The creative skills of television production students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) are being seen state-wide this winter following their success in an advertising competition run by NSW Health.

 

Four final year students in the Bachelor of Arts (Television Production)  in the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga produced a short video for NSW Health about the spread of influenza, commonly known as the flu.

 

The winning video by the CSU students went live online with the launch of NSW Health’s Winter Illness Campaign by the NSW Health Minister, The Hon. Ms Carmel Tebutt MP on Thursday 27 May.

 

As part of a competition, the students were given a brief by NSW Health to produce a 30 second commercial that delivered the message of its Winter Illness Campaign – "The Spread of Flu is Up to You".

 

NSW Health selected the online commercial produced by the CSU four students, Mr Tom Burnitt, Mr Samuel Capelin, Ms Stephanie Coombes and Ms Emma Vickery.

 

NSW Health’s Marketing Officer Ms Jay Craig said that the main target audience for the campaign were 16 to 24 year olds.

 

“Our focus group testing showed that it could be difficult to encourage behaviour change in this audience as they are reluctant to stay at home when sick.

 

“By using an online ad produced by the students conveying the flu messages in a way that the target audience relate to, we hope the message will sink in,” said Ms Craig.

 

During a trip to Sydney to receive their award from NSW Health, the students and their lecturer Mr Matthew Olsen visited State Parliament and met with NSW Health representatives.

 

“Having our video selected by NSW Health for the campaign was a big thrill,” said television production student Mr Samuel Capelin. “The team went about producing it the same way we'd produce any other assignment, and to have it chosen by people who work in marketing was wonderful.

 

“We weren't aware the team would be flown to Sydney and introduced to both NSW Health executives and the creative director of advertising firm The Campaign Palace, so that was a huge surprise.”  

 

Television production course coordinator Mr Patrick Sproule said, “The strong focus of the television production course on the needs of industry is evident in this award. The honour is richly deserved by these four students.”

 

The 2010 Winter Illness Campaign aims to reduce the impact of the flu on both people and the public hospital system. The campaign covers radio, online and outdoor advertising promoting the message The Spread of Flu is Up to You. This includes a fun application on Facebook which shows how easy the flu is spread.

 

The winning influenza video by the television production students at CSU can be found here.

 

Read more about the Bachelor of Arts (Television Production) degree at CSU here.