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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

If you are called upon in advance, you need to sit down and once again set a goal as to what you want to get out of this interview. You may need to sit down with your club president or your local ARRL PIO and define that goal in simple terms. Only then can you convey this to the reporter/interview host when he or she calls you back or you go to meet for the interview. Help the reporter/interview host get his criteria met and he will help you get your message or story across as well, but you must let he or she know up front what you want from the interview. You must have a predetermined plan or goal. This is all part of planning a media encounter. Always make yourself some notes on things that you would like to cover before your very first conversation with the reporter on the phone, when setting up your interview. The Mechanics of the interview. If your interview host gives you a list of things he or she wants to cover or some criteria that they are looking to meet for their news desk or supervisor, then make some notes for yourself as to how you can professionally cover those bases. It is better not to try to deal with those kinds of things on the fly. Relax and try to take a few deep breaths prior to the interview and loosen up. If you are stressed and nervous it will detract from the interview and will lead to what I call the “one word answer syndrome.” This is where you are asked a question that is open ended and you answer in one word, putting it all back on the host. Do this several times and the interview host will have a migraine. The interview host has been trained to ask open ended questions. That gives you the chance to be conversational in your answer. So be conversational! Stay focused however, some folks get too relaxed and wander way off subject. Remember the time is limited and the interview host is only looking for certain things.