Public Affairs Specialist

Are you a good writer? Do you like to work with people? Are you even the tiniest bit creative or artistic? Then perhaps you would like to be a BLM public affairs specialist. Public affairs work in BLM can be a combination of writing, working with people both inside and outside of BLM, putting together displays and publications, working with audio-visual equipment, and generally managing information. Public affairs specialists prepare news releases to tell BLM's story in the newspaper, on the radio and on television. They organize tours to show what BLM is doing, or to help managers get advice on resource management problems. With the help of resource specialists, they describe BLM's management of specific resources, such as wildlife or recreation, or specific areas, like the Snake River Birds of Prey Area or a popular fishing spot. And some public affairs people specialize in certain jobs: writing, photography, Congressional liaison and legislation, etc. To prepare for a career in public affairs, you should take English, composition, journalism, speech, and computer classes in high school. A bachelor's degree in journalism, political science, or a resource-related field is helpful, but not required.