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Public Information Officer Resource Page
Public Information Officer Resource Page |
Hello!
 I'm
Gary Pearce KN4AQ. I am the former Public Information
Coordinator
for the ARRL North Carolina Section, and I'm also a past member of the
national
ARRL PR Committee. In late 2003, I resigned as PIC, and recommended Bill Morine N2COP, from Wilmington, to our Section Manager, John Covington W4CC. John appointed Bill as PIC, and a short time later Bill was appointed to the national ARRL PR Committee as well. I think he'll do an excellent job! Bill is working on getting his own PIC web site up. But since the NCARRL page is directing you here, I thought I'd keep this page up and let you know things have changed. I'm still in the PR business, as PIO for Wake County ARES and the Raleigh ARS. The PIC job is to promote the image of Amateur Radio in the general media (newspapers, radio, television), utilizing a group of volunteer Public Information Officers around the state. I've developed this page as a resource for everyone interested in our public information effort.
Hams do lots of good emergency and public-service work. But if the public never finds out about what we do, we've lost some of the value of our efforts. The ARRL handles our national contacts with government and media. The local Public Information Officers are the people in each community who let the public know what hams are doing, usually through the news media or direct contact. But why do we need a good public image at the local level? Isn't ham radio regulated and licensed by the Federal government? Yes, we're Federally licensed, but we are greatly affected by
local
government, and by the opinions or our neighbors. Much of that
has
to do with antennas, and the possibility of interference to consumer
electronic
equipment. If our public image is good, local governments will be
more likely to create antenna ordinances that accommodate ham radio,
and
our neighbors will be more likely to tolerate our antenna systems, and
cooperate with us to solve
Also, local Emergency Management doesn't always automatically include Amateur Radio in their planning and activity. But if they know about us, and have a favorable impression, we're more likely to be included. So how does the PIO create a good image? Mostly, he or she points out our interesting and worthwhile activities to the news media. That means the PIO needs good contacts within the ham community so they know who's doing what, and good contacts in the media so they can get the story in the paper or on the air. PIOs can also make live presentations to community groups, schools, etc. The ARRL web page has more information on the job of PIOs. It helps to have some knowledge of the news business, and to be well-rounded in ham radio, but neither are mandatory. You can learn as you go. Your real skill is the ability to gather information about activity in your ham community and present it clearly to the media. A computer with e-mail and fax capability are needed in all but the smallest markets. You must be an ARRL member to receive a league PIO appointment. A PIO appointment begins with a local club or ARES group. As PIC, I have the authority to make the PIO appointments. But of course, I don't know all the hams in every North Carolina community. So I rely on the recommendations of local club and ARES officials. And besides, you're really working for them. Talk to your club president and/or County EC about the appointment. If they agree, have them e-mail me a letter of recommendation for your appointment. This doesn't have to be long and elaborate. Then you should cut & paste the application form into an e-mail, fill it out and send it to me. Once everything's in order, I'll forward the appointment to ARRL HQ and our Section Manager, and you'll be good to go. 73,
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