Civil Air Patrol Presented By Col Rick Greenhut At... Presented By Col Rick Greenhut At... The Future of The Future of Public Affairs Public Affairs

The Future Of Public Affairs u The Past Is Prologue u The Past Is Prologue u What Can You Do For Me ? u What Can You Do For Me ? u Summary / Going Forward u Summary / Going Forward u Understanding Our Three Missions u Understanding Our Three Missions u Tailor Your Approach To The Medium u Tailor Your Approach To The Medium u What Makes A Good News Story ? u What Makes A Good News Story ?

u What Can You Do For Me ? What Can You Do For Me ? The Future Of Public Affairs u The Past Is Prologue u Summary / Going Forward u Understanding Our Three Missions u Tailor Your Approach To The Medium u What Makes A Good News Story ?

The Past Is Prologue u The basics never change

What Makes A Good News Story? u Topic of general interest to the audience u Defined by audience targeted by the medium u Tells people something they don’t know u Fits in with target audience expectations u Conveys information clearly & unambiguously u Follows the 6 basic rules for reporting u Has compelling “show biz” elements – a “hook” u Defined by audience targeted by the medium u Tells people something they don’t know u Fits in with target audience expectations u Conveys information clearly & unambiguously u Follows the 6 basic rules for reporting u Has compelling “show biz” elements – a “hook”

What Makes A Good News Story?... But no matter what happens, ladies and gentlemen, one thing is certain... life goes on.

What Can You Do For Me? u This is how many reporters approach a story: “... So, what can you do for me ?” “... So, what can y y y you d d d do for me ?”

What Can You Do For Me? u This is how you should approach a reporter: “... So, what can you do for me ?” “... So, what can you do for me ?”

What Can You Do For Me? u They have a job to do, and have to be selective u Their goal is to get on-air or in print u They don’t want their time wasted u Look for stories that have “big” themes u Want tie - ins to the key story of the day u They often will take the path of least resistance u Make it as easy as possible for them ! u Their goal is to get on-air or in print u They don’t want their time wasted u Look for stories that have “big” themes u Want tie - ins to the key story of the day u They often will take the path of least resistance u Make it as easy as possible for them !

What Can You Do For Me? u Become their “go - to” person – a “source” u Position yourself as a knowledgeable resource u Become one of their subject matter experts u Help make their job as easy as possible u Prepackage facts, interviews etc. for them u Be reliable, factual, professional and BRIEF u Don’t EVER lie or intentionally mislead them ! u Position yourself as a knowledgeable resource u Become one of their subject matter experts u Help make their job as easy as possible u Prepackage facts, interviews etc. for them u Be reliable, factual, professional and BRIEF u Don’t EVER lie or intentionally mislead them !

Understanding Our Three Missions u You MUST be conversant with all CAP missions

Understanding Our Three Missions u You MUST be conversant with all CAP missions u Emergency Services u Homeland Security u Disaster Relief u Search and Rescue u Narco - terrorism reconnaissance u Visual and electronic search u Other local, state and federal support missions u Emergency Services u Homeland Security u Disaster Relief u Search and Rescue u Narco - terrorism reconnaissance u Visual and electronic search u Other local, state and federal support missions

Understanding Our Three Missions u You MUST be conversant with all CAP missions u Emergency Services u Get to know active mission personnel u Attend SAREX’s and training classes u Create your own internal “sources” u Take on-line ES courses u Find out what ES missions are done locally u Learn the full spectrum of ES activities u Emergency Services u Get to know active mission personnel u Attend SAREX’s and training classes u Create your own internal “sources” u Take on-line ES courses u Find out what ES missions are done locally u Learn the full spectrum of ES activities

Understanding Our Three Missions u You MUST be conversant with all CAP missions u Cadet Programs u Run by Cadets for Cadets with adult supervision u Emphasizes moral character, leadership skills u Helps develop teamwork and social abilities u Participation in community activities u Opportunity to examine aviation career fields u Homeschooled get to interact with peers u Cadet Programs u Run by Cadets for Cadets with adult supervision u Emphasizes moral character, leadership skills u Helps develop teamwork and social abilities u Participation in community activities u Opportunity to examine aviation career fields u Homeschooled get to interact with peers

Understanding Our Three Missions u You MUST be conversant with all CAP missions u Cadet Programs u Visit local Cadet Squadrons u Speak with Senior Cadet leaders u Get to know Officers supporting the program u Identify articulate Cadets for media exposure u Learn about national Cadet special activities u Know local Cadet success stories u Cadet Programs u Visit local Cadet Squadrons u Speak with Senior Cadet leaders u Get to know Officers supporting the program u Identify articulate Cadets for media exposure u Learn about national Cadet special activities u Know local Cadet success stories

Understanding Our Three Missions u You MUST be conversant with all CAP missions u Aerospace Education u Emphasizing aviation’s value to the nation u Showing civil aid from military aviation u Creates exposure to career opportunities u Adult - supervised model rocketry program u Provides classroom tools for teachers u Academics to meet future workforce needs u Aerospace Education u Emphasizing aviation’s value to the nation u Showing civil aid from military aviation u Creates exposure to career opportunities u Adult - supervised model rocketry program u Provides classroom tools for teachers u Academics to meet future workforce needs

Understanding Our Three Missions u You MUST be conversant with all CAP missions u Aerospace Education u Get copies of classroom materials u Discover local Aerospace Education initiatives u Speak to Officers supporting the program u Visit unit Aerospace Education web sites u Talk to involved Cadets about the program u Sit in on Aerospace Education activities u Aerospace Education u Get copies of classroom materials u Discover local Aerospace Education initiatives u Speak to Officers supporting the program u Visit unit Aerospace Education web sites u Talk to involved Cadets about the program u Sit in on Aerospace Education activities

Tailor Your Approach To The Medium u Different media require different approaches u Traditional broadcast & cable u Be aware of medium’s time constraints u TV / cable stories need compelling video u Radio requires clear, concise communication u May need help in defining story “angle” u Provides greatest potential audience for CAP u Don’t allow a CAP story to be “fluff” ! u Traditional broadcast & cable u Be aware of medium’s time constraints u TV / cable stories need compelling video u Radio requires clear, concise communication u May need help in defining story “angle” u Provides greatest potential audience for CAP u Don’t allow a CAP story to be “fluff” !

Tailor Your Approach To The Medium u Different media require different approaches u Newspapers and magazines u Greater opportunity for in-depth stories u Pictures often subsidiary to story impact u Take care to define terms with reporter u Use of fact sheets especially important u Utilize leave-behinds like CAPability Handbook u Make it easy for them to get their facts right ! u Newspapers and magazines u Greater opportunity for in-depth stories u Pictures often subsidiary to story impact u Take care to define terms with reporter u Use of fact sheets especially important u Utilize leave-behinds like CAPability Handbook u Make it easy for them to get their facts right !

Tailor Your Approach To The Medium u Different media require different approaches u Unit newsletters and internal publications u Be aware a newsletter may go anywhere u You can’t control who might read it u Avoid any possible negative connotations u Stress professionalism of volunteers u Select key outside entities to get newsletters u Make sure the “look and feel” is high quality ! u Unit newsletters and internal publications u Be aware a newsletter may go anywhere u You can’t control who might read it u Avoid any possible negative connotations u Stress professionalism of volunteers u Select key outside entities to get newsletters u Make sure the “look and feel” is high quality !

Tailor Your Approach To The Medium u Different media require different approaches u Web sites, blogs and other non-traditional media u Blogs offer personalized, opinionated approach u Social web sites provide unique opportunities u Make it easy for all comers to get the facts u Stay away from jargon that can turn off outsiders u Stay away from “free” sites with advertising u Be aware of the legal ramifications ! u Web sites, blogs and other non-traditional media u Blogs offer personalized, opinionated approach u Social web sites provide unique opportunities u Make it easy for all comers to get the facts u Stay away from jargon that can turn off outsiders u Stay away from “free” sites with advertising u Be aware of the legal ramifications !

Summary / Going Forward u So what is the future of public affairs ? u Sensitivity to a changing media landscape u Educate yourself about all of CAP’s missions u Understand that the basics never change u What can you do for me? u Show that volunteer also means professional ! u Sensitivity to a changing media landscape u Educate yourself about all of CAP’s missions u Understand that the basics never change u What can you do for me? u Show that volunteer also means professional !

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