Move over "Frasier" and "Seinfeld," make way for the Social Security Administration.
SSA filmmaker Charles Roggero won two Emmy Awards last month from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for directing and producing the public service announcement (PSA), "The Future of Social Security." The award was presented at the regional Emmy Awards dinner in Washington.
The PSA, which comes in 30-second and 60-second versions, encourages citizens to learn more about Social Security. It features construction workers building a giant Social Security card using cranes, pulleys and a helicopter.
"Over the last six decades, Social Security has changed to meet the needs of society," the PSA voice-over says. "As 76 million baby boomers approach retirement, Social Security will need to change once again. Understanding the problems and the proposed solutions is the first step to building an informed decision."
The PSA provides a toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, for people to call to get a booklet on the future of Social Security.
Roggero has now garnered three Emmys for Social Security. The first, in 1993, was for a PSA called "Blind Child." Roggero is the only federal employee ever awarded an Emmy in the Washington-Baltimore region. The National Institute on Aging earned a national Emmy last year for its PSA, "Looking for the Fountain of Youth," but a contractor produced that PSA.
Roggero said PSAs need to stand out.
"These PSAs are competing with hundreds of other PSAs that are begging for free air time," Roggero said. A tracking signal is placed in each PSA, so Roggero can measure how much airtime each one gets. "The Future of Social Security" PSA was sent to 1,100 television stations and 500 cable systems and has so far received several million hours of play time, Roggero said.
A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Roggero attended the University of Southern California and went on to work on more than 100 films as an independent film editor. Roggero has been with SSA for nine years and is chairman of the National Association of Government Communicators Gold Screen Awards Program. (See www.nagc.com/awards for details.)
Roggero's next PSA will let people know what to do when they get their Social Security statement. He said he plans to stay in Washington for a few more years.
"Everyone should do government service some time in their life," Roggero said.
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