your preferences, maintain your Download Center, and provide you with a record of your site activity and user profile. You can still preview our PSAs without registering!
- Do PSAs have expiration dates?
- Yes! All Ad Council PSAs have an expiration date. After a PSA expires it must be removed from air and online. You can find this information listed next to each asset. Additionally, you can find a personalized expiration list in your account. Simply click your user icon at the top right, when logged in, then select My Activity. You will see expiration dates under the Downloaded and Requested tabs.
- What are the general terms of use for Ad Council PSAs?
- Please refer to our extended Terms of Use page for more detailed information. Basic terms state you may not modify/alter the PSAs in any way unless authorized; the PSAs may only be placed in donated media and not on any media that is purchased; the PSAs may not be placed on any piracy or other illegal sites or media outlets; they also may not be placed on pornographic sites. You may not use the PSA in any manner that would imply an association with any commercial enterprise. Use of the PSAs is only permitted through the applicable expiration period.
- How do I stay up to date on new Ad Council PSAs?
- When you sign up to access our PSAs, there’s a checkbox to sign up for our email updates. Additionally, contact ACinquiries@adcouncil.org to receive our printed materials. You can also regularly check our Find Assets section and search by release date to see what’s the most recent.
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