Greg's right. And as long as they're not trying to censor you, having a PR person around is a good thing in that most (not all!) government meteorologists possess little or no media experience, including a large subset of technologically or scientifically savvy but media-inept folks who don't know a sound bite from a sounding.
The PR person in Norman is a treasure in that way. She is great in directing reporters to the right mets for the subject matter, and in helping mets who need it (and it's a large majority, believe me) to just cut to the chase, get to the point and remember the scientific educational level of the audience (remarkably low in most cases).
[Yes, alert reader, I admit to using "multidecadal oscillation" in a recent Transcript story on hurricanes, but the reporter *wanted* to know what the cycle was called and how it works...and did a great job presenting it in his story.]
Further, employees are free to speak to the media in other capacities as long as they do NOT represent themselves as NWS or NOAA. For example, I sometimes do interviews as a storm "chaser" or an outdoor photographer, with no connection whatsoever made toward my employer. That's totally legal and cannot legally be infringed upon by the unnamed employer. I also freely and legally contact Congress and other elected officials, and write letters to the editor, in the capacity of an NWS Employees Organization (union) steward. This can be done even if speaking regarding NOAA policies and issues...as long as it is explicitly framed from the union framework and (if hardcopy) on union letterhead. Such activities are outside the bounds and breadth of NOAA regulation and cannot be touched, as long as I represent the union or myself personally, and not the agency.
NOT representing anybody but myself at this moment, of course...
