Satirical PSA

Satirical Public Service Announcement

Overview

Create a 30-second satirical public service announcement (PSA) that parodies a real or fictional social issue. You will practice professional voice-recording, multitrack editing, and sound design while exploring humor and social commentary.

Learning Objectives

Record clean, intelligible dialogue using proper microphone technique in a professional studio.
Edit overlapping audio on multiple tracks for precise timing.
Balance levels and design soundscapes that enhance a satirical narrative.
Write an engaging script that combines clarity with ironic or humorous impact.

Project Summary

Produce a 30-second audio PSA about an invented or exaggerated public concern—examples include “Save the Imaginary Platypus,” “Adopt-a-Rock program,” or “Emergency Guidelines for Coffee Shortages.” Your PSA should follow a traditional announcement structure while twisting it with absurdity or wit.

Required Process

Scriptwriting – 75–90 words, clear hook, problem statement, and satirical “call to action.” Add notes for sound effects and music.
Recording – DSU studio required; labeled tracks. A single voice is fine, but you must work with a partner who either performs in the PSA or engineers the session for you. Track with peaks between -12 and -6 dB, following the gain staging steps from the recording lesson.
Editing – Precisely 30 seconds; grid-free editing for natural pacing and comedic effect.
Sound Design – Minimum of two sound effects plus a music bed that supports the humor without masking dialogue.
Mixing – Balanced, professional final mix.

Deliverables

Reaper project folder with a “Media” subfolder containing all source files.
Final rendered 30-second WAV file.
Final script in Word or PDF format.

Grading Rubric (45 points total)

Criterion	Exemplary	Proficient	Developing	Emerging	Points
Satirical Concept (8 pts)	The premise exaggerates a recognizable form until the parody is unmistakable	The premise reads as parody, though the exaggeration is mild or drops out partway	The subject is invented but played straight, with little satirical distance	No identifiable parody	/8
Script Craft (7 pts)	75 to 90 words carrying a hook, a stated problem, and a call to action	Within the word range with all three parts present; one is underdeveloped	Outside the word range, or one of the three parts is missing	Two or more parts missing	/7
Dialogue Recording (8 pts)	Recorded with a partner performing or engineering, peaks between -12 and -6 dB, no clipping and no audible room noise	Partner involved and peaks in range; light noise or one inconsistent take	Peaks outside the target range, or no partner involved in the session	Clipping or noise obscures words	/8
Runtime and Pacing (7 pts)	Exactly 30 seconds; edits are inaudible and pauses are timed for comic effect	Within a second of 30; edits clean, pacing even but not shaped	Off by two seconds or more, or edits are audible	Substantially off length	/7
Sound Design (6 pts)	Two or more effects plus a music bed, each chosen to land a specific moment	Required effects and music present and appropriate, placed without particular timing	Fewer than two effects, or a music bed unrelated to the content	No effects or music	/6
Mix Balance (5 pts)	Dialogue stays intelligible throughout; music sits well under it and never competes	Dialogue clear; music rises over it once or twice	Music or effects obscure words in places	Dialogue unintelligible for much of the piece	/5
File Preparation (4 pts)	Reaper folder with Media subfolder, rendered WAV, and script as Word or PDF, named as specified	All three present, with naming that differs from the instructions	One item missing, or media not consolidated	Two or more items missing	/4

Total: ___ / 45