ARRLWeb: PIO Handbook

PIO Handbook · Table of Contents · Introduction · Chapter 1 - Getting Started · Chapter 3 - Telling Your Story · Chapter 4 - Building Media Relationships · Chapter 5 - The News Release · Chapter 6 - Interacting With the Media · Chapter 7 - Breaking News · Chapter 8 - Electronic Media · Chapter 9 - Talking Up Ham Radio · Chapter 10 - Writing for Magazines · Chapter 11 - Extending PR Into the Community · Chapter 12 - Putting it All Together · Resources · Referenced Material · View Entire Manual (271,968 bytes, PDF file)

Public Relations for Amateur Radio happens at two levels, local and national. The ARRL PR Department takes care of publicizing ham radio at national level. But by far the most publicity generated by and for our service is done at the local level, in newspapers, on radio and TV, and speaking opportunities before the public. This "grass roots" publicity is the job of the ARRL Public Information Officer (PIO), with guidance at the Section level from the Public Information Coordinator (PIC).

Amateur Radio needs to be perceived as performing vital public services, not just in times of communications emergencies but in our day to day activities, from training young people in electronics and communications to being good will ambassadors the world over. At the same time, we need to project an image of amateur radio as a fun activity and a high-tech yet accessible hobby. We don't want to be seen as troublesome nuisances or just as a group of people pursuing a little‑known and slightly peculiar hobby. We have a public relations problem when the only times we are heard from are when we're protesting a restrictive antenna ordinance or are on the short end of an interference controversy.

You are not expected to do all of this by yourself, of course, but, as a Public Information Coordinator or Officer, you can and should be a critical part of this process and a key player in making it all work. Doing the job really well can be an exciting challenge and a source of great satisfaction.

The PIC/PIO qualifications are simple: you need to have (1) the interest, (2) the ability to write simple declarative sentences and (3) membership in the League.

Below, you will find links to the official ARRL job descriptions for the Public Information Coordinator and Officer positions and an application for appointment form. The documents contain additional, specific information on performance expectations, so review them carefully. The application form is necessary for all field appointments.

PIO Handbook - Chapter Two -- Know Your Role