What is I-O?

It works like this: Reporters looking for authorities to provide commentary for stories on which they are working place their requests on ProfNet, which daily lists hundreds of queries covering a broad range of subjects.

For the past several months, the SIOP Visibility Committee has been monitoring these media requests on ProfNet and has determined that some of the requests, usually dealing with the workplace, definitely fall into the expertise areas of many SIOP members.

The reporters represent newspapers, trade journals, magazines, and the broadcast media from all over the country.

At the request of the Visibility Committee, the Administrative Office now subscribes to ProfNet and will be checking the daily listings. When there are queries that seem appropriate, the Administrative Office will call SIOP members whose expertise fits the query and read them the details of the reporters request. If the SIOP member feels that he/she can respond to the particular request, a number will be given to call the reporter.

Most ProfNet queries require a quick response time since reporters are usually working on a deadline. Those response times can be as short as a few hours, but are usually within a day or two.

We think the ProfNet service provides an efficient way in which to increase the exposure of SIOP and its members and inform the business community, in particular, of the great variety of expertise that our members possess, said Gary Carter of Personnel Decisions Research Institute in Arlington, Virginia and chair of the SIOP Visibility Committee.