The Public Information Officer is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. Cell phone(s) with email capability or satellite phone(s), Flash drives and CDs* containing the elements of the crisis communication plan (including news media contact lists, PIO team contact lists, information materials, etc. Even the best writer can make mistakes, particularly when under pressure or in a time crunch. endstream
endobj
1929 0 obj
<. The first step in developing a public awareness campaign is to research issues to identify relevant topics for your campaign. User: The Public Information Officer: A. Interfaces with the public and media and/or with other agencies regarding incident-related information requirements. The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. In a crisis, getting the right information to the right people at the right time is more important than catching a dangling participle! 1955 0 obj
<>stream
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. A goal that makes you stretch is good. A validation of your key message C. Backgrounders D. Photos, charts, and graphics, 25. Salary Statistics for Public Information Officers. Practice talking in 5-second to 8-second sound bites. 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. D. takes its origin from two sources: management consultant D. Edward Deming and Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto.. A social networking site is a great tool for: Now you know about the many tools available to get your message out. Access to the scene for information and images. They can be seasonallike hurricane preparedness week. 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. Email can be used to get people: In order for email to work, you need to have a good email distribution list. Another way to express your key message B. It was absolutely the very best thing we could have done. Public awareness campaigns can run for weeks, months, or even sporadically throughout several years. In their zeal to get the story reporters may not always recognize the potential for danger to themselves. Traditional media (print, radio, television). Hundreds are so ill that they end up being admitted to the hospital. 18. The 8-Step Communication Model includes:A. Assess the current situation B. Tools to enhance the flow of public information are housed. B. describes a writing technique applied to social media content. EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. 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. This course introduces PIOs with no, or limited, experience to the basic skills and tools needed to communicate effectively with the public. Click on a program for additional information. A news conference or briefing may be used when you want to: A news conference or briefing may be announced by using a press release or media advisory. First name. You should set a realistic deadline and interim benchmarks, as needed. The media will want to get as close as possible to get pictures/audio/interviews. 3 Step Guide for Assistance, 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, IS-29 Public Information Officer Awareness, E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer, Master Public Information Officer Program, Special collection: Emergency Management Institute student papers, E/K0389 - Master Public Information Officer Implementing Communications Strategies for Whole Community Leadership, E/K0393 Master Public Information Officer Applying Advanced Concepts in Public Information and Communications, E0394 Master Public Information Officer Mastering Public Advocacy Plans to Create an Effective Community of Stakeholders. (Unit 2), Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. Provide information and updates in a timely manner. . They also tell people how they can prepare for a disaster, and protect themselves when disaster strikes. A well-executed interview will likely not A. advance leaderships goals. Joanne H. Moreau: Working with the children, and with such an emphasis on the children, we wanted a tool that could reach them. 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. They can be used for personal networking, professional networking, and sharing public information. Continue to monitor the weather., Example 3:4 Shelters remain open: MassMutual Ctr, 1277 Main St. Springfield; Quarry Hill Comm. 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: Coming back after the fire to retrieve them, their ghostly shadows left indelible evidence of the inferno that swept through their home. 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. Technology has a great impact on your ability to manage the message. Additionally, it can provide those in executive-level roles with the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. %PDF-1.6
%
It also helps identify the target audience for a particular public awareness campaign. In such a scenario zombies would take over entire countries, roaming city streets eating anything living that got in their way. It was four, five, and six teams from every news, particularly the TV stations sending out that many cameras with that many reporters from each station and it just was incredible, not to mention the newspapers, the radio stations, the smaller papers in the area plus national media. You can entice them to stay by giving them regular official updates and letting them know that if they are absent they may miss something important or interesting. Verdi White: And I believe that that has helped in our relationship with the media. (A media pool refers to a group of news-gathering organizations pooling their resources in the collection of news.) 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
University of California, Merced hiring Public Information Officer Describe how to manage the news media at the scene of an incident. For example: Active voice is clear, direct, and concise. What do they already know about the topic? Managing public information is another fundamental element of emergency management. Use examples and comparisons to help convey unfamiliar information, to paint a picture, or to help the reader relate to the information. C. IS 29.A Public Information Officer Exam Questions | FEMACourses 'Ss S>*2MbX^f You have many resources available to ensure that the information reported about an event and your organization is true and accurate. For more information on the Public Information Officer training program, contact FEMA-Master_PIO_Program@fema.dhs.gov. Here are the FEMA test answers to IS-29.A: Public Information Officer Awareness. 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. The public information officer (PIO) reports to the incident commander, who in turn reports to the agency or jurisdictions responsible. 0
Describe the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in an emergency. Effective public communication involves collecting, verifying, and disseminating information to your target audiences. Develop and implement your campaign by setting a goal, creating a message, choosing your medium, and identifying timing. Demonstrating an understanding of media needs and operations. 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 Governor declared the emergency following a similar declaration by Liberty County. Avoid getting involved in these media disputes. Many times the site of a crisis or disaster may be considered a crime scene and needs to be processed by forensic units. The Zombie Survival Guide identifies the cause of zombies as a virus called solanum. Construct and deliver an appropriate crisis and emergency risk message. Emergency management knowledge including an understanding of NIMS, ICS, the JIS, and the JIC. Tammy Kikuchi: Having the Joint Information Center for this event was critical. 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. As exemplified in the Pew Research study, people are getting information from sources other than traditional media. 50% C. 25% D. 5%, 9. 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. Describe traditional media available for communication. . In the Incident Command System (ICS) structure, the Public Information Officer (PIO): A. 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. Select the correct definition Emergency 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. Each time this test is loaded, you will receive a unique set of questions and answers. (Incorrect), John enjoys boating, swimming, and fishing. 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. %%EOF
As demonstrated by the examples, micro-blogging has become an important source of information in preparation of, during, and after crisis situations. Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and . (Unit 4), Given a scenario, apply the 8-Step Model to a public awareness campaign. 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. ), Prescription medications; basic first-aid supplies, Weather gear (e.g., rain poncho, gloves, sunscreen). 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 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. Within minutes pictures, videos, and messages about the destruction are available on social media sites, Web sites, and throughout the news media. Disclosing information to the public in ways that are easy to find and use. Functions of the Public Information Officer - emilms.fema.gov 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. Smith activated the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates State firefighting efforts in these situations. As a PIO, you will likely communicate public information and emergency public information as well as conduct community education. As a PIO, you communicate with your target audiences to keep them informed about activities, events, and resources. This lesson presents information on tools you can use in support of your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). People use technology to tell others that they are okay. 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. Is there any restriction on the information to be released? 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. or a non-emergency event. Weegy: The role of the pubic information officer is to gather facts and disseminate it to the media. You can find the complete list of courses in the Spanish language course list. This feature can facilitate abuse of the system. How or what can your community learn from these events? Last name. Note: Often micro-blogs will provide links to Web sites or social networking sites for more information. Joanne H. Moreau: We focus a lot on making sure that we have a very accurate and timely information process of information dissemination. And thats not all. Three PIOs on the scene of a crisis huddling prior to making a statement to the media. They tell the public about services and programs that can affect their lives, like information about staying healthy, fire safety, and changes in community college tuition. PDF NIMS Basic Guidance for Public Information Officers - FEMA If you do not want something recorded by the media, cover it up or shield it with a vehicle.
Having such knowledge enables them to make informed choices that affect their health and well-being. Allows access to one media representative from television, radio, print, and Internet to a restricted area. Serves in an ICS role 2. 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. 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. 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. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Use the media area for all media releases and conferences. 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. . (Correct), The report was written by the officer. The highest-ranking State official C. His/her regular boss D. The Operations Section Chief, 13. Work within the emergency management system. Work to keep them out of danger as you would any member of the public. Leaves the decision as to who will be in the pool to the media. Web sites can link to social media sites, help you collect email addresses, display videos, house blogs, or link to other Web sites. View IS-29.a - Public Information Officer Awareness | FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI).pdf from CIS 20 at SUNY Empire State College. D. should be knowledgeable, assertive, credible, flexible, able to perform under pressure, and accessible., 10. Public information entails the processes and systems that enable effective communications with various target audiences. The most important point is is an example of a transition phrase or: A. Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. They focus on specific issues or programs to move the public to take action. 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. These people are your target audience. The heat on the desert floor isnt just a nuisance, its expensive & lethal. Identify contacts and sources that are relevant to your organization. Develops a strategy or plan for handling the incident, monitors it in process, and adjusts the plan as needed. Sound bite B. Determine information to be communicated to the public. Do not be afraid to put bad news first if that is the message. Imagine your living room exploding in flames and your family cut off from the only door down the stairs from your second-floor condominium. The role of the public information officer A. is strictly dictated by the National Qualification System position task book. 20. Your media list should be current, complete, and tailored to your organization. Provide public information, emergency public information, and community education to your internal and external target audiences. Select it carefully and choose your background wisely. Communication with internal agency personnel is A. not a role undertaken by a PIO. (Unit 3), List the steps of the 8-Step Model for Strategic Communications. Blogs are Web sites that allow you to engage in a conversation with readers.