Public service announcements (PSAs) are noncommercial announcements created to provide information to the public. A PSA contains information designed to inform and benefit the intended audience, rather than the organization or CORPORATION that created it. Most PSAs are produced for or by nonprofit organizations, though sometimes businesses use them to promote their community activities or events. PSAs, like news stories about businesses, have greater credibility than most ADVERTISING activities and are part of a company’s marketing strategies. PSAs often used by organizations to publicize community events, provide health and safety information, assist in fund-raising for nonprofit groups, and inform and influence public opinion. Typically PSAs are short (usually 10–60 second spots) on television and radio provided at no charge to nonprofit and advocacy groups. Television and radio stations are expected to donate airtime to meet the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION’s public service requirements. In recent years the huge government settlement with tobacco manufacturers has resulted in powerful PSA messages delivered during prime-time shows; one anti-tobacco message broadcast during the Super Bowl; annually the most expensive television-advertising event in the U.S. market. Radio PSAs are provided either as audiotapes or as live COPY, scripted announcements to be read on-air. Short PSAs of 10, 15, 30, or 60 seconds in length are preferred by radio stations so they will fit in with advertising time allotments. PSAs should be delivered well in advance, be clearly labeled and easy to read, and use the active voice and everyday language. Television PSAs need a visual component to the story. Language formatting is similar to radio PSAs, and the audio portion is coordinated with the video segment. Many local TV stations will assist nonprofit organizations in creating PSAs.