Basic Guidelines for Public Information Officers (PIOs) provides guidance for the PIO.  It is available on the Publications page as a PDF formatted document.  It is part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which if you haven't heard about it, you will be in the future.  The Basic Guidance booklet will also be in each Squadrons mailbox at NVWGHQ in hardcopy form.

We're in an entirely new world of communication as Public Information Officers. This isn't pie in the sky future stuff. It's here now. As professional communicators whose job it is to relate the important information to the public in an accurate and timely fashion ( "the need for speed") any tool that facilitates this will produce a better product.

The days of the mainstream media, i.e. television and radio, while still relevant, are evolving at the speed of the internet. If we are to do our jobs as PIOs, we must know how to access and utilize venues such as the web, blogs, Virtual JICs and so much more. These truly are exciting times for PIOs, and our profession is poised to step into Rock Star status.

I encourage all Squadron Commanders to read this document through and have a thoughtful discussion within their Command Staff with their PAO/PIO. You'll never know what they don't know unless you talk.

Talk about exciting times, I was just invited to travel back to Washington D.C. to do a joint presentation to the National Guard Bureau in March. That is in addition to the presentations I'll be making at the Zonta International group in February, the National Commanders Course at Maxwell AFB, and the PAO Academy in Florida just prior to the National Conference.

We've come a long way from the days of begging the news media to come out and watch us train. We have the star power now to get us front and center, and we need to act on it effectively.

For those Squadrons with robust Cadet programs, are you really letting your Cadets know about everything that is happening in regard to Public Affairs?  Young people are really searching for what they may have a lifelong passion for as they approach their college years ... and believe me, Crisis Communications (both in the public and private sector) is a burgeoning field filled with possibilities... and dare I say it ... income potential.

There's no two ways around the truth: I'm a crisis junkie. Hooked on the adrenaline rush of a 'face to face off' with national and international media. Why would I do this? I lunch up on the unexpected. It's never dull. I love the dynamic people I come into contact with ... CNNs Miles O'Brien and NBCs George Lewis for example. They've been there, done that. Wow, and they treat me like an equal. How cool is that?

Additionally, I'm learning a lot of new skill sets. I hope everybody will visit my blogsite: thepio.net. I never thought I could do something like this and it's opening up new possibilities that I hadn't even considered. By the way, increased traffic through the site would really help right now. I'm still fixing code and working on getting links on related sites. Do you know WordPress and php code. Talk to me.

At the end of the day, I've finally figured out what I'm truly good at ( well, I hear you others, the art lovers... those of you who have actually seen my artwork and know about that part of my resume think I should be back painting or printmaking) and frankly, it doesn't get anymore exciting than this.

Have I ignited any new interest out there? I hope so. Join me on what could be the ride of your life.

LtCol. Cynthia S. Ryan, CAP
Public Information Officer
Nevada Wing

Good media relations benefits the U.S. Civil Air Patrol. When CAP helps the media with the job of gathering and reporting the news, we are also helping communicate CAP's story to the public. Through good media relations, CAP can strengthen community support and attract new members. Providing this kind of assistance also discharges our responsibility as a corporation funded by Congress to be accountable to the public.

The foundation of good media relations is the coordination, uniformity, accuracy and timeliness of the information released. Consequently, all requests for information from the media should be directed to the squadron, group, wing or region public affairs officer, CAP National Headquarters Public Affairs or the squadron, group, wing or region commander's designee in the absence of a PAO. CAP National Headquarters Public Affairs provides assistance to all PAOs, as requested, in handling media relations.

Most inquires by journalists will concern activities that are a matter of public record and that CAP has an interest in promoting. Sometimes, however, reporters will inquire about documents, litigation or personnel matters. The squadron, group, wing or region PAO, CAP National Headquarter Public Affairs or a squadron, group, wing or region commander's designee, all of whom are trained to know how to handle these inquiries, are the coordinating entity for responding to these type media inquiries.

Regarding information requested by the media on cadets, the squadron, group, wing or region PAO complies with federal laws governing cadets' right to privacy. With a cadets' permission, almost any information can be released.

However, without a cadet's permission, only the name, rank, hometown and unit may be released.

If a media representative contacts individual members with a request for an interview or for information, those members should direct the representative to their respective unit PAO. In the event there is a request for an interview with national-level leadership, CAP National Headquarters Public Affairs can assist with the coordination and scheduling of requested media interviews.

All news releases, public service announcements or other statements to the media regarding CAP events, activities, programs, or members should be released through the squadron, group, wing or region PAO or CAP National Headquarter Public Affairs.

During emergency and disaster relief missions, information should be released in a timely manner to the media through a wing's mission information officer or designated mission base spokesperson. During emergency or disaster relief missions that involve multiple wings and multiple regions, information may also be disseminated to the media at the CAP National Headquarters Public Affairs level.

CAP encourages the release of photos to the media to tell the CAP story. CAP National Headquarters does not require a photo release form to be signed by members who appear in a photo prior to its release to the media if the photo being considered for release was taken in a public setting, e.g., encampment, weekly squadron meeting, etc. The only time a photo release form must be provided is when commercial use of a photo is anticipated, e.g., publication in a book, merchandising, etc. For mission-related photos, PAOs at all levels must consider the sensitivity of the mission and the need to coordinate formal approval for release with the lead agency.