The Power of One
Long before Twestival, there was television.
With the time for Earth Hour fast approaching, I’ve seen the number of # earth hour tweets increase exponentially on my Twitter account. As I go through the tweets I realize that long before hashtags, protest groups on Facebook, and online social change networks – in general before social media for social change became the norm; television was largely the broadcast medium for Public Service announcements (PSAs).
A PSA in the traditional sense is usually the result of a collaborative effort between an ad agency and a non-profit or a government outfit with its primary goal being ‘awareness for a cause’. Over the years, there have been numerous memorable public interest campaigns. The Power of One, produced in 1993 by the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Foundation in cooperation with the Earth Communications Office is one such outstanding creation.
It’s a montage of compelling images interspersed with powerful words that highlight the strength of one person’s conviction – of making a difference and creating change.
I think it is unequivocally a masterpiece on an artistic level. In terms of statistics, how far was the reach and how deep the impact is something I’d like to find more about…
Here take a look. Then switch off the computer for Earth hour, please.
Tags: Campaign, Earth Hour, Power of one, PSA, Twestival
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September 6, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Power of one campaign certainly is one of the masterpiece that uses simple static images to create a compelling message. Social networking technologies and their ability to create & sustain a movement is astonishing. Earth hour is a great example on how folks around the world joined via online communities can make a difference
September 5, 2010 at 6:59 am
[...] with me long after I have switched off the television. Such a commercial is, more often than not, a public service announcement (PSA). A PSA has an intrinsic quality which appeals to me through the sheer force of its message. The [...]
March 28, 2010 at 7:42 am
Rabindra Nath Tagore/s Poem Ekal Chalo Re, inspired millions during India/s freedom struggle. The ad is visual extension of the words of the Great poet.