ARRLWeb: Contact! - March 2008

Why are we often seen as old fashioned radio? It’s simple really. When reporters want to see local hams they frequently go to swap meets where there is preponderance of old stuff on display. What’s not seen are all the new radios bought via internet. The way to work around this is to make sure that if a report shows up at your hamfest, as a PIO you give them a “guided tour” and use the analogy that, like car aficionados, some hams like old Fords but we like modern Ferraris too.

Swiss Army Knife for PIO’s 2008 edition is here

The Swiss Army Knife for PIOs CD, version 2008, is now available.
This is the "all in one" toolkit on a disk for Amateur Radio public relations. Designed to be a handy reference and immediately available to PIOs even in an emergency, topics covered include:

The material is also available on the web (Thanks to Norn Schklar, WA4ZXV) at: http://www.wa4zxv.com/SAK

We encourage you to take a look via the website, but also get your own CD copy and put it with your PIO Go-Kit. That way you have it when things get scary.

To receive a CD disk, send a self-addressed stamped envelope
(Please make sure the SASE is large enough for a CD disk! )
with at least 70 cents postage on it and a note to:

Public Relations
ARRL
225 Main St
Newington, CT 06111

New Audio PSA Available

There are two versions of this humorous, 30 second, audio PSA. They differ in the background music. While we have produced and distributed many very serious public service announcements, (posted on www.arrl.org/pio) not all broadcast radio stations have a serious format. Many high profile morning shows are funny, sarcastic and witty. For those, we hope that these humorous PSAs will open doors previously closed.

If you have an off-the-wall, humor related radio station in your area, we’re pretty sure they will want and play this one even if they say they don’t usually do PSAs. But laughing at it is not enough. We need PIOs to download and get it to the broadcasters in their area.

Interesting website of the month:

John Webb, W7NWH, writes:

“I'm really stoked about "24 Hours in Brazil" Dave W6AQ nailed this one out of the park as director/producer, GREAT interview w/ K1ZZ and a whole bunch of other high-profile hams at WRTC '06. Very happy with results.
Here's the trailer (teaser short) for it.”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yAOx3YMqucQ

Ron Potter, AG1P, wrote in:

“Like many states, Missouri has set a date for their statewide Disaster Preparedness and Tornado Drill. Working with the National Weather Service offices within the state, Missouri’s drill will involve all city, county and state emergency management agencies. Local emergency management officials will be working with the media to promote awareness and participation in the drill. These are good times to coordinate the amateur radio message from a SKYWARN participation perspective. Besides promoting the value of amateur radio, they are great opportunities to help your local EMA promote awareness and in doing so, strengthen your relationship with local emergency management officials.Other states will be scheduling similar drills this spring. Check your state’s emergency management website for information concerning future drills and awareness campaigns. It can be a wonderful opportunity to make important friends for Amateur Radio.”

Dayton Dreaming

While those of us in the northern parts of the country are still shoveling snow, thoughts of Dayton are beginning to percolate between frostbitten ears. The ARRL theme for this year is (you guessed it) – Technology and the contributions of hams. From both direct advances in communications, to the indirect creativity that having a ham radio background can produce, many leading edge concepts are due to Amateur Radio. We may like remembering an old Collins, but our present – and especially our future – lies in NEW applications.

The 2008 PR Campaign, celebrating technology and Amateur Radio, will emphasize this.

Video Library

Just a reminder that a good resource for PIOs is available on the web, The ARRL Video and Multimedia Library

ARRL is pleased to offer material for programs for your monthly meetings or presentations. This material was provided by individuals and clubs who want to share their expertise with others. There are video CDs (not to be confused with DVDs) and Power Point presentations.www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/materials/videos.html

Quick Media Release for ARES work

In the past months, we have seen examples where even one PIO working with ARES in a deployment resulted in significant positive press, and times when there was a great story there but no one worked the media. One of the ways you can help Amateur Radio, your area ARES folks, and still keep things simple is by printing out the form below and asking your local ARES members to simply stick a copy into their go-kits.

While reporters tend to gather at a central location, you never really know where one or a VIP may pop up in an event. Without being trained in PR, almost any ARES member in an event will know how to fill in the blanks and can simply hand it media or others. It gives the basic information needed and can get it into the right hands. It also clearly tells who to see for more info.

All you have to do is cut, paste and print it and get it into your local ARES members’ go-kits. If the media does not know hams were involved, then the public will never know.

The _____________________ Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES®) has been activated to assist with primary/auxiliary emergency communications for this event. The group is coordinated by _______________________ (name of EC or acting EC).

_______________ ARES is working with the ______________ county/city/town Office of Emergency Management and the following agency(ies): _________________________
_________________________
_________________________

The group is providing communications links between: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Amateur Radio operators are stationed at the following locations to provide communications assistance:
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_____________________________________

_____________(#) of Amateur Radio operators are at the sites
_____________(#) of additional Amateur Radio operators are on standby for additional communications needs.

Insert boilerplate paragraph about the local ARES group here

For more information contact
________________________ (name of acting PIO)
________________________ (e-mail)
________________________ (phone and cell numbers)

MEDIA CONTACTS ARE NOT LIKE FINE WINE

I'll bet many of you who have called a reporter once, thinks the process of making contact with the press is like keeping a bottle of some special Cabernet Sauvignon. No, it isn't.

You may put that fine wine away to cure and develop a flavorful bouquet for later tasting. A press contact will not develop nor will itgrow in flavor. No, that contact will just get less and less useful as time passes.

Contacting the local media is an ongoing process - something to be renewed regularly on schedule, like paying the electric bill. Keep the lights on. Once a month is not too often to be calling and keeping your name and club glowing in the mind of your media contact.

(1) This ongoing procedure reminds your media contact that you, your local club and all of ham radio are still here. Maybe your newspaper (and/or broadcast) reporter may have a question which could lead to a story. It happens. But at least you will keep ham radio alive in the mind of the press.

(2) It is possible (and happens frequently in the printed press) that newspaper reporting assignments have changed. Your old contact is now doing features or resigned to another job. Your contact is now a new person and you are on top of this. Now you have a chance to update your contact list and make the acquaintance of the new reporter.

(3) You have an opportunity to pitch some feature story. Always have a feature idea ready to pitch. Never get discouraged when the last five you proposed went no where. If the sixth suggestion becomes a feature in the press, it makes the last five disappointments well worth the effort.

Only wine develops with age. Contacts with the press have to be renewed and checked frequently to be productive.

(Joe Phillips is currently Section Manager for Ohio, is a former reporter and education editor for three metropolitan newspapers - The Indianapolis News, The Dayton Daily News and The Cincinnati Enquirer.)

Keypad Info

Grant Olsen, KC0VTY, writes
Many toll-free hotlines (power outage reporting, gas leak reporting, etc.) were selected based on the words they spell because most (if not all) corded phone keypads had letters corresponding to the numbers (that is, ABC=2, DEF=3, etc.)

If you find yourself disseminating the word version of a hotline, immediately follow up with the actual number.

Put on your calendar

May
watch for Hurricane Awareness Week
16 Dayton Hamvention® days
23 Deadline for McGan Award entries

Stealing a Good Idea

The Jefferson Amateur Radio Club (JARC, P.O. Box 73665, Metairie, LA) hit on a good PR idea in their recent newsletter. They interviewed and wrote up a page on the new head of the State Office of Emergency Preparedness. This accomplished two things:

a) the hams in the club learned about the new guy on the block and
b) The new leadership learned about Amateur Radio and people active in the Service.

All politicians love publicity, and major appointees crave it too. Calling with requests for an interview and an offer to provide 15 minutes of (even if limited) fame is a good way to meet and greet. It’s PR judo – working in reverse.

It does not have to be a new appointee – you can try it on most any office holder or leader. Everyone wins.

The Last Word

It has been a lot of fun creating this edition of Contact! My appreciation to those who wrote, recorded and sent in information and ideas.

As you probably noticed, I also tried an idea out on the PR email reflector… counting down the number of days until this was posted. I never said what was coming, but generated interest. It’s a technique you too may want to try in your own work promoting Amateur Radio. It works well with organizational members, general public and associations. It does NOT work with editors and media! But keep it in mind as one more possible tool.

I also want to thank the many people who sent me writings, clips and information that I will be using in the main 2008 campaign on the technical aspects and opportunities created by Amateur Radio. While a LOT of work remains to be done, it is really coming together and I believe you will be both pleased and motivated by the results.

But I cannot do PR for you. Neither can the national PR Committee. We can only provide you the tools for use in your local areas. “All news is local” and it takes an active, local PIO to make it work. Reading these pages, receiving the disks and files is of no use if you, as a PIO, do not make the contacts with your local media this month.

I always believed that if you took on a job or title you were honor bound to do your best at it or pass to someone else who will be active in the position. When we look at antenna restrictions, CCR’s, ignorant media quotes and other threats to ham radio, we are actually looking at failures in promoting Amateur Radio to those communities. I have respect for those who truly try hard and fail, but I have nothing for those who do not even try.

So, to those of you who are out there working hard and making the calls, writing the letters, mailing the press releases….thank you! Your broad shoulders are carrying many others, and it is indeed appreciated.

Antiques?