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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

11. Public Service Events

 

12. Piggy-back to National Events

 

13. Pictures NOW!

            How to

            Send to

 

14. P.R. Research Aids

 

15. Making Friends

            In disagreements

            “The loyal opposition”

 

16. ARES® PIO

             The PIO in emergency situations

 

17. Final Exam Information

 

Introduction

 

At the end of 2008, the ARRL did a survey which confirmed what we had suspected for a long time.  The skill levels, knowledge of the media and expertise of Amateur Radio PIO’s varied widely, with half having little to no experience at all.  This applied to formal ARRL PIOs (appointed by Section Managers) as well as club appointed PIOs.  While some of the best PIOs appeared to simply be self-appointed when no one else in the area was doing the job, other self-appointed spokespeople were dismal.  Many PIO’s only sent out one or two releases a year, and thought that was fine! Others confused public information with doing internal club newsletters.

 

The situation was much like ARES® at the turn of the century.  The correction for ARES was the creation of the ARECC courses (EmComm Levels 1-2-3).  It created a common understanding of the tasks at hand and a basic, standardized skillset.  Indeed, it changed ARES and ultimately led to their finest hours following Katrina.

 

This PR-101 course seeks to follow that pattern.  While a wide range of topics are presented, we kept complexity to a basic minimum wherever possible.  (Remember, it’s only a 101 level course.)  Completion of the course and the final exam is a reason for pride in being a PIO.  For, without Public Relations, everything else we do would slowly fade away and be forgotten.