the role of the public information officer fema
The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. B. Coordinate access to policymakers and others (e.g., first responders and disaster survivors). The news release should use the inverted pyramid as illustrated below. I know our superb team of firefighters will do all they can, but the conditions on the railroad are particularly difficult, Smith said. Quantify results when evaluating public information efforts. Year in and year out, nearly 1,400 Arizonans get heat related illnesses so serious that they end up in an emergency department. Time is a crucial element in any public awareness campaign. B. is not bound by public record laws. People use technology to tell others that they are okay. May allow access to more than one person from each media type when necessary (e.g., television reporter and a camera operator, or newspaper reporter and photographer). The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. The subject is the. 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. D. should be knowledgeable, assertive, credible, flexible, able to perform under pressure, and accessible., 10. Identify the purpose of what you are writing and start with the main message. Determines what the public needs to know. 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: ), 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.) Are there warnings or other critical messages to be communicated to the public? . As a PIO, you need to: In the next lesson you will learn about various tools available to you for communicating with the community. wA{)K+Xk80538L``V[mvWS|?9U7 Students also learn message development and . Speak to several members of the media at one time, especially during an incident. What will you change in future campaigns? 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. Lieutenant Doug McCleve: So what we felt like it would be best to do is provide a one-stop calling center for the news media to be able to access whoever they needed to in this process. Example: Press Release Using Inverted Pyramid Format. Establish one that doesnt hinder operations but affords the media reasonable, legitimate access. Resident/Non-Resident, Trainer Program, etc. Do not be afraid to put bad news first if that is the message. Monitor to determine if the media coverage is: Whether or not your organization is using social media, you should still monitor it. The course culminates with a practical exercise designed to plan, develop, integrate, and disseminate public information for an emergency, incident, or disaster as part of a Joint Information Center. or a non-emergency event. Brian Hyer: We had all kinds of questions. Wear your uniform or neat, conservative attire if not in uniform. 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. Now lets take a look at how one mayor, Mayor Kip Holden, ensures his community, the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in East Baton Rouge Parish, is prepared. Develop relationships with other organizations PIOs B. The JIS is a system that ensures coordination and integration of information across jurisdictions, organizations, and agencies during an incident. 3 Step Guide for Assistance. Construct and deliver an appropriate crisis and emergency risk message. Include information on evolving media contacts, instructions, and resources. Participants will benefit from participating in entry-level incident command system training prior to taking this course. This is a release that you post online. B. is to wait for direction from the incident commander. C. includes reporting to the Operations Section Chief during an incident response. Use jargon to communicate with your target audience B. Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, and the CDC Coronavirus page for the latest updates on the pandemic response. Add to the measurable statistics C. Enlist support and involvement of organization personnel while communicating a consistent message D. Demonstrate commitment to the organization, 16. This demonstrates how social media are now an integral part of our lives and a valuable part of the PIOs toolkit. Depending on where the media area is, the media representatives will need to be able to connect with their microwave towers or uplink with a satellite. Additionally, students conduct various public information activities and exercises, to include writing messages and conducting press conferences. Test the message on a safe audience B. Select the correct definition Public Information A. Coordinates the release of accurate, coordinated, timely, and accessible public information to affected audiences, including the government, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector B. Access to the scene for information and images. 50% C. 25% D. 5%, 9. One of the advantages of the Incident Command System (ICS) is: A. 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. Smith activated the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates State firefighting efforts in these situations. (Correct), The report was written by the officer. This lesson presents information on how to use your tools and relationships to communicate information to the community when something happens. Lesson 3 introduced the importance of establishing relationships with the media. Did the message reach the targeted audience? They will go other places to get other information (local citizen reactions, sidebar stories, etc.). For different audiences, you may need to write different products. In all cases, the campaign will include a compelling message and a clear link to the organizations overall goals and priorities. The highest-ranking State official C. His/her regular boss D. The Operations Section Chief, 13. Public information entails the processes and systems that enable effective communications with various target audiences. AZ Department of Health Services Directors Blog. B. Resource Typing Definition for Response . Keep the subject and verb close together. 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. For example, change the location or angle of the lectern so cameras dont capture an unwanted view. Many different social media monitoring tools are available. Technology allows anyone to be a journalist. Images, sound, and information captured by the public can be used by traditional news organizations, or posted to social media sites, and broadcast globally. When creating your media list: Media information is constantly changing; make sure you have a process to keep your media list up-to-date. Remember to treat amateur journalists the same as you would any other journalistwith courtesy and respect. If there is a reason that the media cannot be allowed access to the scene, consider using a media pool to restrict access while allowing them to get the images and interviews they desire. Within minutes pictures, videos, and messages about the destruction are available on social media sites, Web sites, and throughout the news media. They heighten awareness of community hazards and encourage the public to take steps to become more prepared. 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. Use natural gestures, but dont cross your arms, raise your eyebrows, shrug your shoulders, sway, or bounce. The message should be: How will you get the message to your audience? Blogs to cover events as they are happening. Gather, verify, coordinate, and disseminate public information in an emergency from a Joint Information Center. When considering whether a goal is attainable, ask yourself: Do I have the skills and resourcesor can I get themto achieve this goal? If you anticipate what they will want, you will have a better chance to manage the scene and help guide the story. Please review the IS FAQ's for more information. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. 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. Avoid acronyms. Jeff Leduff: We are the first line of information for the rest of the team because were out there all the time. The role of a PIO can be executed by one person or as a team, depending on the emergency and what resources are available. If you do not want something recorded by the media, cover it up or shield it with a vehicle. Angie Welling: Pretty much every State agency was involved, and thats when we found out pretty early on that the Governor had involved every aspect of State government. .. Mayor Holden: We have what they call Mayor Mouse, and Mayor Mouse basically is operated to go to various schools. A directory of your organizations Internet presence. Zoom lenses, parabolic microphones, and just plain observant reporters may be able to discover sensitive or protected information from your incident command post (e.g., zoom shots of maps, recorded conversations, etc.). The widespread use of social media means you and your organization need to include social media in your communication strategy. Communicating factual information with the public is the most important job function of a PIO. For example, you can post videos, use social networking sites, and/or create a blog. Additionally, it can provide those in executive-level roles with the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. (Unit 4), Apply public information techniques to a 5% scenario. Describe how to have a successful relationship with the news media. . Simplify complex ideas by using short sentences. The heat on the desert floor isnt just a nuisance, its expensive & lethal. Media management skills including knowing what the media wants, managing amateur journalists, and using media pools and media areas. 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. D. has become ever more complex as the challenge of delivering messages has evolved. It is important to prepare each person to ensure your message is consistent. Sit on your coat tail to keep your jacket from riding up. 0 FEMA-NIMS@fema.dhs.gov NIMS Basic Guidance for Public Information Officers 2 II. Look at the audience, but dont lock eyes with any one person and dont look into the camera. D. is only useful on television infomercials. News releases should adhere to the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. 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. Increased information needs can be handled. Check off the things you would plan to include in your Go Kit and add other items as you see fit. Break your ideas into one subject per sentence. 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). Some evaluation data can be collected without contact with the audiencefor example, number of Web page hits or increase in the quantity of smoke alarms purchased. Having such knowledge enables them to make informed choices that affect their health and well-being. In a span of, I think, 2 months, we took in roughly about almost three thousand kids at various sites to talk to them about different safety things. 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. 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. For each of these toolstelevision, newspaper, radio, news briefings, and evolving mediayou need written products. (For example: The suspicious package was the size of a laptop computer. In an incident, theIncident Commandermanages the entire incident and: TheCommand Staffprovides information, safety, and liaison services: TheGeneral Staffperforms functional activities: As part of the ICS structure, the PIO is part of the Command Staff and advises the Incident Commander on all public information matters relating to the management of the incident. Campaigns that combine a mix of media are more likely to be effective in influencing people. NIMS describes the use of the Joint Information System (JIS) to complete the critical tasks of information sharing and coordination. Contact commercial vendors to identify contacts and the process for news releases. Also, it may be necessary to explain to them the danger, and how if they fail to heed the warnings and become injured, they may endanger others who would have to then go in to rescue them (e.g., passing into the plume of a Hazmat area, traveling over an unsafe structure that may collapse, or moving into the line of fire of an armed suspect). A goal that makes you stretch is good. In order to keep a consistent two-way flow of information with the media representatives at the scene, it is important to make it relatively easy to communicate with them face to face. Describe the role of the PIO in an emergency. 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. To help you in monitoring conversations on social media sites, you may want to use a social media monitoring tool or social media dashboard. Develop a picture of who you want to reach with your message by asking: Now that you know what you want to communicate and to whom you will communicate, next you need to develop and implement your campaign. 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. A good overview of ICS is provided in the independent study . Identify how messages should be conveyed. We wanted questions answered, we wanted stories to be able to do, and we had one place to go to and that was great. 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). They focus on specific issues or programs to move the public to take action. Blogs are a good tool to use to communicate with your audience. In other words, express parallel ideas in parallel grammatical forms. 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. . First name. Emergency Management Institute Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, and the CDC Coronavirus page for the latest updates on the pandemic response. Develop and pre-test materials C. Develop an action planD. 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. 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. 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 D. takes its origin from two sources: management consultant D. Edward Deming and Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto.. Emergency management knowledge including an understanding of NIMS, ICS, the JIS, and the JIC. C. is a failed theory and should not be used by modern public information officers. if4-0lP,H^F1!P`8FF@T br.afQP0G@U@} )F%H (wtP9 lF `PFn*Lks]k^s9LgsXxh|s ]bpa In their zeal to get the story reporters may not always recognize the potential for danger to themselves. 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. Joanne H. Moreau: The media is embedded in our Emergency Operations Center. This feature can facilitate abuse of the system. (Unit 5). Expert Help. Through ancient voodoo and folk-lore traditions, shows like theWalking Deadwere born. Public awareness campaigns can run for weeks, months, or even sporadically throughout several years. Describe traditional media available for communication. You can use different types of media and different avenues to get your message out, including: According to a Pew Research Center project conducted in December 2010, Americans now get most of their news information from television and the Internet, with newspaper readership declining. This lesson covered the knowledge and skills you need to effectively manage emergency public information during an incident: The next lesson summarizes your role as a PIO and how to use all the tools available to you to help your community be prepared and to share critical information when an incident happens. The Public Information Officer may also perform a key public information-monitoring role. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. With an eye on public safety, the mayor began looking for a way to educate people about disaster preparation and response. Tammy Kikuchi: I would say it, whatever expense it takes for your Public Information Officers to get the training, spend it. Grab the attention of your readers so that they will continue reading. Campaigns are usually multifaceted, combining events and various media to get the message out. Mayor Holden: Sometimes you have to get your story out very quickly. Describe how to develop and execute a public awareness campaign. A secondary audience is elected or other officials such as Incident Commanders or emergency operations center managers who want an overview of emergency public information. Social networking sites are online communities that connect people. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. *F ;/7Bw1p i~$^y' _r] Next you need to identifyhowyou will communicate. Well, were here to answer that question for you, and hopefully share a few tips about preparing forrealemergencies too! The good news is that preventing heat related illness is easy to do if you just use common sense. Score .9906. List the skills needed to be an effective PIO. Show emotion as appropriate, but dont use big gestures. The goal of this awareness course is to provide an orientation to the public information function and the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the public safety/emergency management environment. Holding the session indoors, if possible. 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. The test questions are scrambled to protect the integrity of the exam. 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. When will you implement your campaign? !]U9[MZ\waQ>yICK{",|.NH&ec* 'C/M;WrQJ6bs\ 886} Narrator: Red Stick Ready demonstrates how you can develop a strategy that prepares your community for a disaster and effectively provides critical information when an incident happens. 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). 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. A well-executed interview will likely not A. advance leaderships goals. It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). 'Ss S>*2MbX^f Make sure the media area is far enough away and/or your workspaces are shielded from prying cameras, microphones, and eyes. What events nationally and globally are in the news? Over 150 PIOs working a major disaster, often from different locationsall to ensure clear and accurate information is being delivered amid the confusion of a disaster response. The following was originally posted on CDC Public Health Matters Blog on May 16, 2011, by Ali S. Khan. 1943 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<9229C3A5CD7F8A409FF242859AD01E9B>]/Index[1928 28]/Info 1927 0 R/Length 89/Prev 779652/Root 1929 0 R/Size 1956/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream 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. B. describes a writing technique applied to social media content. A PIOs proactive approach to public information enhances credibility in messaging. It also helps identify the target audience for a particular public awareness campaign. The table below summarizes what you need to provide for a print story, and identifies the advantages and limitations of print. Select it carefully and choose your background wisely. 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. 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. Demonstrate that you are in the knowB. A defining characteristic of wiki technology is the ease with which pages can be created and updated. The Public Information Officer is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. Three PIOs on the scene of a crisis huddling prior to making a statement to the media. The following table shows what you need to provide for a television story, the advantages of television, and its limitations. At the end of this course, participants will be able to: Federal Emergency Management Agency | Emergency Management Institute, Notice to Applicants for EMI or NFA Courses, How to apply for a FEMA Independent Study course (Online Course), How to apply for a course held in EMI (On-Campus Course), Non-Resident Courses (EMI Courses Conducted by States), National Standard Exercise Curriculum (NSEC), Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP), Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP), National Incident Management System (NIMS), Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC), Disaster Field Training Operations (DFTO), Schools Multihazard and Mass Casualty Planning, Virtual Table Top Exercise (VTTX) (Sites participate from home via VTC), Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, Exercise Simulation System Document (ESSD), Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, Please review the IS FAQ's for more information, Define emergency public information and the importance of being proactive. Are there cultural differences to take into consideration? 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 Imagine your living room exploding in flames and your family cut off from the only door down the stairs from your second-floor condominium. A micro-blog is a type of blog where the message is shorter. Coming back after the fire to retrieve them, their ghostly shadows left indelible evidence of the inferno that swept through their home. Selects the right tools for the messages. Having clear goals is the foundation for your campaign. Contact local, tribal, territorial, and State press associations to obtain media lists. (Incorrect), John enjoys boating, swimming, and fishing. A tornado strikes in the Midwest. . Coordinate information being distributed to ensure consistency with other agencies messages. The ultimate goal of all public safety endeavors is to save lives, protect property, and preserve the environmentand almost all reporters would agree that their needs will come after these important tasks. In a crisis, getting the right information to the right people at the right time is more important than catching a dangling participle! On average, between 30 and 80 Arizona residents die from heat related illnesses every summer. 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 +O,))8+l"O{i9"5QKh^R7YH'gI@P+,,#+pbH,ZJt-9#)*~{"Dxu Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and . This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. The role of the PIO is the same regardless of the type or size of the event. C. Identify all the news media covering the area.
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