Media Relations Coordination Guidelines

Guidelines for Partnering with National Headquarters Public Affairs
for Media Relations Assistance

The Civil Air Patrol Public Affairs Officer or Mission Information Officer plans and coordinates media relations activities. National Headquarters Public Affairs is always available to assist the PAO, IO, Incident Commander and Agency Liaison with media relations as requested. NHQ PA can provide assistance in the areas cited below.  This is especially critical when there is not a PAO in place, the PAO is new and/or inexperienced and/or the mission is high profile.
 
Planning

• Develop and/or refine crisis plan or public relations plan
• Identify a spokesperson
• Anticipate media needs and questions
• Make recommendations on all media coverage
• Coordinating national leadership participation
• Provide talking points
• Provide media kits

Media Queries & Response

• Respond to media inquiries
• Research, interview, and write news releases
• Disseminate news releases nationwide
• Develop radio and TV announcements
• Set up interviews
• Set up press conferences

Issues Management

• Develop proactive media messages
• Prepare a daily issues management report that tracks key issues and recommends courses of action

Logistics

• Publish daily updates online
• Provide media contact lists
• Provide a daily report of media coverage
• Provide a copy of  WIMRS reports to members involved in missions, issued daily by NHQ’s National Operations Center
• Prepare an after action report

Creative Services

• Coordinate with NHQ Creative Services to establish and maintain a Web site
• Coordinate with NHQ Creative Services to secure and publish photographs online
• Coordinate with NHQ Creative Services to take, edit, and distribute videos/DVDs