Some people survive accidents caused by texting drivers. Like Aimee Echert. She agreed to make a public service announcement for WDTN to tell her story in the hopes it would convince others to put down their phones while driving. Sadly, other people don’t survive. And their parents create public service messages about the dangers of […]
Some people survive accidents caused by texting drivers.
Like Aimee Echert.
She agreed to make a public service announcement for WDTN to tell her story in the hopes it would convince others to put down their phones while driving.
Sadly, other people don’t survive. And their parents create public service messages about the dangers of texting and drivers.
WDTN is Dayton’s NBC affiliate owned by Media General. In September of 2011, the station started its WAIT2TXT community project.
“Community service is the most important thing we do,” said Joseph Abouzeid, WDTN’s general manager.
“And WAIT2TXT is one of the most important campaigns we do every year.”
“We’ve gone to over 50 high schools since its inception,” said Jason Doyle, WDTN’s creative services director.
Doyle said the station makes a 25-minute presentation to an assembly of high school students on the dangers of distractive driving.
“At the end of each assembly, we ask students and administrators to take a pledge, to not text and drive,” said Abouzeid.
“We have thumb bands that are different colors and sizes, and we ask them to pick out one or two, and they put on their thumbs as a reminder to not text and drive.”
Abouzeid says it’s not only a great way to connect directly with viewers but the initiative’s been embraced by advertisers interested in being associated with community service.
“Local TV station have a responsibility to serve their community and this is just one way we’re doing that.”
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