Advertising-Industry Downturn Is a Boon for Public-Service Spots

As businesses cut back on advertising, radio and television stations are airing more public-service announcements, National Public Radio reports.

The Ad Council, which connects nonprofit groups with news-media outlets and ad agencies, reports a 23-percent increase in public-service announcements in the past year.

Bill Shea, director of creative services for Autism Speaks, said frequent broadcast of the group’s public-service ads on hit shows like American Idol and 24 has made autism “part of the national vocabulary.”