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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

As an ARES PIO, your job is to be the “expert” on amateur radio efforts involved in the effort (number of ARES personnel involved, locations of ARES stations, etc.) You may be assigned multiple additional duties within the JIC to assist the Lead PIO. You will be expected to perform these additional duties as well as your ARES PIO duties simultaneously. Should the media inquire about ARES or amateur radio involvement, the Lead PIO will call on you to provide the facts and figures. Your job will be to answer any questions regarding amateur radio and ARES. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU EVER SPECULATE AS TO THE OUTCOME OF THE SITUATION, OR PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION AS TO VICTIM NAMES, CONDITION OF INDIVIDUALS OR GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION TO THE MEDIA! This is the job of others, not the ARES PIO. You may speak to the media about amateur radio involvement, number of ARES personnel involved and the kinds of communications supported by ARES. And always remember… during an emergent situation with risk of life and property, there is no such thing as “off the record.” Anything you say directly or within earshot of the media, even in jest, can lead to disastrous results that could jeopardize the entire operation, cause your dismissal and risk exclusion of amateur radio from future incidents. Remember that it is the job of ARES radio operator to gather and provide the right information to the right people at the right time so they can make the right decisions. Your job as ARES PIO is to inform the media that a group of trained and dedicated ARES operators are on the job and involved with providing emergency communications “when all else fails.” There are Basic and Advanced PIO classes offered both via online and in classroom by many state Emergency Management Agencies as well as the FEMA Emergency Management Institute in Emmetsburg, MD. Recommended additional training: NIMS 700-800 ICS 100, 200 Basic PIO Advanced PIO