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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

This gives you an idea as to how much time you are dealing with. Asking how much of the interview will be used on the air gives you a gauge of the actual time that is open for you to get your message across. If the reporter tells you he needs a 3 minute piece, this will include his intro and close, so you may only have 30 seconds. That is when you need to get to the point and don’t ramble as your ramble will not make it to air. Most important is to get up front with the interview person prior to the interview. You will be able to build some rapport between the two of you by asking in advance what he or she needs. This also gives the interviewer/host assurance that you are going to try to give them what they need. Most important… You then need to let them know what you need! For example:” Mr. /Miss ___________ Something that is real important to our group is this. 1.We would like the public to know about our field day operation coming up next month. Would you help me in getting this word out during out interview 2.It is important to our group to let the public know that radio amateurs practice on a regular basis and are ready to step in whenever the community is faced with a crisis What is your goal? At the time you may have a specific message you want to get out to the listener or viewer but you need to share this with the reporter/interview host. Always have a goal or a message you have to get across. Be sure and define that goal or concept far before contacting the radio, TV or newspaper. This may be a good thing to discuss with your club or group or even better your PIO. But if you are the PIO it may be a good thing to discuss with your PIC, Section Manager or someone with a lot of press experience. They will be able to help relate your group’s efforts and accomplishments in terms of priority. With that priority top of mind, you will get the most bang for your buck in an interview experience. A good idea is to prepare a short outline with bullet points of what you may want to cover for the reporter/interview host to look over and keep for use during the interview. Many reporters will appreciate this courtesy and may reciprocate if they are looking for a particular angle on a story. Chances are that the contact will be made by you and the reporter will not be looking for any particular angle but rather a routine interview with the story you have for them.