The use of public service advertising for solving social problems

Abstract

Modern society, whose typical features, among other characteristics, are the growth and development of the advertising industry, is more and more interested in public service advertising whose goal is to draw the attention of a wider audience to social problems. The result of public service advertising is the formation of certain moral and value attitudes. Advertising influences the consciousness of people by promoting a certain attitude to life and ensuring the relevance of moral and social values, as well as an active socio-political position. In general, public service advertising is regarded as a means of regulating social processes. Avoiding the extremes of coercion and indifference, public service advertising makes the individual focused on the problems that should be addressed. The research goal is to analyze the experience accumulated by government bodies regarding the use of public service advertising for solving social problems. Methodology. The study was conducted in 2019-2020 at Yelets State Ivan Bunin University (Lipetsk Region). The subject matter of the research was the population of the Lipetsk region (n=1200). The scope of the study was the use of public service advertising in the government activities and the attitude of the population to public service advertising. Results and their analysis. As an instrument of influence on public consciousness and a factor in the formation of certain behavioral models, public service advertising implies interaction among society, public organizations, business, and government bodies. It is a method of targeted impact on society aimed at solving social problems. The development of public service advertising is driven by the changing attitude to social problems, both by government bodies and people, most of whom consider public service advertising to be an effective tool for raising social problems and improving social behavior. Health and family remain important themes of public service advertising. By drawing attention to social phenomena and problems, public service advertising promotes humanity, law, and care in society. Focus on public order, protection of public and personal interests and civil rights increases legal awareness in society. There is still public demand for public service advertising that stimulates people’s interest in certain projects, programs, organizations, usually non-profit. Event advertising successfully informs the audience about upcoming festive events, historical dates, and strengthens common social memory. Public service advertising does not contradict basic social attitudes, and its study is useful for understanding and interpreting public consciousness.