the role of the public information officer fema
Click on a program for additional information. Campaigns are usually multifaceted, combining events and various media to get the message out. 20. Knowing how to effectively speak to media representatives using both verbal and nonverbal communication. T;)D2Dt `NY"`~XH@P ` Establish contact with other agency PIOs. FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications. Once you have identified your goal, write it down! For example, change the location or angle of the lectern so cameras dont capture an unwanted view. People have a right and a need to know about the risks they face. Use natural gestures, but dont cross your arms, raise your eyebrows, shrug your shoulders, sway, or bounce. 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.). What actions and resources are being used to achieve the objectives? Is the conduit for information to internal and external stakeholders. Break your ideas into one subject per sentence. Is there any restriction on the information to be released? Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and . Lets start by reviewing the Incident Command System (ICS) and the PIOs role in ICS. FEMA IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness Answers Campaign topics can range from recruiting volunteers to fire safety. B. describes a writing technique applied to social media content. That you will get them information and be back to brief themand then do so. Allows access to one media representative from television, radio, print, and Internet to a restricted area. 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. Create clear and easily understood messages. Social Marketing A. theory is an important component of the strategic communications planning process. B. requires in-depth focus groups to focus the message. 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. Avoid acronyms. The JIS is a system that ensures coordination and integration of information across jurisdictions, organizations, and agencies during an incident. 3. The role of the pubic information officer - Weegy 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. In this lesson youll learn more about creating public awareness campaigns. You can find the complete list of courses in the Spanish language course list. Well, were here to answer that question for you, and hopefully share a few tips about preparing forrealemergencies too! In the next lesson you will learn how to communicate effectively when an incident happens. The process for ensuring that a public information message was accurately conveyed is typically called: A. 3. Are there cultural differences to take into consideration? This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. Describe traditional media available for communication. Access to you and the newsmakers or persons in charge. The Public Information Officer is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. News releases should provide accurate, factual information that is attributed to its source. University of California, Merced hiring Public Information Officer Tell the media representatives: Follow-through goes a long way to establishing good relations with the news media. The public information officer (PIO) reports to the incident commander, who in turn reports to the agency or jurisdictions responsible. A PIOs proactive approach to public information enhances credibility in messaging. (Unit 3), Recall preparation techniques that contribute to a successful media interview. The press saw it. Successful written communication conveys your key messages and: More information on writing clearly and effectively is presented in Lesson 3. IS-29.A: Public Information Officer Awareness - FEMA !]U9[MZ\waQ>yICK{",|.NH&ec* 'C/M;WrQJ6bs\ 886} 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: Evolving media (Web sites, email, blogs, social networking sites, etc.). Questions to answer when evaluating a public awareness campaign include the following: You can collect data about your campaign in different ways. This lesson presents information on tools you can use in support of your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). if you do not have a sid, Test questions are scrambled to protect test integrity. PDF NIMS Basic Guidance for Public Information Officers - FEMA 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. The participant will benefit from participating in entry-level incident command system training prior to taking this course. This lesson reviews the four steps in creating a public awareness campaign. And thats not all. Emergency Management Institute Many times the site of a crisis or disaster may be considered a crime scene and needs to be processed by forensic units. Narrator: Red Stick Ready targets every segment of the community. * The social media links provided are for reference only. or a non-emergency event. Describe how to effectively communicate orally and through written products. Use jargon to communicate with your target audience B. hbbd```b``+@$S4X$ vA$[0,v DI%09D`vH2& H/ `{I 30 0 `B A campaign on hurricane awareness wont get much play in December. 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. Smith activated the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates State firefighting efforts in these situations. (What will motivate them?). Themes weaved throughout the series include the 95/5 concept and an emphasis on whole community strategic communication planning. Even a few minutes of practice can make a big difference. In a crisis, getting the right information to the right people at the right time is more important than catching a dangling participle! Do you know what to do to protect yourself and your family? 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. endstream endobj startxref 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. Print medianewspapers and magazinesare the first type of mass media developed. %%EOF Note: Often micro-blogs will provide links to Web sites or social networking sites for more information. C. result in the need to conduct follow-up interviews. D. enhance agency credibility. Selects the right tools for the messages. 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). Managing Public Information for All Hazards Incidents . 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.. Avoid visuals C. Chunk content to make it more scannable D. Maximize search results by using acronyms, 6. 1928 0 obj <> endobj Emergency Management Institute 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. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. 3 Step Guide for Assistance. Describe how to develop and execute a public awareness campaign. Take a zombie apocalypse for example. The median, annual pay for public relations specialists, during the same period, was $52,090, with the top 10 . The fire started near Harvest Junction on the railroad and the fumes from the burning hazardous materials in the cars threaten a number of nearby communities, according to local authorities. List the skills needed to be an effective PIO. User: The Public Information Officer: A. Interfaces with the public and media and/or with other agencies regarding incident-related information requirements. Your organization may have other format preferences, such as single-spaced and one-page only. Establish one that doesnt hinder operations but affords the media reasonable, legitimate access. 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 Include email addresses and Internet sites for the media contact. the feedback has been, you know, we appreciate this. Social marketing is the use of commercial marketing principles to: A. 140-character stand-alone micro-blog statements. 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). What are people in your community concerned about? (Unit 1), Describe the role and functions of the PIO. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. There are also professional social networking sites with sections for jobs. 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. Many different social media monitoring tools are available. 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. 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. This process includes: Your goal statement expresses what you hope to achieve through your campaign. The role of the PIO is the same regardless of the type or size of the event. Describe the role and function of the PIO. C. Monitors costs related to the incident, and provides . 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. Grab the attention of your readers so that they will continue reading. 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. Are there warnings or other critical messages to be communicated to the public? Sometimes logging in for a session is recommended, to create a wiki-signature cookie for signing edits automatically. One of the advantages of the Incident Command System (ICS) is: A. The most popular social networking sites have groups, which offer chat boards for members. This awareness-level training is suitable for new PIOs. 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. Possess and enhance certain qualities and skills that make an effective PIO. 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. This lesson introduces you to some emergency management principles contained in the National Incident Management System (NIMS). ICS is used to manage an emergency incident (like a wildland fire, search and rescue, hurricane, etc.) ., Example 2:There is more severe weather on the way as a large storm cell is moving across Livingston Parish into EBR. IS-29.a - Public Information Officer Awareness | FEMA Emergency Public information entails the processes and systems that enable effective communications with various target audiences. They also tell people how they can prepare for a disaster, and protect themselves when disaster strikes. The AP Stylebook is used by most of the news media. Email is also an ideal tool for communicating within your organization because you generally have access to your colleagues email addresses. Sound bite B. The public information officer for an organization A. should clear all public documents with neighboring agencies before release. Resident/Non-Resident, Trainer Program, etc. 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. An important part of the PIOs relationship with the media is knowing what they want. NIMS Overview Communities across the nation experience a diverse range of threats, hazards, and events. Mayor Holden: By having that access it really helped us to quell the various rumors that were out there and we were able to keep the situation calm. Office: (301) 447-1200 Fax: (301) 447-1201, (800) 621-FEMA / TTY (800) 462-7585 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. (Unit 5). Final Exam for: IS-29.a: Public Information Officer. Brian Hyer: We had all kinds of questions. There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. 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. The Public Information Officer gathers, verifies, coordinates, and disseminates accurate, accessible, and timely information on the incidents cause, size, and current situation; resources committed; and other matters of general interest for both internal and external audiences. Determine who your audience is, what they need to know, and what they already know. The Governor is continuing to monitor the situation. Quantify results when evaluating public information efforts. Show emotion as appropriate, but dont use big gestures. Later in the day, Deputy Mayor Mike Tracy and I stood in the same bedroom, getting a first-hand briefing from Fire Chief Kevin Rennie and Capt. Joanne H. Moreau: Working with the children, and with such an emphasis on the children, we wanted a tool that could reach them. This is a release that you post online. An important part of the PIOs role is to prepare written products, so the PIO must be able to write clearly and effectively. Determine information to be communicated to the public. Gathering feedback and heading off problems, Explaining your mission, policies, and goals. Providing information and access to newsmakers. The benefits of social media include the following capabilities: New social media tools are being developed and implemented all the time. 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. B. For different audiences, you may need to write different products. It provides a framework for people from multiple agencies to work well together B. Some examples include traditional media using: An important step when communicating is to continually evaluate and adjust your message by monitoring the media. This feature can facilitate abuse of the system. B. report to the Finance/Admin Section Chief when arriving at an incident. Join to apply for the Public Information Officer - 48752 role at University of California, Merced. 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. The news release should use the inverted pyramid as illustrated below. To read this blog, go to:http://emergency.cdc.gov/. Blogs are a good tool to use to communicate with your audience. Two PIOs talking to each other on the phone about a news story that involves both of their agencies. Avoid getting involved in these media disputes. For example, you can post videos, use social networking sites, and/or create a blog. First name. Joanne H. Moreau: The media is embedded in our Emergency Operations Center. Last name. Sit on your coat tail to keep your jacket from riding up. If a media pool is not an option, consider providing professional-quality images to the media in the form of video and stills. A Federal structure designed for large-scale, multijurisdictional incidents B. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. Identify the purpose of what you are writing and start with the main message. Year in and year out, nearly 1,400 Arizonans get heat related illnesses so serious that they end up in an emergency department. They heighten awareness of community hazards and encourage the public to take steps to become more prepared. Radio is a form of broadcast technology that has the following needs, advantages, and limitations. 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. 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 Expert Help. . The rise of zombies in pop culture has given credence to the idea that a zombie apocalypse could happen. The Incident Command System is a fundamental element of emergency management. Hundreds are so ill that they end up being admitted to the hospital. (Correct), The report was written by the officer. (Unit 3), List the steps of the 8-Step Model for Strategic Communications. With passive voice, the subject is thereceiverof the action. Blogs to cover events as they are happening. In the Incident Command System (ICS) structure, the Public Information Officer (PIO): A. PIOs need to have a complete understanding of the community's demographics in order to: A. If you do not want something recorded by the media, cover it up or shield it with a vehicle. Speculation C. Summarizing D. Bridging, 12. Look at the audience, but dont lock eyes with any one person and dont look into the camera. It also helps identify the target audience for a particular public awareness campaign. Use the media area for all media releases and conferences. Develops a strategy or plan for handling the incident, monitors it in process, and adjusts the plan as needed. 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. Another way to express your key message B. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. Check Web sites and social media sites, read newspapers, watch TV, and listen to radio to know how your message is getting out. 494 0 obj <> endobj D. has become ever more complex as the challenge of delivering messages has evolved. After taking this course you may want to take other courses to help you continue your professional development. As part of conducting research, you have identified populations in the community who are vulnerable and need the information from your campaign. In their zeal to get the story reporters may not always recognize the potential for danger to themselves. Time is a crucial element in any public awareness campaign. This course should take approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes to complete. Next you need to identifyhowyou will communicate. They can be seasonallike hurricane preparedness week. 524 0 obj <>stream For example: Active voice is clear, direct, and concise. The good news is that preventing heat related illness is easy to do if you just use common sense. I know our superb team of firefighters will do all they can, but the conditions on the railroad are particularly difficult, Smith said. Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. Managing public information is another fundamental element of emergency management. 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 . They knew that they werent being led down another road, that they were hearing things unfiltered. In their haste, each suffered minor injuries, including stitches for their son who cut his ankle on the glass of the first floor window. 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. Where do they go and how do they get there (e.g., do they spend time on public transportation, do they visit the library, do they go to sporting events, etc.)? 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. In 2008, the average per-person hospital treatment cost for heat related illnesses in Arizona was about $7,500, leading to a whopping $11M in treatment costs. The best approach is to meet with school officials early to determine when your program best fits their schedule. 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. endstream endobj 1929 0 obj <. They can be used for personal networking, professional networking, and sharing public information. News releases are one of the most commonly used tools for PIOs. 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. 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. 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. 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. More than 70% of the illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths are guys. Message mapping B. Dissemination C. Tracking and documentation D. Media analysis. Coming back after the fire to retrieve them, their ghostly shadows left indelible evidence of the inferno that swept through their home. Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, and the CDC Coronavirus page for the latest updates on the pandemic response. D. takes its origin from two sources: management consultant D. Edward Deming and Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto.. You have many resources available to ensure that the information reported about an event and your organization is true and accurate. Speak to several members of the media at one time, especially during an incident. PIOs get their message out by communicating directly with the public, working through the traditional news media and through new media. Describe the role of the PIO in an emergency. Better yet is the number of people who call and request preparedness kits! . Describe the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in an emergency. Its not complicated; its very easy for them, which makes for better reporting. Verdi White: And I believe that that has helped in our relationship with the media. Make sure the media area is far enough away and/or your workspaces are shielded from prying cameras, microphones, and eyes. Simplify complex ideas by using short sentences. Communicating public information messages internally to the workforce is important because it allows the PIO to: A. Functions of the Public Information Officer - emilms.fema.gov You need to write to your audience.