the role of the public information officer fema

PIOs need to have a complete understanding of the community's demographics in order to: A. For highly technical information, it might be best to prepare a credible subject-matter expert to present. Supporting information can be described as: A. Print medianewspapers and magazinesare the first type of mass media developed. Expert Help. The Sonoran Desert will be among the hottest places on the globe for the next 4 months. B. cause the intended audience to act on requests in the message. It is important to prepare each person to ensure your message is consistent. NIMS Description of the PIOs Responsibilities. C. As the PIO, you must know your organizations role in an emergency and have emergency management knowledge, including: This lesson introduced you to your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). Prepare a Go Kit filled with your tools, contact information, and other vital documents. 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. They knew that they werent being led down another road, that they were hearing things unfiltered. This process includes: Your goal statement expresses what you hope to achieve through your campaign. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. As a PIO, your target audiences include . Please review the IS FAQ's for more information. As a PIO, you need to: In the next lesson you will learn about various tools available to you for communicating with the community. Identify the purpose of what you are writing and start with the main message. Describe the role and function of the Public Information Officer (PIO). 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Time will also impact the shelf-life of your campaign. 17. This course should take approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes to complete. that can be used to purchase operational resources as needed, Paper forms, in case there is no electronic access (i.e., no Internet access, power outage, etc. Questions to answer when evaluating a public awareness campaign include the following: You can collect data about your campaign in different ways. Joanne H. Moreau: We focus a lot on making sure that we have a very accurate and timely information process of information dissemination. If you use an acronym, make sure your audience understands it. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the media and the whole community. In this lesson youll learn more about creating public awareness campaigns. Through ancient voodoo and folk-lore traditions, shows like theWalking Deadwere born. In your communication strategy, identify how you will use social media by itself and together with traditional media to prepare your community for emergencies, and to provide them with life-saving information when an incident occurs. 1928 0 obj <> endobj Tammy Kikuchi: Having the Joint Information Center for this event was critical. Additionally, students conduct various public information activities and exercises, to include writing messages and conducting press conferences. Example: Press Release Using Inverted Pyramid Format. Salary Statistics for Public Information Officers. Tammy Kikuchi: I would say it, whatever expense it takes for your Public Information Officers to get the training, spend it. After taking this course you may want to take other courses to help you continue your professional development. The good news is that preventing heat related illness is easy to do if you just use common sense. 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. Creates a positive impression of your organization. This course introduces PIOs with no, or limited, experience to the basic skills and tools needed to communicate effectively with the public. The news media and local government ask the community to send videos and photos via social media, email, and text messages. To help you in monitoring conversations on social media sites, you may want to use a social media monitoring tool or social media dashboard. 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. 1955 0 obj <>stream You need to write to your audience. D. is only useful on television infomercials. Technology has a great impact on your ability to manage the message. 0. First name. The media will want to get as close as possible to get pictures/audio/interviews. The highest-ranking State official C. His/her regular boss D. The Operations Section Chief, 13. If you need to build an email list, consider including a place for people to sign up on your Web site. User: The Public Information Officer: A. Interfaces with the public and media and/or with other agencies regarding incident-related information requirements. 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. Its not complicated; its very easy for them, which makes for better reporting. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?. Create clear and easily understood messages. B. an important part of the PIOs job. * The social media links provided are for reference only. Do not be afraid to put bad news first if that is the message. The 95/5 concept relates to non-emergency and emergency PIO activities 95% of most PIOs' work is in non-emergency times, with only 5% directly related to incident response or recovery. Joanne H. Moreau: The media is embedded in our Emergency Operations Center. A Federal structure designed for large-scale, multijurisdictional incidents B. 3. Make sure the media area is far enough away and/or your workspaces are shielded from prying cameras, microphones, and eyes. Write out the full term on first usage, as appropriate. This lesson introduces you to some emergency management principles contained in the National Incident Management System (NIMS). A media pool: Note: Media pools can cause disagreements among the media. Youll be quite surprised at how the elected official mouse makes all the difference with the children. Social networking sites are online communities that connect people. Communication with internal agency personnel is A. not a role undertaken by a PIO. An important part of your role as a PIO is to communicate with your community before something happens. A PIOs proactive approach to public information enhances credibility in messaging. This is a release that you post online. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. They can be timelesslike encouraging children to be active. . Illustrate the multiple roles of the Public Information Officer and the media in planning for and responding to an emergency. Video sharing sites to expand or market a story, and. It includes features and characteristics that are not available in a traditional news release, such as: In addition to having good written communication skills, a successful PIO also needs to be able to speak effectively. Blogs to cover events as they are happening. Even the best writer can make mistakes, particularly when under pressure or in a time crunch. 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. The following table shows what you need to provide for a television story, the advantages of television, and its limitations. In other words, express parallel ideas in parallel grammatical forms. To read this blog, go to:http://emergency.cdc.gov/. Please review the IS FAQ's for more information. Describe traditional media available for communication. School, 43 Margaret St. . Recognize various legal aspects associated with emergencies and public information. At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: Public awareness campaigns are ongoing public education programs that PIOs use to inform, educate, and increase organizational visibility. A public awareness campaign is a vehicle you can use to get your message out about being prepared. Avoid fillers (um, er, uh); dont be afraid to pause while formulating an answer. PIOs must possess good oral communication skills because they will need to present critical information and prepare other people to speak: More information on speaking and preparing speakers is presented in Lesson 3. (Unit 3), Recall preparation techniques that contribute to a successful media interview. D. should be knowledgeable, assertive, credible, flexible, able to perform under pressure, and accessible., 10. 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. Year in and year out, nearly 1,400 Arizonans get heat related illnesses so serious that they end up in an emergency department. You have many resources available to ensure that the information reported about an event and your organization is true and accurate. Use the media area for all media releases and conferences. On the couples dresser were two heat-seared imprints where Martinez had left his wallet and cell phone as he frantically scrambled to ensure his familys leap to safety. How or what can your community learn from these events? D. a required responsibility of the PIO as outlined by NIMS.. 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. Traditional media (print, radio, television). It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). Uses information from other members of the local unit to develop accurate, accessible, and complete information on an Influence an audience to modify behavior C. Sell government or nonprofit products and programs D. Enhance social media, 11. Contact local, tribal, territorial, and State press associations to obtain media lists. Understand the National Incident Management System, Incident Command System and their correlation with the emergency response system. What is in it for them? Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and . Doug Miser. Score .9906. In order to maintain the integrity of the scene and enhance the possibility for a successful investigation and subsequent prosecution, the scene must be kept clear of all nonessential personnel. 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. B. is to wait for direction from the incident commander. C. includes reporting to the Operations Section Chief during an incident response. At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: In the previous lesson, you learned about the audiences with whom you will need to communicatethe media, the public, and employees and leaders within your organization. Tammy Kikuchi: The Joint Information Center and the Command Staff out there would hold daily briefings for the media, and quite honestly that took much of the heat, if you will, off the Governors office. Email is also an ideal tool for communicating within your organization because you generally have access to your colleagues email addresses. In the next lesson you will learn how to communicate effectively when an incident happens. Practice talking in 5-second to 8-second sound bites. 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. News releases should adhere to the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. Describe how to effectively communicate orally and through written products. . 0 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. Admissions Fax: (301) 447-1658, Independent Study Program Emergency Management Institute Message mapping B. Dissemination C. Tracking and documentation D. Media analysis. I know our superb team of firefighters will do all they can, but the conditions on the railroad are particularly difficult, Smith said. 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, 15. Office: (301) 447-1200 Fax: (301) 447-1201, (800) 621-FEMA / TTY (800) 462-7585 Your goals should be: The following is an example of a SMART goal: The Hurricane Ready campaign will present information about local hurricane hazards and the steps to take to be prepared by securing by April 5 media placement on three television stations, two newspapers, one social network, and a micro-blog, each week in May.. The role of the public information officer A. is strictly dictated by the National Qualification System position task book. Verdi White: And I believe that that has helped in our relationship with the media. %%EOF endstream endobj startxref The training courses listed below include those delivered at the state, local, tribal, and territorial level as well as higher-level training managed by EMIs subject matter expert training teams. 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. The most important point is is an example of a transition phrase or: A. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. Provide public information, emergency public information, and community education to your internal and external target audiences. Your organization may have other format preferences, such as single-spaced and one-page only. Themes weaved throughout the series include the 95/5 concept and an emphasis on whole community strategic communication planning. Contact commercial vendors to identify contacts and the process for news releases. To be eligible for the course, the student must successfully complete the following courses: The completion of the following courses is recommended but not required: The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) is an Accredited Provider (AP) of Continuing Education Units (CEU) and is authorized to award the following CEUs for successful completion of this activity: IACET (International Association of Continuing Education and Training) 3.2 CEUs, 1-866-213-9553 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CST, Contact Us Do you know what to do to protect yourself and your family? Managing Public Information for All-Hazards Incidents (MPI) is a four-day course that provides students with the practical knowledge of the role of the Public Information Officer, the National Incident Management System, emergency communications methods, risk communication, and interpersonal skills. Radio is a form of broadcast technology that has the following needs, advantages, and limitations. 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. Increased information needs can be handled. 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, 8. (Passive). Refer to the list below. Learn and respect your media contacts deadlines. This includes: More information on learning about the whole community is presented in Lesson 4. But its not just preparedness information that the mayor and his team also have a plan for, they also have focused on how to provide critical and accurate information during an emergency by including every emergency response agency in the Emergency Operations Center the EOC and embedding the media in the communication process. What do you want people to know or do after hearing your message? 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. And thats not all. Within minutes pictures, videos, and messages about the destruction are available on social media sites, Web sites, and throughout the news media. If you determine the need for a media area: At the scene of an incident, the news medias most basic needs are access to information and images. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the whole community regarding the importance of being prepared for an incident. Knowing how to effectively speak to media representatives using both verbal and nonverbal communication. C. only required when dictated by the Incident Commander. The following was originally posted on CDC Public Health Matters Blog on May 16, 2011, by Ali S. Khan. Look at the audience, but dont lock eyes with any one person and dont look into the camera. Timely updates and corrections to information in evolving incidents. Spelling- and grammar-checking tools (printed and computer software). You cantand dont expect them to stay there all of the time. Organizing the information in a news release so that the important information comes first is called: A. AP style B. Inverted pyramid C. JIC style D. Journalistic style, 7. When creating your media list: Media information is constantly changing; make sure you have a process to keep your media list up-to-date. Using acronyms in news releases may:A. Describe the target audiences for the PIO. 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. These examples are micro-blogs from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (Example 1), the Mayors Office of Homeland Security in Baton Rouge (LA) (Example 2), and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (Example 3). NIMS Overview Communities across the nation experience a diverse range of threats, hazards, and events. In all cases, the campaign will include a compelling message and a clear link to the organizations overall goals and priorities. The Public Information Officer is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. It was absolutely the very best thing we could have done. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 In movies, shows, and literature, zombies are often depicted as being created by an infectious virus, which is passed on via bites and contact with bodily fluids. Many organizations follow stylebooks that establish how they will communicate with the public in terms of titles, capitalization, punctuation, and so on. The activities a PIO chooses in non-emergency times (95%) has a significant impact on how successful he or she will be in the 5% spent in emergency response and recovery. 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). 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 . Work within the emergency management system. T;)D2Dt `NY"`~XH@P ` . Measurement is how you evaluate success, but make sure your numbers reflect significant achievement. They can be seasonallike hurricane preparedness week. Narrator: While responding to disasters, Mayor Holden and his staff began to realize that many of the issues they faced repeatedly could be eliminated if the public was better prepared. 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. Simplify complex ideas by using short sentences. Thats what happened to Jose Martinez yesterday morning as he woke early to get his 9-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son off to school on time. Include email addresses and Internet sites for the media contact. 95% B. Poor grammar and misspelled words can confuse the audience and hurt your credibility, but the most important goal is to communicate. Emergency management knowledge including an understanding of NIMS, ICS, the JIS, and the JIC. How knowledgeable is the audience on this topic? Possess and enhance certain qualities and skills that make an effective PIO. It will keep you focused and is the foundation for evaluating your campaigns success. Gather, verify, coordinate, and disseminate public information in an emergency from a Joint Information Center. Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, and the CDC Coronavirus page for the latest updates on the pandemic response. Joanne H. Moreau: So Mayor Mouse, our mayor, along with the real mayor actually goes to that event and interacts with the people that are present. But all four occupants miraculously escaped and the 45-year-old dad told the Ventura County Star: We thank God that were alive, regardless of what we lost up there.. 50% C. 25% D. 5%, 9. When will you implement your campaign? Resource Typing Definition for Response . This awareness-level training is suitable for new PIOs. The news release should use the inverted pyramid as illustrated below. To read this blog, go to:http://directorsblog.health.azdhs.gov, Example 1:Survivors of the April tornadoes have until Monday, June 27 to register for disaster assistance from FEMA as well as . Below are some tips for writing in a clear, concise, and organized manner: Although active voice is preferred and is more interesting, passive voice may be appropriate when the doer is unknown or you want to focus on the receiver of the action. ., Example 2:There is more severe weather on the way as a large storm cell is moving across Livingston Parish into EBR. There are also professional social networking sites with sections for jobs. D. seek media release approval from the Communication Unit Leader., 24. PIOs shouldA. compile a go kit to allow for lengthy deployments to a long-term incident. What actions and resources are being used to achieve the objectives? Public awareness campaigns can run for weeks, months, or even sporadically throughout several years. Describe how to develop and execute a public awareness campaign. Web sites can link to social media sites, help you collect email addresses, display videos, house blogs, or link to other Web sites. Check with them to see if the location selected for a media area will allow them to accomplish this connection. Preparing quality written products including news releases. D. Identify opportunities for public awareness campaigns. The median, annual pay for public relations specialists, during the same period, was $52,090, with the top 10 . Many times at the scene of an incident a media area can be set up to facilitate the enhanced flow of information between the PIO and the media. Use examples and comparisons to help convey unfamiliar information, to paint a picture, or to help the reader relate to the information. An important part of the PIOs relationship with the media is knowing what they want. With an eye on public safety, the mayor began looking for a way to educate people about disaster preparation and response. User: 4. This lesson reviews the four steps in creating a public awareness campaign. As a PIO, you communicate with your target audiences to keep them informed about activities, events, and resources. Responsibilities of the Components of the ICS Organization. Well, were here to answer that question for you, and hopefully share a few tips about preparing forrealemergencies too! Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. The heat on the desert floor isnt just a nuisance, its expensive & lethal. Social Marketing A. theory is an important component of the strategic communications planning process. B. requires in-depth focus groups to focus the message. At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: Public Information Officersor PIOsare an important link between the organizations they work for and the communities they serve. Grab the attention of your readers so that they will continue reading. News releases are one of the most commonly used tools for PIOs. Campaign topics can range from recruiting volunteers to fire safety. Tammy Kikuchi: The response was overwhelming. What problems are you having in your community? 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. 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 . Describe evolving media tools, including social media, for communication. At the completion of this course you should be able to: The remainder of this lesson presents information on your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). Communicating public information messages internally to the workforce is important because it allows the PIO to: A. They focus on specific issues or programs to move the public to take action. 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. Even a few minutes of practice can make a big difference. (Unit 5). The Incident Command System is a fundamental element of emergency management. Providing information and access to newsmakers. The Mayors Office developed an outreach campaign known as Red Stick Ready. Consider your resources and your role in ICS. 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. The widespread use of social media means you and your organization need to include social media in your communication strategy. For highly visible or controversial matters, it might be best to have a leader in the organization speak. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median, annual pay for public relations managers was $91,180 in May 2012, with the top 10 percent earning more than $166,000. 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. If you hope to work with schools, plan well in advance to coordinate with their schedules and curriculum. Allows access to one media representative from television, radio, print, and Internet to a restricted area. 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.. For example, you can post videos, use social networking sites, and/or create a blog. The successful PIO develops credibility and builds relationships with the media by consistently: More information on media relation skills and managing the media is presented in Lessons 3 and 5. Communicate information to enable people to prepare for an incident and to make decisions during an incident to protect lives and property. 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. Use natural gestures, but dont cross your arms, raise your eyebrows, shrug your shoulders, sway, or bounce. Tools to enhance the flow of public information are housed. Media management skills including knowing what the media wants, managing amateur journalists, and using media pools and media areas. (For example: The suspicious package was the size of a laptop computer. (A media pool refers to a group of news-gathering organizations pooling their resources in the collection of news.) It also helps identify the target audience for a particular public awareness campaign. What is the community sentiment toward your organization or the issue? This lesson introduced you to different tools you can use to communicate your message as a PIO, including: In the next lesson you will learn how to prepare quality written products for these tools and how to speak effectively with the media and to the public.