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● Introduction & Index ● What is PR ● Job Expectations ● Types of Media ● Building Relationships ● Media, Hams & FCC Rules ● The Basic News Release ● Interviews and Live ● Making your own show ● Easy P.R. ● Public Service Events ● Piggy-back to Events ● Pictures NOW! ● P.R. Research Aids ● Making Friends ● ARES® PIO ● Final Exam Information Next Page

Public Service Announcements—PSA PSA’s are 15, 30 or 60 second TV spots given donated air time by broadcast stations to promote non-profit organizations. Most are 300 seconds. To see a sample PSA, CLICK HERE With more than 40 satellite networks, there are so many local avails on the typical cable system that that cable operator rarely sells all of them to advertisers. If an avail is unsold, a cable operator can just run the national feed or insert some promotional material about the cable system, or a public service announcement – a PSA. Here is where we have an opportunity to promote Amateur Radio virtually at no charge. The key is to have a well produced, technically correct and interesting PSA for the cable system to insert when they have an opening. The ARRL can supply you with high quality PSAs in many different formats. Check first to see which format(s) the cable system needs, then contact the Media & PR Manager at ARRL HQ in Newington. Here are some guidelines to help get your PSA on your local cable system: Explain why the public service announcement is applicable to the cable operator’s subscribers. For example, there are legitimate needs for more licensed Amateurs in the area to help with Emergency Communications in their area. It helps if a PSA has a connection to a local organization. You can customize an ARRL PSA to your local needs by adding the name of your club, ARES unit, License class information, etc, to the PSA. Local tie-ins go a long way in getting your material on the air. A friendly local Radio Amateur who works for the cable company is a good way to find out the specifics about running a PSA on a particular cable company. Do not simply mail the cable operator the PSAs. They will probably end up in the trash bin. It is acceptable to mail them in after you have spoken with someone directly at the cable system and have a specific contact name. Have the PSAs prepared in the correct audio video format. Don’t expect to have the operator dub them to the local format. This takes more time and creates headaches for the local staff. Don’t expect to have the PSAs returned to you. Keep the master yourself and supply a copy.