the role of the public information officer fema

Identify contacts and sources that are relevant to your organization. Illustrate the multiple roles of the Public Information Officer and the media in planning for and responding to an emergency. Through ancient voodoo and folk-lore traditions, shows like theWalking Deadwere born. Different types of written products include the following: View actual news releases, statements, and fact sheets on the InciWeb site [http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/]. In all cases, the campaign will include a compelling message and a clear link to the organizations overall goals and priorities. Successful written communication conveys your key messages and: More information on writing clearly and effectively is presented in Lesson 3. It provides a framework for people from multiple agencies to work well together B. This awareness-level training is suitable for new PIOs. The Incident Commander B. Public information can help people make the right decision at the right time. A news release should be used when an activity or incident is newsworthy based on: News releases should be printed on your organizations letterhead and include a header with contact information (name and number), date, and a news release number. Below are some, but not all, of the critical skill sets learned during this training program: Personnel who are assigned or may be designated to perform public information duties during an incident, emergency, or disaster and anyone in a response discipline who may be assigned or designated to perform public information duties. Learn and respect your media contacts deadlines. Lesson 3 introduced the importance of establishing relationships with the media. Unfortunately, these hazardous materials are creating a dangerous situation for all of us. As a PIO, you communicate with your target audiences to keep them informed about activities, events, and resources. Emergency management knowledge including an understanding of NIMS, ICS, the JIS, and the JIC. Coordinate access to policymakers and others (e.g., first responders and disaster survivors). That you will get them information and be back to brief themand then do so. This course introduces PIOs with no, or limited, experience to the basic skills and tools needed to communicate effectively with the public. Joanne H. Moreau: We focus a lot on making sure that we have a very accurate and timely information process of information dissemination. As demonstrated by the examples, micro-blogging has become an important source of information in preparation of, during, and after crisis situations. A directory of your organizations Internet presence. Public information entails the processes and systems that enable effective communications with various target audiences. Some tips to contribute to your success when managing information during an emergency are: A Go Kit is a mobile response kit that allows PIOs to function in the event that they are working outside of their normal place of operation. nEAH {27(L( o 5UR\sR%or=uG5($#MJ (2*8T-\< Resident/Non-Resident, Trainer Program, etc. First name. This lesson introduced you to the steps to create a preparedness campaign: These steps will help you develop a campaign that will inform the whole community about the importance of being ready and preparedness steps to take. Email is also an ideal tool for communicating within your organization because you generally have access to your colleagues email addresses. This process includes: Your goal statement expresses what you hope to achieve through your campaign. B. cause the intended audience to act on requests in the message. Information developed and disseminated in anticipation of, during, or after an emergency to provide specific life- and health-saving information C. Issuing a news release on a seatbelt law (public information); announcing a road closure due to a multiple-car accident (emergency public information) D. Information collected, assembled or maintained by an organization in connection with the transaction of official business and available for dissemination to the public, 2. B. describes a writing technique applied to social media content. Primary audience: FEMA IS-29.A is designed for the new or less experienced state, local, tribal and territorial PIOs or those who have this role as a secondary function. What will you change in future campaigns? Announce events of interest to your community or share information about an incident. In other words, express parallel ideas in parallel grammatical forms. The role of the public information officer A. is strictly dictated by the National Qualification System position task book. Blogs are a good tool to use to communicate with your audience. Private wiki servers require user authentication to edit pages, and sometimes even to read them. (Unit 4), Given a scenario, apply the 8-Step Model to a public awareness campaign. 0. The Governor declared the emergency following a similar declaration by Liberty County. endstream endobj 1929 0 obj <. This feature can facilitate abuse of the system. For each of these toolstelevision, newspaper, radio, news briefings, and evolving mediayou need written products. News briefings or conferences and interviews are times when you will need to know how to (or prepare a speaker to) present information and respond to questions. Verdi White: The two functions and people that I need to have with me when Im out here doing anything is I need to have a finance person and I need to have the Joint Information Center. Develop and pre-test materials C. Develop an action planD. Because its money well spent in the end and if your PIOs can learn from other areas of the Nation that are doing things well, send them there, let them learn from the people who have done it before, so that when they come back they can build a system that works for you. You should set a realistic deadline and interim benchmarks, as needed. Television is the main source of news for Americans. Last name. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. It will keep you focused and is the foundation for evaluating your campaigns success. Well, were here to answer that question for you, and hopefully share a few tips about preparing forrealemergencies too! * The social media links provided are for reference only. As a PIO, when you get to the scene, you will first make contact with the Incident Commander to gather information and assess the situation. Coordinate information being distributed to ensure consistency with other agencies messages. This lesson focused on how to communicate effectively, which involves: In the next lesson you will learn how to use your tools and skills to communicate information about being prepared to your community. Operates with the understanding that any video, audio, or interviews acquired will be shared with the rest of the media. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 The good news is that preventing heat related illness is easy to do if you just use common sense. Governor James Smith today declared a state of emergency in the Great A&P fire that is rapidly spreading west. Always connect with the Incident Commander before making any statement to the media. What do you want people to know or do after hearing your message? If you intend to become a Public Information Officer use these FEMA IS 29.A answers to turn a 7 hour course into one that takes 5 minutes. This includes: More information on learning about the whole community is presented in Lesson 4. The table below summarizes what you need to provide for a print story, and identifies the advantages and limitations of print. Other zombie origins shown in films include radiation from a destroyed NASA Venus probe (as inNight of the Living Dead), as well as mutations of existing conditions such as prions, mad-cow disease, measles and rabies. While local, tribal, territorial, and State governments may have different laws regarding transparency and open government the general principles are to be: As a PIO, it is important to know the laws that apply in your area because of your role in providing information to the public. Angie Welling: Reporters understand change really well because our days are always changing, but just have that plan in place, know basically what you want to do, whos going to staff it, what will be available, what hours you will be available for the media. This demonstrates how social media are now an integral part of our lives and a valuable part of the PIOs toolkit. D. has become ever more complex as the challenge of delivering messages has evolved. Click on a program for additional information. An important difference in these evolving media is that anyone can report the informationit could be a reporter, you, someone in your organization, or anyone in the public. Describe the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in an emergency. Responds to the media while respecting restrictions on the release of sensitive information. The Governor repeated his request that everyone use caution and heed warning messages on TV and radio, or in their newspapers. Describe the role of the PIO in an emergency. !]U9[MZ\waQ>yICK{",|.NH&ec* 'C/M;WrQJ6bs\ 886} If a media pool is not an option, consider providing professional-quality images to the media in the form of video and stills. Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. PIOs shouldA. compile a go kit to allow for lengthy deployments to a long-term incident. It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). Describe how to effectively communicate orally and through written products. Use jargon to communicate with your target audience B. Providing good public information helps people make the right decisions at the right time and can instill public confidence in the organization, which is primarily important because: Some tips for building relationships with your media contacts are: It is important to prepare a list of media outlets and contacts, for everyday activities and to act quickly in an emergency. Thats right, I said z-o-m-b-i-e a-p-o-c-a-l-y-p-s-e. You may laugh now, but when it happens youll be happy you read this, and hey, maybe youll even learn a thing or two about how to prepare for arealemergency. The median salary for a public information officer is near 60,000 a year in most states and between 80,000 and 90,000 a year in higher cost of living states. The first step in developing a public awareness campaign is to research issues to identify relevant topics for your campaign. C. Identify all the news media covering the area. Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. Radio is a form of broadcast technology that has the following needs, advantages, and limitations. hbbd```b``"_H|LI&x9"$ ;Dr?*&Fvql2r S3 The steps to organize and conduct a news conference or briefing are: Note: You may want to identify several knowledgeable people to assist and provide information at the news conference or briefing. Media management skills including knowing what the media wants, managing amateur journalists, and using media pools and media areas. Smith activated the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates State firefighting efforts in these situations. They can be timelesslike encouraging children to be active. It was absolutely the very best thing we could have done. Emergency Management Institute (Unit 5). FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications. The heat on the desert floor isnt just a nuisance, its expensive & lethal. Provide public information, emergency public information, and community education to your internal and external target audiences. Youll be quite surprised at how the elected official mouse makes all the difference with the children. Admissions Fax: (301) 447-1658, Independent Study Program Message mapping B. Dissemination C. Tracking and documentation D. Media analysis. Public Information and Warning . Derrick Jensen: The feedback we received from them, from the local media that we work with on a regular basis and have a pretty good relationship from them . Even a few minutes of practice can make a big difference. Examples of JIS configurations are: The previous examples of JIS configurations demonstrate that sometimes a location is needed to facilitate the operation of the JIS. Example: Press Release Using Inverted Pyramid Format. Sound bite B. hbbd```b``+@$S4X$ vA$[0,v DI%09D`vH2& H/ `{I 30 0 `B endstream endobj startxref A goal that makes you stretch is good. Technology has a great impact on your ability to manage the message. (For example: The suspicious package was the size of a laptop computer. Social media sites help disaster survivors look for lost family members and pets, and provide information on where to get assistance, where to find shelter, and how to give aid. Expert Help. List the skills needed to be an effective PIO. . People have a right and a need to know about the risks they face. Allows access to one media representative from television, radio, print, and Internet to a restricted area. Establish one that doesnt hinder operations but affords the media reasonable, legitimate access. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Public Information Officer (PIO) training program is designed to provide PIOs with the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities to support proper decision-making by delivering the right message, to the right people, at the right time. if4-0lP,H^F1!P`8FF@T br.afQP0G@U@} )F%H (wtP9 lF `PFn*Lks]k^s9LgsXxh|s ]bpa . User: 4. In Lesson 2 you learned about the many different media options you have, including: Select the right medium or right mix of media for a strategy to get your message to your target audience. Here are the FEMA test answers to IS-29.A: Public Information Officer Awareness. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. Some examples of evolving media tools are: Web sites can be used alone or in conjunction with traditional media and other evolving media to get your message out. Avoid getting involved in these media disputes. A strategy to effectively use all the tools (traditional media and evolving media) together and determine the best mix of tools for what you want to communicate. 1928 0 obj <> endobj If you use an acronym, make sure your audience understands it. This training focuses on both parts of the equation. . The following table shows what you need to provide for a television story, the advantages of television, and its limitations. Conduct research to determine which tool is best to meet your agencys needs. Campaigns that combine a mix of media are more likely to be effective in influencing people. ), Manuals and background information necessary to provide needed information to the public and media, Topic-specific fact sheets, backgrounders, talking points, and news release templates (hard copy and electronic), Business cards with 24/7 contact information, Funding mechanism (i.e., credit card, etc.) Write out the full term on first usage, as appropriate. Increase community preparedness is not specific. Wear your uniform or neat, conservative attire if not in uniform. Look at the audience, but dont lock eyes with any one person and dont look into the camera. Recall preparation techniques that contribute to a successful media interview. You can find the complete list of courses in the Spanish language course list. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. Consider your resources and your role in ICS. You cant manage who shows up but you can and should manage contact with the site. EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. Mayor Holden: We need to get in advance of different things that could happen, and begin to put a television show together to talk about the things that people should be aware of and what they can do. Another way to get information to the media or public is by directly sharing with multiple members of the media through a news conference or briefing. Determines what the public needs to know. What are people in your community concerned about? D. The ninety-five (95%) segment of the 95/5 concept, 5. The news release should use the inverted pyramid as illustrated below. Do they have special communication needs (e.g., visual or hearing impairments, or limited English proficiency)? %PDF-1.6 % Your media list should be current, complete, and tailored to your organization. For example, change the location or angle of the lectern so cameras dont capture an unwanted view. It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). The role of the pubic information officer. Treat all media fairlydo not play favorites with reporters. Describe evolving media tools, including social media, for communication. In their zeal to get the story reporters may not always recognize the potential for danger to themselves. It uses organizational charts that can be provided to the news media C. It was created for first responders and is helpful at the beginning of an incident D. It has been proven effective during massive wildfire incidents. Harvard psychiatrist Steven Scholzman wrote a (fictional) medical paper on the zombies presented inNight of the Living Deadand refers to the condition asAtaxic Neurodegenerative Satiety Deficiency Syndromecaused by an infectious agent. Gathering feedback and heading off problems, Explaining your mission, policies, and goals. Proactivity occurs during A. For highly technical information, it might be best to prepare a credible subject-matter expert to present. C. result in the need to conduct follow-up interviews. D. enhance agency credibility. Verdi White: And I believe that that has helped in our relationship with the media. Some important considerations to effectively use evolving media include developing: Now you have an understanding of the advantages and limitations of traditional and evolving media. News releases should adhere to the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. Do you know what to do to protect yourself and your family? Successful blogs are compelling and current, and encourage interaction with readers. Lets look at some general descriptions of social media available: Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. In a crisis, getting the right information to the right people at the right time is more important than catching a dangling participle! When something happens, the PIO needs the media to get information to the public but also needs to manage the scene and guide the story. (A media pool refers to a group of news-gathering organizations pooling their resources in the collection of news.) Make sure the media area is far enough away and/or your workspaces are shielded from prying cameras, microphones, and eyes. Include information on evolving media contacts, instructions, and resources. Emergency Manager jobs 33,535 open jobs Determining hazard impact is a crucial component in emergency planning. D. takes its origin from two sources: management consultant D. Edward Deming and Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto.. All social networking sites allow users to find people they know among the members, or look for other members with similar interests or affiliations. How knowledgeable is the audience on this topic? Develop relationships with other organizations PIOs B. Note: Often micro-blogs will provide links to Web sites or social networking sites for more information. Quantify results when evaluating public information efforts. At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: The previous lesson introduced tools the PIO can use to communicate with the community. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. The following are excerpts from some successful blogs by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Ventura City Manager in Ventura, CA, and the Arizona Department of Health Services. The Governors declaration allows the use of State resources in paying the costs of fighting the fire. +O,))8+l"O{i9"5QKh^R7YH'gI@P+,,#+pbH,ZJt-9#)*~{"Dxu As part of conducting research, you have identified populations in the community who are vulnerable and need the information from your campaign. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?. (What will motivate them?). Verdi White: The way that we set this particular operation up is we took the Incident Command System and made it an overlay onto the National Guard that had the infrastructure to be able to do all the functions that we needed to accomplish to do this, and of course one of the central components of, of an incident command system is the public information piece. Who is likely to be affected by the hazard or threat? The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. Office: (301) 447-1200 Fax: (301) 447-1201, (800) 621-FEMA / TTY (800) 462-7585 C. only required when dictated by the Incident Commander. ), John enjoys boating, swimming, and to fish. These tools allow you to use key word searches and provide you with updates in your email or through an RSS feed or through the tools Web site. While it is not the responsibility of the PIO to provide food or facilities for the media, a little kindness in this area can go far in building a positive relationship with the mediaespecially if the incident occurs in a remote area where few if any comfort facilities exist (e.g., if the incident is in a remote field, a porta-john will go a long way in making friends!). Studies show that people read differently online than when they read printed materials, therefore, when you write for the Web or social media you should: A. I would urge you to be careful whenever you travel, Smith said. Select this link to access a printable . The news media and local government ask the community to send videos and photos via social media, email, and text messages. The most popular social networking sites have groups, which offer chat boards for members. Many times the site of a crisis or disaster may be considered a crime scene and needs to be processed by forensic units. Serves as an advisor to the Incident Commander. It may be a good idea to record how many news releases you sent out, but the amount of media coverage you receive (e.g., column inches, mentions on news programs, and number of radio interviews) is more indicative of success. The media area is a place where media congregate to help enhance the flow of information. Social marketing is the use of commercial marketing principles to: A. Grab the attention of your readers so that they will continue reading. Lieutenant Doug McCleve: One of the reasons why we felt it was so important to put together a Joint Information in the first, Center in the first place is because we knew that there would be all aspects of State government involved in this process from providing basic food and clothing and shelter for these people who have had nothing for up to a week. Making sure community members understand the events that unfold during severe weather, pandemics, and non-emergency scenarios . Make it less likely that your release will be cut C. Impress people in the target audience D. Be a barrier to communication, 22. 0 Now that youve got a goal statement, the next step is to create messages in support of the goal that are suited to your target audience. This lesson presents information on tools you can use in support of your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). Holding the session indoors, if possible. Under the ICS, the PIO works for: A. Questions to answer when evaluating a public awareness campaign include the following: You can collect data about your campaign in different ways. Within minutes pictures, videos, and messages about the destruction are available on social media sites, Web sites, and throughout the news media. * The social media links provided are for reference only. Additionally, students conduct various public information activities and exercises, to include writing messages and conducting press conferences. Participants will benefit from participating in entry-level incident command system training prior to taking this course. Lieutenant Doug McCleve: The feedback that Im getting, at least from my local news media, is that theyve been very pleased with the access theyve had. 50% C. 25% D. 5%, 9. Students also learn message development and delivery, legal considerations, press conferences, the operation of a Joint Information Center, stress management, and strategic communication and planning. One PIO talking by phone to an on-scene PIO to confirm the number of responders at the scene prior to an initial news release. Recognize various legal aspects associated with emergencies and public information. Blogs to cover events as they are happening. Hundreds are so ill that they end up being admitted to the hospital. B. Managing public information is another fundamental element of emergency management. What problems are you having in your community? Students also learn message development and . They can be used for personal networking, professional networking, and sharing public information. When preparing written products, it is important that your message is understood. Some examples include traditional media using: An important step when communicating is to continually evaluate and adjust your message by monitoring the media. He and his wife threw open their window and helped their kids drop to waiting neighbors gathered below. 514 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<897144EC39D7C94ABD0F71D9C292EE4A><41375C8F366F3C4EA1877AFFBEEAAE0A>]/Index[494 31]/Info 493 0 R/Length 101/Prev 195410/Root 495 0 R/Size 525/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream The participant will benefit from participating in entry-level incident command system training prior to taking this course. Select it carefully and choose your background wisely. Tammy Kikuchi: I would say it, whatever expense it takes for your Public Information Officers to get the training, spend it. The press saw it. Some tips for speaking publicly and improving your responses (or assisting and preparing a speaker) are: When distributing written products or speaking to the media, you will often need to work with a person to get your information out. (Unit 2), Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. Describe how to have a successful relationship with the news media. Are there cultural differences to take into consideration? Continue to monitor the weather., Example 3:4 Shelters remain open: MassMutual Ctr, 1277 Main St. Springfield; Quarry Hill Comm. Themes weaved throughout the series include the 95/5 concept and an emphasis on whole community strategic communication planning. Picture of EMI Campus with Emergenct Mangement Institute sign in foreground and Buildings N and O in the background" title="The campus of FEMA's National Emergency Training Center, located in Emmitsburg, Md., offers a beautiful environment for first responders, emergency managers and educators to learn state-of-the-art disaster management and response. Work to keep them out of danger as you would any member of the public. hb```"g@($CC4i9"Mp1:u3;;:*&d@|Hh 9C$,;30K2=e$b00 D! Social media have changed how quickly information about a disaster is available. Tammy Kikuchi: The response was overwhelming. . The Student Self Service Portal allows you to print or download Independent Study (IS) Completion Certificates, Student IS Transcripts (for personal or employer use) and Official IS Transcripts (for educational institutions only). For more information on AP style, go tohttp://www.apstylebook.com. What events nationally and globally are in the news? One that is completely out of reach is de-motivating. The EMI training program provides PIOs with the opportunity to learn and practice the tasks of gathering, verifying, coordinating, and disseminating public information at all levels of government.. All of the above, 23.

the role of the public information officer fema 2023