WWF PSA Advertisement

Audience

Context

Purpose

Construction of meaning

Ethos

Negotiation of meaning

Published by WWF, a wildlife conservation group, in the Times Magazine in 2014

Aims to spread awareness about environmental issues: the effects of palm oil production

Effect

Shock & Horror: Viewers may be shocked by the environmental impact of palm oil production, particularly deforestation and harm to endangered species

Guilt: Consumers may feel guilty or ashamed for using products containing palm oil after realizing their contribution to the environmental damage.

Inspiration: Viewers may feel motivated to take action and demand sustainable palm oil

Educate readers about the environmental impacts of palm oil production

Action: Encourage consumers to demand certified sustainable palm oil

Promote WWF's work in protecting rainforests

Signifiers

Contrast: The juxtaposition of the image portraying vast greenery with the bold imperative sentence

Signifies the harm done to nature to make an everyday product

Slogan

The imperative sentence "Help Save the Lipstick" catches the viewer's attention because it is in bold and capitalized.

Layout

Contrast: The juxtaposition of the image of lush greenery with the bold text

The capitalized bold text is first seen by the viewers due to its central placement using the rule of thirds

Copy

Provides information about the extensive usage about palm oil in everyday life

Introduces a call to action: Urges people to demand only certified sustainable palm oil

Persuasive effect

Encourages production and consumption of sustainable palm oil rather than completely stopping consumption

Negative Space: Plenty of negative space does not distract viewers from the central message of the effects of palm oil on the environment

Logo used establishes the brand identity of the WWF

"50 years of conservation" illustrates the experience in solving environmental problems so viewer should care about their opinion

The credits of the image is also mentioned to depict the damage done to beautiful forests such as the Kayan Mentarang National Park in Indonesia