Evaluation is crucial for judging the effectiveness of a public awareness campaign. hbbd```b``+@$S4X$ vA$[0,v DI%09D`vH2& H/ `{I 30 0 `B The first step in developing a public awareness campaign is to research issues to identify relevant topics for your campaign. (For example: The suspicious package was the size of a laptop computer. Imagine your living room exploding in flames and your family cut off from the only door down the stairs from your second-floor condominium. I would urge you to be careful whenever you travel, Smith said. What do you want people to know or do after hearing your message? Mayor Holden: We have what they call Mayor Mouse, and Mayor Mouse basically is operated to go to various schools. Develop relationships with other organizations PIOs B. The role of the pubic information officer. 1. Mayor Holden: Sometimes you have to get your story out very quickly. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. Possess and enhance certain qualities and skills that make an effective PIO. This course should take approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes to complete. Prior to establishing the location for this media area, ask yourself the following questions: Another method you may need to employ to manage the situation is a media pool. It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). With passive voice, the subject is thereceiverof the action. The best approach is to meet with school officials early to determine when your program best fits their schedule. This is a release that you post online. For highly technical information, it might be best to prepare a credible subject-matter expert to present. A Federal structure designed for large-scale, multijurisdictional incidents B. Uses correct grammar and contains no spelling or punctuation errors. Verdi White: And I believe that that has helped in our relationship with the media. Holding the session indoors, if possible. All goals should have a target date for completion. Many Web sites include a blog as part of the site. Private wiki servers require user authentication to edit pages, and sometimes even to read them. The following was originally posted on CDC Public Health Matters Blog on May 16, 2011, by Ali S. Khan. If you anticipate what they will want, you will have a better chance to manage the scene and help guide the story. Be accessible and return calls and emails promptly. Select this link to access a printable . Policies for evolving media (e.g., who can post, what can be posted, how to respond to negative comments, etc.). 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. 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. List the skills needed to be an effective PIO. 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.). Additionally, it can provide those in executive-level roles with the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. 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. Media pools are used to restrict access to an area due to space limitations or safety issues. %%EOF 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. This lesson presents information on how to use your tools and relationships to communicate information to the community when something happens. for the incident. Always connect with the Incident Commander before making any statement to the media. 1928 0 obj <> endobj Public information entails the processes and systems that enable effective communications with various target audiences. (Unit 3), List the steps of the 8-Step Model for Strategic Communications. . It may be a good idea to record how many news releases you sent out, but the amount of media coverage you receive (e.g., column inches, mentions on news programs, and number of radio interviews) is more indicative of success. The benefits of social media include the following capabilities: New social media tools are being developed and implemented all the time. Additionally, it can provide those in executive-level roles with the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. 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. Providing information and access to newsmakers. Describe evolving media tools, including social media, for communication. 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. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 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. PIOs need to have a complete understanding of the community's demographics in order to: A. Set up interviews and write talking points C. Be an intermediary between leadership and the news media D. Assess situations for public information implications, 14. The media will want to get as close as possible to get pictures/audio/interviews. Serves as an advisor to the Incident Commander. Public information is a vital function in disaster operations that . if you do not have a sid, Test questions are scrambled to protect test integrity. Score .9906. News releases are one of the most commonly used tools for PIOs. 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 . Video sharing sites to expand or market a story, and. D. a required responsibility of the PIO as outlined by NIMS.. NIMS provides a consistent, systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector to work seamlessly to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity, in order to reduce the loss of life and property and harm to the environment. All social networking sites allow users to find people they know among the members, or look for other members with similar interests or affiliations. . 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. A micro-blog is a type of blog where the message is shorter. Questions to answer when evaluating a public awareness campaign include the following: You can collect data about your campaign in different ways. Walter Monsour: So, the message was managed extremely well. Work within the emergency management system. At the completion of this lesson you should be able to: Key to being an effective PIO in an emergency is the ability to: Lets start by looking at what you need to know about emergency management. Lets start by reviewing the Incident Command System (ICS) and the PIOs role in ICS. 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. Evaluate the effectiveness of your campaign. Provide public information, emergency public information, and community education to your internal and external target audiences. 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. Although its meaning has changed slightly over the years, it refers to a human corpse mysteriously reanimated to serve the undead. Email is also an ideal tool for communicating within your organization because you generally have access to your colleagues email addresses. Contact local, tribal, territorial, and State press associations to obtain media lists. How or what can your community learn from these events? 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. He and his wife threw open their window and helped their kids drop to waiting neighbors gathered below. Ability to hold feature stories and run them when space is available or on specific dates or times of year, Audio (sound clips or telephone interviews), Prerecorded segments lack the break-in option for providing emergency information, Exaggerated nature of local television news. 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. 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. Include email addresses and Internet sites for the media contact. It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). And thats not all. %%EOF You cantand dont expect them to stay there all of the time. Monitor to determine if the media coverage is: Whether or not your organization is using social media, you should still monitor it. Coming back after the fire to retrieve them, their ghostly shadows left indelible evidence of the inferno that swept through their home. Tammy Kikuchi: I would say it, whatever expense it takes for your Public Information Officers to get the training, spend it. Use the media area for all media releases and conferences. The press saw it. 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. 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. 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. endstream endobj startxref Joanne H. Moreau: The media is embedded in our Emergency Operations Center. 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. In other words, express parallel ideas in parallel grammatical forms. This fundamental principle is the basis for public information in emergency management in this country. What is the community sentiment toward your organization or the issue? The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. D. Identify opportunities for public awareness campaigns. The following table shows what you need to provide for a television story, the advantages of television, and its limitations. In a crisis, getting the right information to the right people at the right time is more important than catching a dangling participle! Access to you and the newsmakers or persons in charge. View IS-29.a - Public Information Officer Awareness | FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI).pdf from CIS 20 at SUNY Empire State College. Joanne H. Moreau: We focus a lot on making sure that we have a very accurate and timely information process of information dissemination. A well-executed interview will likely not A. advance leaderships goals. 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). Spelling- and grammar-checking tools (printed and computer software). Resource Typing Definition for Response . 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). Show emotion as appropriate, but dont use big gestures. Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, and the CDC Coronavirus page for the latest updates on the pandemic response. the feedback has been, you know, we appreciate this. 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 JIS is a system that ensures coordination and integration of information across jurisdictions, organizations, and agencies during an incident. 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. Develop and pre-test materials C. Develop an action planD. A. Public information is a vital function in disaster operations that contributes greatly to saving lives and protecting property. 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. Disclosing information to the public in ways that are easy to find and use. Click on a program for additional information. NIMS Description of the PIOs Responsibilities. This course has presented you with tools that PIOs can use to communicate, the steps to develop a campaign to prepare your community, and ways to effectively provide critical information during an emergency. 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. Use examples and comparisons to help convey unfamiliar information, to paint a picture, or to help the reader relate to the information. * The social media links provided are for reference only. When will you implement your campaign? You should set a realistic deadline and interim benchmarks, as needed. %PDF-1.6 % 20. Influence an audience to modify behavior C. Sell government or nonprofit products and programs D. Enhance social media, 11. 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. Describe the target audiences for the PIO. They have access to the officials. EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. Youll be quite surprised at how the elected official mouse makes all the difference with the children. (Unit 1), Describe the role and functions of the PIO. The latest information on activities, events, and resources. They can be timelesslike encouraging children to be active. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. The Public Information Officer is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. Do not be afraid to put bad news first if that is the message. As exemplified in the Pew Research study, people are getting information from sources other than traditional media. B. It is important to build relationships with your media contacts. Select the correct definition External Affairs 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. (Unit 5). This lesson introduces you to some emergency management principles contained in the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Tornadoes or wildfires in neighboring States may increase your communitys interest in preparedness. 4. C. Monitors costs related to the incident, and provides . 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. 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. Once you have identified your goal, write it down! Increase community preparedness is not specific. Now that you have some tips for better writing, lets look at how to write a news release. * Redundancy is important in case the computer you are using doesnt have an available or operating USB port or CD drive. (Unit 3), Recall preparation techniques that contribute to a successful media interview. Last name. The widespread use of social media means you and your organization need to include social media in your communication strategy. 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. Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. One of the advantages of the Incident Command System (ICS) is: A. As a PIO, you communicate with your target audiences to keep them informed about activities, events, and resources. Lieutenant Doug McCleve: One of the reasons why we felt it was so important to put together a Joint Information in the first, Center in the first place is because we knew that there would be all aspects of State government involved in this process from providing basic food and clothing and shelter for these people who have had nothing for up to a week. Hundreds are so ill that they end up being admitted to the hospital. This lesson reviews the four steps in creating a public awareness campaign. Campaign topics can range from recruiting volunteers to fire safety. B. cause the intended audience to act on requests in the message. Tammy Kikuchi: Having the Joint Information Center for this event was critical. 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. To read this blog, go to:http://emergency.cdc.gov/. Public awareness campaigns can run for weeks, months, or even sporadically throughout several years. 19. Evolving media (Web sites, email, blogs, social networking sites, etc.). endstream endobj 495 0 obj <. Remember to treat amateur journalists the same as you would any other journalistwith courtesy and respect. Blogs to cover events as they are happening. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?. As a PIO, you need to: In the next lesson you will learn about various tools available to you for communicating with the community. Narrator: Red Stick Ready targets every segment of the community. If a media pool is not an option, consider providing professional-quality images to the media in the form of video and stills. The heat on the desert floor isnt just a nuisance, its expensive & lethal. B. describes a writing technique applied to social media content. Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and . Unfortunately, these hazardous materials are creating a dangerous situation for all of us. The information you provide: In addition to the qualities necessary to be a good PIO, there are skills and knowledge you need to ensure your success. Allows access to one media representative from television, radio, print, and Internet to a restricted area. 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. 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 Did the message reach the targeted audience? hb```f``z B@16 @>cC?v,gY&9w=K{mg,XRV3Z'le How knowledgeable is the audience on this topic? The role of the PIO is the same regardless of the type or size of the event. Gather, verify, coordinate, and disseminate public information in an emergency from a Joint Information Center. 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. 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. Using acronyms in news releases may:A.