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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

Editing down The interview will most likely be edited to something far smaller than what you had imagined. That is why it is important to be conversational but stay focused and on track. If you cover the points important to the interview host and you have discussed with he or she what is important to you, then it is mission accomplished. If you prepare them in an organized manner, you may be surprised at how they will question you about the points you wish to make. This will make it easier for you to stay focused and make your impact. Awkward or attack questions If you are asked an awkward question that you don’t feel comfortable with, the best thing to do is to think quickly and concisely and then reply with a polite open ended question of your own to the interview host. Do not be rude, arrogant or smart, but you may want to try a little humor if it can be worked in. Example: Don’t amateur radio operators tend to be nerdy? Reply: No, not all amateur operators fall into that category - some indeed are nerdy but in a good way. _________(first name) How do you find the folks in your IT and engineering department at your (broadcast facility or newspaper)? Here is where you are in a corner but you can direct the question back to the interview host and keep it in “a good way”! If the reporter/interview host tries to put you in a corner or makes some remark that you view as out of line, then become Gomer Pyle. Gomer could see no wrong in Sergeant Carter, just his good side, and he would roll with just about anything. That is what you must do. If need be, go get some old Gomer Pyle TV videos and study Gomer for a few days. For Gomer, who is good hearted, it comes pretty easy. So if you encounter a situation where the reporter/interview host behaves like Sergeant Carter, then all you have to do is give him or her a little Gomer Pyle. It is not a common thing and you will probably never run into this type of situation, but it is good to know the road to go down if you do. Do not, under any circumstances, become engaged with an aggressive reporter/interview host. They will win every time under those circumstances and make you look however they wish. But it is hard to make a “bad guy” out of someone who does not respond to confrontation and defensive emotion, or someone whom is smiling and looking for the good in everyone.