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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

It’s not personal - remember the interview is about ham radio and you are just the spokesperson. You are speaking for me and all hams to the people in your community. We want you to let them know how special this hobby is and that there is no other hobby like it. We want to point out that our hobby saves lives, teaches, educates and enhances International goodwill like no other hobby. Win your local community over to your local group and it’s activities and get folks who are interested in the hobby to seek out your group to join and become a part of the hobby. Other rules of the road: 1. Turn off your cell phone! There is no distraction worse than a ringing cell phone. 2. Stop all body movements. No leg trotting, finger thumping, pencil tapping, 3. Watch your distance from the microphone Too close and your breathing will sound desperate. Too far away and you will sound weak and small. 4. If you turn your head facing and away from the microphone you will sound like an HF QSO with bad band conditions. If your reporter/interview host has an engineer, do a sound check then be careful to speak in the same volume with your head in the same position that it was during the sound check. So many times when a sound check is performed a person speaks louder or softer than normal. As soon as the recording begins they get louder or go to mouse mode. This just does not work. Be aware and consistent with your voice volume and the direction that you are speaking in. Phone interviews More and more interviews are being done over the phone. If your interview is going to be done over the telephone try to use a land line phone. Check the phone ahead of time for volume, noise and clarity. Only use a cell phone if that is the only thing available. Speak in a normal voice and most cell phones as well as land line phones sound best at about 2 to 4 inches from the mouth piece. Direct your voice into the phone and don’t turn your head from side to side. Always make sure the location of the phone interview is in a low or no noise area. This is something you can check in advance with the person doing the interview. You, like Barney, are not suited for roles that are not you. So be yourself. Relax and have fun representing amateur radio in your press interview.