PUBLIC INFORMATION 



The primary mission of the Fish and Game Department's public 

 information section is to keep before the public of the state those 

 facts and figures relating to the management and conditions of fish 

 and game in Montana. It is constantly striving to reach more and 

 more persons through the various media; newspapers, magazines, 

 radio, and personal correspondence and contact. 



A theme being concentrated upon now, and in the future, is 

 the fact that each and every person has a direct interest in the well 

 being and good management of the fish and game resources in Mon- 

 tana. Utilization of every source available is a partial answer to the 

 problem of making the public aware of its interest, and the public 

 information section has taken advantage of these outlets. 



Films, the themes of which deal with fish, game, and conserva- 

 tion, have been purchased and are now on deposit in the state film 

 library, available to any group in the state interested in showing them. 

 Lists of these films have been sent to all outdoor associations, schools, 

 and clubs so that a selection of available films could be made. This 

 has proved highly succesful and has eased the job of answering in- 

 quiries, both for the Fish and Game Department and for the state 

 film library. 



Weekly news releases, issued from the department's Helena 

 offices, have averaged over five pages of copy per week. These go to 

 every newspaper and radio station in the state, and to the major sports 

 magazines and fish and game departments for other states. 



Daily news releases are issued from the department for publi- 

 cation in all daily nwspapers in the state. They are written from 

 information gathered by department personnel by members of the 

 Public Information Section. 



Requests have been received for a radio program of from five 

 to fifteen minutes in length, written by section personnel. It is 

 hoped that these requests can be granted in the near future. 



An inter-department publication, Bear Facts and Fish Tales, is 

 issued once a month to all members of the department. This deals 

 strictly with department affairs and is not for general consumption. 



Emphasis has been placed on the issuance from the department 

 of more pictures to local newspapers for publication. So far, all 

 pictures of department personnel and the work they are doing have 

 been well received, and a great deal of space was allocated to them. 

 Cartoons have also been sent out and published, dealing with vax'ious 

 phases of conservation work. 



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