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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

Introductory letters One of the simplest ways to get started right is to send an introductory letter. This is a simple letter with your contact information and announcing your position and capabilities. It should be mailed (not emailed) and hopefully will include a business card. In this way the media people will get it and read it at their leisure, plus have a card for their files. If it were emailed, it may get read, but it also may be deleted easily. Also, even if they wanted to keep the data, they have to copy or cut/paste info. Business cards are easier for most people (but not all). The letter might look something like this: ________________________________________ 455 Humperdink Avenue Yourtown, CE 12345 tel: 123-456-7890 You@website.com Re: Introduction Dear __________: I am the new Public Information Officer for the ________ in this region. I would like to introduce myself to you. There are ____#______ Amateur Radio operators (often called "Hams") in Yourtown. Locally they are organized into _________. On a larger scale, we are part of the ____section___ and the ARRL, which is the national association for Amateur Radio. You may already be aware of us because of our activities in ____ARES?___Skywarn?___something___ . There are several additional activities planned for the coming year and I hope to share them with you. In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding Amateur Radio, please feel free to give me a call. It's a technical field which I can help you explain to your ___readers__viewers___ in understandable ways. Sincerely, You _______________________________________ * You can get town numbers from http://hams.mapmash.com/hammap.php Fill in the blanks with what fits your own area. Keep it short and simple. This is just the introduction. You are not pitching anything yet. Just saying hello. You may get a call from that alone - but don't wait next to the phone. Use the time to develop your "one-sheeter."