THIRTIETH BIENNIAL REPORT 79 



REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC RELATIONS 



By Frank H. Vore, In Charge 



The Bureau of Public Relations, sometimes designated as the Bureau 

 of Publicity, has grown considerably in importance and scope during 

 the two-year period ending June 30, 1928. 



First operating strictly as a publicity department, for the purpose 

 of supplying newspapers and news agencies throughout the state with 

 authentic information and real news stories of the various activities of 

 the Division of Fish and Game, it has developed to the point where the 

 director is presumed to be the "contact man," operating between the 

 division and not only the newspapers and news agencies but also 

 between many organizations and individuals in an intensive effort to 

 get before the people of California the progressive program of protec- 

 tion and conservation of the natural resources, namely fish and game, 

 that has been inaugurated and is now in operation. 



During the first ten months of the period just ended, this work was 

 ably carried on by Major Rolin G. Watkins, who left on May 1, 1927, 

 to enter business for himself in Salinas. 



To Major Watkins should go great credit for the establishing of many 

 excellent contacts and for the physical organization of the bureau on a 

 real working basis. 



Not only did "Watkins prepare and send out good publicity, but he 

 attended countless meetings, where he carried the message of conserva- 

 tion to thousands of interested persons. 



During eleven days in February, 1927, Major Watkins addressed 

 seven meetings, and during each month until he left the service on May 

 1, he was constantly busy, preaching the gospel of conservation as well 

 as sending out his carefully prepared news stories of the division's 

 activity. 



Many newspapers were added to the large list with which he started 

 the bureau, and when it was handed over to the present director on the 

 date mentioned it was found to be functioning in fine style. 



During the ten months of the biennial period that Watkins was in 

 charge, the state game farm planted a number of pheasants in various 

 sections of the state, and he attended these liberations and secured much 

 invaluable publicity through cooperation with newspapers and sports- 

 men's organizations at the places where the new game birds were loosed. 



The present director has kept up this practice and has found no dif- 

 ficulty in securing the needed cooperation to get the publicity and per- 

 fect the arrangements for the liberations. 



Watkins also handled the many details connected with the second 

 annual convention of employees held in February, 1927. 



The present director came directly to this position from the Fresno 

 Bee, where he handled the sport desk for five years. He was and is of 

 course in close touch with newspaper men throughout the state and the 

 stories sent out by the bureau are given general publication. 



It was found that considerable gain was made soon in the cooperation 

 given by the metropolitan newspapers. The dailies in San Francisco, 

 Oakland, Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento and San Diego started to use 

 and continue to use practically all publicity released by the bureau. 



