. Poor grammar and misspelled words can confuse the audience and hurt your credibility, but the most important goal is to communicate. 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. Describe the target audiences for the PIO. . 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. Different types of Web sites can be used to get information to your community: Email is another way that you can get information to members of your community and organization. Make it less likely that your release will be cut C. Impress people in the target audience D. Be a barrier to communication, 22. The public information officer (PIO) reports to the incident commander, who in turn reports to the agency or jurisdictions responsible. . D. The ninety-five (95%) segment of the 95/5 concept, 5. for the incident. You have many resources available to ensure that the information reported about an event and your organization is true and accurate. Uses information from other members of the local unit to develop accurate, accessible, and complete information on an Making sure community members understand the events that unfold during severe weather, pandemics, and non-emergency scenarios . Final Exam for: IS-29.a: Public Information Officer. Increased information needs can be handled. 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. C. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Policies for evolving media (e.g., who can post, what can be posted, how to respond to negative comments, etc.). Determine information to be communicated to the public. 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. . Narrator: In addition to a preparedness television show and Mayor Mouse, Red Stick Ready also communicates preparedness information through a Web site, the use of social media, and events like Red Stick Ready Day. Your organization may have other format preferences, such as single-spaced and one-page only. Participants will benefit from participating in entry-level incident command system training prior to taking this course. . This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. +O,))8+l"O{i9"5QKh^R7YH'gI@P+,,#+pbH,ZJt-9#)*~{"Dxu Many times the site of a crisis or disaster may be considered a crime scene and needs to be processed by forensic units. EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. There are also professional social networking sites with sections for jobs. With an eye on public safety, the mayor began looking for a way to educate people about disaster preparation and response. That you will get them information and be back to brief themand then do so. Break your ideas into one subject per sentence. Are there cultural differences to take into consideration? The EMI training program provides PIOs with the opportunity to learn and practice the tasks of gathering, verifying, coordinating, and disseminating public information at all levels of government.. Responsibilities of the Components of the ICS Organization. They can be used for personal networking, professional networking, and sharing public information. Serves in an ICS role 2. Supporting information can be described as: A. The role of the pubic information officer. 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. When creating your media list: Media information is constantly changing; make sure you have a process to keep your media list up-to-date. PIOs must possess good oral communication skills because they will need to present critical information and prepare other people to speak: More information on speaking and preparing speakers is presented in Lesson 3. News releases are one of the most commonly used tools for PIOs. 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. 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. We wanted questions answered, we wanted stories to be able to do, and we had one place to go to and that was great. 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. There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. Click on a program for additional information. 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. The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. B. describes a writing technique applied to social media content. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. A PIOs proactive approach to public information enhances credibility in messaging. 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. 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. When will you implement your campaign? Be accessible and return calls and emails promptly. List the skills needed to be an effective PIO. The highest-ranking State official C. His/her regular boss D. The Operations Section Chief, 13. Questions to answer when evaluating a public awareness campaign include the following: You can collect data about your campaign in different ways. A validation of your key message C. Backgrounders D. Photos, charts, and graphics, 25. Information developed and disseminated in anticipation of, during, or after an emergency to provide specific life- and health-saving information C. Issuing a news release on a seatbelt law (public information); announcing a road closure due to a multiple-car accident (emergency public information) D. Information collected, assembled, or maintained by an organization in connection with the transaction of official business and available for dissemination to the public, 15. The word zombie comes from Haitian and New Orleans voodoo origins. Preparing quality written products including news releases. 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. The widespread use of social media means you and your organization need to include social media in your communication strategy. hb```f``z B@16 @>cC?v,gY&9w=K{mg,XRV3Z'le 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: Were people prepared for previous incidents? (Unit 1), Describe the role and functions of the PIO. Lesson 3 introduced the importance of establishing relationships with the media. Television is the main source of news for Americans. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. The following are excerpts from some successful blogs by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Ventura City Manager in Ventura, CA, and the Arizona Department of Health Services. Its community preparedness. And thats not all. What problems are you having in your community? Traditional media (print, radio, television). !]U9[MZ\waQ>yICK{",|.NH&ec* 'C/M;WrQJ6bs\ 886} What is the community sentiment toward your organization or the issue? T;)D2Dt `NY"`~XH@P ` Refer to the list below. Speculation C. Summarizing D. Bridging, 12. Allows access to one media representative from television, radio, print, and Internet to a restricted area. After taking this course you may want to take other courses to help you continue your professional development. Your media list should be current, complete, and tailored to your organization. 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). Resident/Non-Resident, Trainer Program, etc. 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. The media area is a place where media congregate to help enhance the flow of information. *F ;/7Bw1p i~$^y' _r] 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. 95% B. Describe evolving media tools, including social media, for communication. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. Expert Help. As exemplified in the Pew Research study, people are getting information from sources other than traditional media. 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.). Many different social media monitoring tools are available. In a crisis, getting the right information to the right people at the right time is more important than catching a dangling participle! As demonstrated by the examples, micro-blogging has become an important source of information in preparation of, during, and after crisis situations. 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. School, 43 Margaret St. . FEMA IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness Answers. This lesson focused on how to communicate effectively, which involves: In the next lesson you will learn how to use your tools and skills to communicate information about being prepared to your community. ., Example 2:There is more severe weather on the way as a large storm cell is moving across Livingston Parish into EBR. 1. Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, and the CDC Coronavirus page for the latest updates on the pandemic response. Goals should be stated in clear, concise terms that have meaning for those working on the campaign and other key stakeholders. This includes: More information on learning about the whole community is presented in Lesson 4. Generally, there is no review before modifications are accepted. D. has become ever more complex as the challenge of delivering messages has evolved. Leaves the decision as to who will be in the pool to the media. 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. Communicates with internal and external stakeholders. What actions and resources are being used to achieve the objectives? It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). 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 first step in developing a public awareness campaign is to research issues to identify relevant topics for your campaign. Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and . Select the right media to reach the target audience. Public information can help people make the right decision at the right time. B. @8'_= J J0 Check Web sites and social media sites, read newspapers, watch TV, and listen to radio to know how your message is getting out. Last name. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the media and the whole community. What are priorities within your organization? Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 The subject is the. Tools to enhance the flow of public information are housed. Is there any restriction on the information to be released? 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. Tammy Kikuchi: Having the Joint Information Center for this event was critical. Establishing relationships with news media representatives by being accessible and prepared. Determine who your audience is, what they need to know, and what they already know. 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. endstream endobj 495 0 obj <. The benefits of social media include the following capabilities: New social media tools are being developed and implemented all the time. Provide public information, emergency public information, and community education to your internal and external target audiences. This course should take approximately 7 hours and 25 minutes to complete. Transparency in government promotes efficiency and effectiveness and allows the people in your community to understand and participate in your processes. In all cases, the campaign will include a compelling message and a clear link to the organizations overall goals and priorities. Through ancient voodoo and folk-lore traditions, shows like theWalking Deadwere born. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the whole community regarding the importance of being prepared for an incident. ), 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.) An important part of the PIOs relationship with the media is knowing what they want. . Social networking sites are online communities that connect people. They heighten awareness of community hazards and encourage the public to take steps to become more prepared. 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. If you intend to become a Public Information Officer use these FEMA IS 29.A answers to turn a 7 hour course into one that takes 5 minutes. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?. For some incidents, implementing a media area may be an important way to manage the situation. Many organizations follow stylebooks that establish how they will communicate with the public in terms of titles, capitalization, punctuation, and so on. 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. Public information entails the processes and systems that enable effective communications with various target audiences. The role of a PIO can be executed by one person or as a team, depending on the emergency and what resources are available. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. Serves as an advisor to the Incident Commander. When preparing written products, it is important that your message is understood. An important part of the PIOs role is to prepare written products, so the PIO must be able to write clearly and effectively. Public awareness campaigns can run for weeks, months, or even sporadically throughout several years. 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. Creates a positive impression of your organization. Are there warnings or other critical messages to be communicated to the public? 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 . 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. Having clear goals is the foundation for your campaign. 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. Other zombie origins shown in films include radiation from a destroyed NASA Venus probe (as inNight of the Living Dead), as well as mutations of existing conditions such as prions, mad-cow disease, measles and rabies. Managing public information is another fundamental element of emergency management. The table below summarizes what you need to provide for a print story, and identifies the advantages and limitations of print. Next you need to identifyhowyou will communicate. 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. Describe the role of the PIO in an emergency. For more information on the Public Information Officer training program, contact FEMA-Master_PIO_Program@fema.dhs.gov. Identify the purpose of what you are writing and start with the main message. Access to the scene for information and images. (Unit 4), Given a scenario, apply the 8-Step Model to a public awareness campaign. 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Use natural gestures, but dont cross your arms, raise your eyebrows, shrug your shoulders, sway, or bounce. Select it carefully and choose your background wisely. DECEMBER 2020 INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER 1 OF 5 FEMA-509-v20170717 . 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, 2. Other data requires that you reach out to the target audiencefor example, to conduct focus group sessions or implement random telephone, email, or print surveys. They will go other places to get other information (local citizen reactions, sidebar stories, etc.). In the Incident Command System (ICS) structure, the Public Information Officer (PIO): A. Now that youve got a goal statement, the next step is to create messages in support of the goal that are suited to your target audience. hbbd```b``"_H|LI&x9"$ ;Dr?*&Fvql2r S3 A Public Information Officer (PIO) for a public safety or emergency management agency might expect to spend what portion of his or her time on activities directly related to incident response or recovery? Demonstrate that you are in the knowB. 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. Doug Miser. While it is not the responsibility of the PIO to provide food or facilities for the media, a little kindness in this area can go far in building a positive relationship with the mediaespecially if the incident occurs in a remote area where few if any comfort facilities exist (e.g., if the incident is in a remote field, a porta-john will go a long way in making friends!). Recall preparation techniques that contribute to a successful media interview. Campaigns are usually multifaceted, combining events and various media to get the message out. 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. During an incident, the media wants: At an incident scene, after you have conferred with the Incident Commander to assess the situation, you can begin to manage the situation by making contact with the media. 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. What are people in your community concerned about? Walter Monsour: So, the message was managed extremely well. I know our superb team of firefighters will do all they can, but the conditions on the railroad are particularly difficult, Smith said. Provide information and updates in a timely manner. 0 Spelling- and grammar-checking tools (printed and computer software). Three PIOs on the scene of a crisis huddling prior to making a statement to the media. Look at the audience, but dont lock eyes with any one person and dont look into the camera. Responds to the media while respecting restrictions on the release of sensitive information. This lesson introduces you to some emergency management principles contained in the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Describe how to develop and execute a public awareness campaign. The Public Information Officer is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies with incident-related information requirements. Take a zombie apocalypse for example. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. On average, between 30 and 80 Arizona residents die from heat related illnesses every summer. The Zombie Survival Guide identifies the cause of zombies as a virus called solanum. Mayor Holden: We have what they call Mayor Mouse, and Mayor Mouse basically is operated to go to various schools. The best approach is to meet with school officials early to determine when your program best fits their schedule. You need to write to your audience. 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. A micro-blog is a type of blog where the message is shorter. It was absolutely the very best thing we could have done. Describe traditional media available for communication. They also tell people how they can prepare for a disaster, and protect themselves when disaster strikes. Resident/Non-Resident, Trainer Program, etc. This fundamental principle is the basis for public information in emergency management in this country. 4. C. Identify all the news media covering the area. View IS-29.a - Public Information Officer Awareness | FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI).pdf from CIS 20 at SUNY Empire State College. They focus on specific issues or programs to move the public to take action. The press saw it. FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications. Determines what the public needs to know. 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. Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. 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. 3 Step Guide for Assistance. As a PIO, you communicate with your target audiences to keep them informed about activities, events, and resources. You cant manage who shows up but you can and should manage contact with the site. News releases should provide accurate, factual information that is attributed to its source. Please review the IS FAQ's for more information. Disclosing information to the public in ways that are easy to find and use. If you determine the need for a media area: At the scene of an incident, the news medias most basic needs are access to information and images. The process for ensuring that a public information message was accurately conveyed is typically called: A. This demonstrates how social media are now an integral part of our lives and a valuable part of the PIOs toolkit. 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. Prepare a Go Kit filled with your tools, contact information, and other vital documents. endstream endobj startxref 18. Campaigns that combine a mix of media are more likely to be effective in influencing people. They have access to the officials. 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. The Public Information Officer Awareness Course (IS0029) is designed to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. This process includes: Your goal statement expresses what you hope to achieve through your campaign. B. is to wait for direction from the incident commander. C. includes reporting to the Operations Section Chief during an incident response. 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. Members of the media do not want to interfere with these tasks, but if they can get close enough to observe and/or photograph they will be happy. 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. Emergency Management Institute 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. Announce events of interest to your community or share information about an incident. %PDF-1.6 % Public information is a vital function in disaster operations that contributes greatly to saving lives and protecting property. Although firefighters were able to knock down the blaze before it reached the parents bedroom, the smoke-blackened walls dramatically underscored how lucky they were to escape with their lives. Show emotion as appropriate, but dont use big gestures. B. report to the Finance/Admin Section Chief when arriving at an incident. 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. 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.