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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

The Power of Perception A positive perception of amateur radio helps build support for us among neighbors, educators, corporate leaders and government officials. This community support is vital to your group. On the other hand, a negative perception works in the other direction and can harm ham radio. And no perception — because people aren’t hearing anything good or bad about amateur radio — is just as bad as a negative perception. People who don’t know amateur radio exists, or who feel it is obsolete, will not be our “friends” when we need support. A simple phone call to the local radio or TV station will almost always provide you with information about who on their staff covers community stories. Don’t wait until the event story hits to make contact with them. Provide advance information and cultivate these resources whenever and however possible. It is a good idea to prepare a statement or a press release in advance. This will give you focus during any interviews and help channel your thinking, and the reporter’s, so that you cover the points you want to make. Reporters appreciate people who make their jobs easier by giving them handouts, especially on subjects about which they may have only a partial understanding. Today, reporters and camera people are often one and the same person. Smaller news staff have to double up their job duties. So always be ready for pictures and dress for the occasion, Amateur Radio - answering questions You need to develop your own resource people on the Amateur Radio side of things. This requires quite a bit of effort. Your experience and knowledge of other hams and clubs in the area will need to be tapped. A little attention here - before an actual need arises - can be a godsend. Pick people who are knowledgeable, of course, but be mindful, too, that they may become spokespeople for Amateur Radio. Whenever possible, pick people who will be seen as articulate and responsible and who will be as agreeable-sounding and have as positive an appearance as possible. The whole idea here is to go about your task with as much prior preparation and as much professionalism as possible. The more work you do “up front,” the easier it will be to react quickly and effectively when the event unfolds.