USC students work with police to tackle road rage
USC Communications students filming community service announcement for Qld Police Service "
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"/NR/rdonlyres/35220E05-DC54-4191-92BC-57BF3E144217/0/road_rage_160x160.jpg"
border="0">6 October, 2004
Final year students from the Faculty of Arts and Social Science
Communications degree have produced three community service
announcements (CSAs) for the Queensland Police Service.
USC Communications lecturer, Michael Berry, who has 25 years
experience as a freelance writer, television producer and media
consultant, was approached by the Queensland Police Service to
produce the CSAs that aim to raise community awareness about
assault.
Mr Berry has also produced programs for ABC television including
Four Corners, The 7.30 Report and Geoffrey Robertson's
Hypotheticals.
Using his extensive industry experience, Mr Berry led the
students through the process of television production.
As part of the project, the group of eight students were able to
experience first hand what it was like to deal directly with
clients and deliver a quality product ready for broadcast on
television and radio.
The students met with the clients, wrote the scripts, produced
story boards, listed image shots and student Brigitte
Allen composed the music and lyrics.
The Assault Reduction Campaign themes were road rage,
neighbourhood assault and nightclub assault.
The message is "just let it go … you could lose more than your
temper".
The North Coast Police Regional Crime Prevention division
authorised USC to produce the announcements in the hope of reducing
the number of assaults in the community.
It is planned that the CSAs will appear on television early in
the new year.
Community Service Announcements are produced by government
departments, agencies, not-for-profit organisations, voluntary
groups and non-government organisations.
Commercial television and radio stations broadcast CSAs free to
air as part of their commitment to community service.