Have a PSA you would like to submit?
Please contact Steve Mann at steve.mann@cumulus.com with your PSA information.
To run a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on one or more of Cumulus Media’s Cincinnati radio stations, an entity must be a non-profit organization or a government agency. We are not obligated to air these messages but often do so to fulfill FCC requirements to serve the public interest, typically donating airtime for causes that benefit the community without acting as paid advertising.
Here are the specific qualifications, requirements, and best practices for an entity to get a PSA on the air:
- Entity Qualifications
- Non-profit/Tax-exempt Status: We require a 501(c)(3) certification to run a PSA at no cost.
- Charitable/Community Focus: The organization should be a non-profit, community group, or advocate group focusing on health, safety, or education.
- Governmental Agencies: Government entities and organizations may use PSAs to inform the public.
- Local Relevance: The organization’s message must be relevant to the local listening audience.
- Message Content Requirements
- Informational/Educational Only: The message should serve the public, not just promote the image of the organization.
- No Commercialism: PSAs cannot include calls to action that involve the sale of products or services.
- Promotion of the sale of tickets is generally acceptable provided 100% of the proceeds of ticket sales benefit a charitable organization. These requests should be submitted by the charity and not the business hosting the event.
- No Fundraising: Overt pleas for money or donations are generally not accepted, though some exceptions are made for non-profit fundraising events, provided they are not held at for-profit businesses.
- No Staffing Recruitment: PSAs cannot be used to encourage employment with any organization. Recruitment of volunteers is acceptable.
- Submission Qualifications and Guidelines
- Proper Formatting: PSAs should be formatted as 15-second spots.
- Lead Time: Submit requests at least 2–4 weeks in advance.
- Targeted Contact: Email copy and information to Steve Mann | stevemann@cumulus.com
- Our team will, if needed, edit the provided copy and produce the audio for air for 15-second messages. 30 and 60-second message lengths are available but fully produced audio must be provided (a high-quality pre-recorded MP3 file).
- Verification: Be prepared to provide the organization’s tax-exempt identification number, a description of services, and how the organization is funded.
Note: We have wide discretion to refuse any PSA request, especially if our stations are already heavily scheduled, or if the requested announcement is not deemed strictly for the public good.
