(03/15/17)

By Kim Nix, Alabama Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources

If your state is like mine, it’s seen the loss of some traditional outlets for hunting and fishing information. Many newspapers no longer have a columnist dedicated to reporting the outdoor news. I was recently contacted by a Wisconsin reporter who was doing a story on state magazines, the number of which has decreased over past few years. Entries in ACI’s Television Show category were once as high as 11, but are now down to as few as four.

There are many reasons for these changes, but rather than focus on the “why,” I think we ought to focus on the actions we can take to reach the public in different ways.

Many times, government agencies are behind the curve on newer communication trends, but we don’t have to be. I think we must be open to thinking outside the box and taking creativity to the next level. Ways to keep up with trends include reading websites and blogs, attending webinars and joining local public relations organizations.

You should also attend the annual ACI conference to learn from your peers and conference presenters. I’ve always found ACI members gladly willing to share their experiences about what worked or didn’t work. Join me at the Indiana conference for the opportunity to learn and share.