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Other Public Relations Ideas
Articles in newspapers and magazines, or news stories on TV or radio, aren't the only ways to promote amateur radio in your community. Here are a few additional public relations tips you might try in getting your message through. Feel free to adapt them to your situation.
Letters to the Editor
Nearly every newspaper and magazine prints readers' letters. This can often be an excellent forum to thank a community organization or leader for helping your group, or to offer recognition for your group's activities (ask served organizations to write letters to the editor, thanking your group for its help). Letters to the editor can be especially useful for setting the record straight if an article or another letter has unfairly painted Amateur Radio in a negative light. Be sure to write calmly and rationally, and avoid the urge to get into ongoing debates in the "Letters" column.
Amateur Radio Public Awareness Day
To make the public more aware of the existence, purposes, and benefits of Amateur Radio, clubs and Field Organization members set up public displays across the nation, in schools, libraries, town halls, parks - anywhere an imaginative group can think of -on Amateur Radio Public Awareness Day. The special day is held each September on the third Saturday. Why September? It's a time when no other major Amateur Radio event is taking place. Schools are back in session, and clubs are looking for a good kick-off for their fall seasons. The weather is generally good enough for outdoor exhibits at fairs and town parks.
For a comprehensive tutorial on putting together a good exhibit, see the ARRL Special Events Communications Manual.
Club "Fact Sheet"
If your club or organization doesn't already have one, prepare a brochure or "fact sheet" giving a little of its history, describing its mission, listing its officers and outlining the programs and events it sponsors. This is a great handout to use when you meet with the media or with government and emergency management officials. It can also be a neat thing to use in recruiting or orienting new members. Click here for a sample fact sheet.
Public Service Events
Public events present unique settings for a "captive" audience to become more aware of Amateur Radio. They are ideal for attracting inquiries and promoting interest in our hobby.
After a club has committed to providing communications for an event, ask for support for the public information and public relations effort. Most event sponsors are eager to help us promote Amateur Radio at their events.
Ask for space for a paragraph on Amateur Radio in the event brochure, program and Press Kit. Depending on the event and the circumstances, this can range from mere acknowledgment of Amateur Radio operators to a brief description of our hobby and contact information such as the ARRL (for the prospective ham mailing with list of local clubs, classes and exam sessions).
In most cases, it is better for the promotion of Amateur Radio to refer to the group "generically" as Amateur Radio Operators or Ham Radio rather than using your club or group name (if you have one). The idea is to get the words "Amateur Radio" or "Ham Radio" in front of the public eye as much as possible. The Wireless Association of Greater Norfolk County may be a super club but the name doesn't convey Amateur Radio to the general public.
Make your activity and participants visible! Position a station in a highly visible and well traveled location (with regard to spectators and participants). The Net Control Station (when feasible) or an Information station with a LARGE sign or banner displaying Ham Radio or Amateur Radio is a good attention getter. You may find someone in your area or club who has one to loan or who can generate one with computer banner or sign programs.
Ask to have the Public Address Announcer make a few announcements regarding Amateur Radio. Have "prepared" copy to be read, thanking the amateurs for their participation and inviting people to get more information about Amateur Radio. You or one of your crew can hand this directly to the Public Address Announcer.
Ask for space on the event information table or for your own info table. Handouts can include: Address of ARRL for prospective ham mailing, list of local clubs or classes, and a brochure describing Amateur Radio. You may want to collect names and addresses of interested persons and forward them to ARRL for the prospective ham mailing (using sign-up slips and a "bucket" or other methods).Arrange for visible means of identifying each ham participant and station. Signs on mobile communications vehicles and caps with the words Ham Radio on them are excellent. The general public should be able to read these from a distance. Buttons, ribbons, vests, arm-bands, sashes and badges are also good, but in a crowded environment, baseball caps stand out well. Some event sponsors find it to their advantage to have the hams easy to locate in a crowd and may provide reimbursement for such items. Ask them!
Do arrange for a news release of some sort to the local media before and after the event. Again, this is to get the words Amateur Radio in front of them. Who knows? You may find that someone wants to get more of the story on the Amateur Radio involvement at the event.
Invite Local Officials To Field Day, Club Meetings
Adopt selected key government officials and invite them to attend a Field Day exercise or other activity where you can show off your capabilities. Invite them to a club meeting to talk to your members about the community's emergency planning.
Invite local emergency management officials to your meetings, too.
Proclamations
If your club or organization has a significant anniversary like, "The Hamrad Amateur Radio Club's 25th year," ask the town fathers or even the state's Governor to issue a proclamation commemorating the event. They are usually happy to oblige. Follow up with a news release. These are considered newsworthy events: Don't miss the opportunity. Click here for a Sample Proclamation.
Recognition Awards
Give a recognition award of your own. If you can identify a local government or emergency planning official in your community who deserves recognition, give him or her an award. A classy-looking certificate can be made up easily by one of your computer- literate members with a laser printer, a decent piece of paper and a suitable frame. Invite your honoree and the media to a club meeting for the presentation. If the local garden club can do it, so can you!
Other Organizations
If your club meets in a church, a firehouse or a lodge hall, these organizations may be willing and interested in including your club's meeting announcements or other information about your activities in their newsletters or other publications.
The Workplace
If any of your members works for a company or entity with a company house organ, consider communicating with its editor to suggest an article on the employee's amateur activity. Many company house organs often feature unusual employee hobbies.
Speakers Bureau
Help your club start a speakers bureau and then promote it. Let your local schools and community service groups know it exists and that you have people willing to present a program. These groups need program material, too, to keep their meetings interesting.
Public Programs
Consider having your club work on a project to develop a really interesting program about Amateur Radio using slides or a video format. This is a great idea for clubs looking for something interesting to do that will help them grow.
Use the slide or video program you developed above to meet with your local service clubs and present programs to them on local Amateur Radio activity.
These are just a few of the things you can do. With a little effort, you could easily add to this list of projects that have a positive public relations impact.
