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. User: The Public Information Officer: A. Interfaces with the public and media and/or with other agencies regarding incident-related information requirements. Providing information and access to newsmakers. That you will get them information and be back to brief themand then do so. The public information officer for an organization A. should clear all public documents with neighboring agencies before release. Thats what happened to Jose Martinez yesterday morning as he woke early to get his 9-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son off to school on time. Test the message on a safe audience B. People use technology to tell others that they are okay. 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 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. The word zombie comes from Haitian and New Orleans voodoo origins. A public awareness campaign is a vehicle you can use to get your message out about being prepared. I know our superb team of firefighters will do all they can, but the conditions on the railroad are particularly difficult, Smith said. Establish one that doesnt hinder operations but affords the media reasonable, legitimate access. Is there any restriction on the information to be released? Unfortunately, these hazardous materials are creating a dangerous situation for all of us. Determine information to be communicated to the public. Smith activated the State Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates State firefighting efforts in these situations. This process includes: Your goal statement expresses what you hope to achieve through your campaign. Example: Press Release Using Inverted Pyramid Format. View IS-29.a - Public Information Officer Awareness | FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI).pdf from CIS 20 at SUNY Empire State College. All social networking sites allow users to find people they know among the members, or look for other members with similar interests or affiliations. The heat on the desert floor isnt just a nuisance, its expensive & lethal. Joanne H. Moreau: We are able to work with all agencies and give a real solid unified message. Governor James Smith today declared a state of emergency in the Great A&P fire that is rapidly spreading west. the feedback has been, you know, we appreciate this. They have access to the officials. 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. 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. In the next lesson you will learn how to communicate effectively when an incident happens. 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. (Unit 4), Given a scenario, apply the 8-Step Model to a public awareness campaign. FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications. The news media and local government ask the community to send videos and photos via social media, email, and text messages. Blogs are a good tool to use to communicate with your audience. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the whole community regarding the importance of being prepared for an incident. Select the correct definition Public Information A. Coordinates the release of accurate, coordinated, timely, and accessible public information to affected audiences, including the government, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector B. B. With the advent of social media, another type of news release you may want to use is the Social Media Release (SMR). (Unit 3), List the steps of the 8-Step Model for Strategic Communications. Television is the main source of news for Americans. Sometimes logging in for a session is recommended, to create a wiki-signature cookie for signing edits automatically. Please note that the is program now requires a fema sid to be used instead of your ssn. (Incorrect), John enjoys boating, swimming, and fishing. As part of conducting research, you have identified populations in the community who are vulnerable and need the information from your campaign. . Leaves the decision as to who will be in the pool to the media. A defining characteristic of wiki technology is the ease with which pages can be created and updated. 'Ss S>*2MbX^f With passive voice, the subject is thereceiverof the action. 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. Access to the scene for information and images. 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. Once again, we see a fire threatening our citizens and their homes. Uses correct grammar and contains no spelling or punctuation errors. Poor grammar and misspelled words can confuse the audience and hurt your credibility, but the most important goal is to communicate. This lesson presents information on tools you can use in support of your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. Public information can help people make the right decision at the right time. D. should be knowledgeable, assertive, credible, flexible, able to perform under pressure, and accessible., 10. B. is not bound by public record laws. The Governor repeated his request that everyone use caution and heed warning messages on TV and radio, or in their newspapers. 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. 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. This lesson introduces you to some emergency management principles contained in the National Incident Management System (NIMS). . Is the conduit for information to internal and external stakeholders. Describe the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in an emergency. This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. But all four occupants miraculously escaped and the 45-year-old dad told the Ventura County Star: We thank God that were alive, regardless of what we lost up there.. These people are your target audience. Questions to answer when evaluating a public awareness campaign include the following: You can collect data about your campaign in different ways. 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. 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. A theme that begins in this course and is carried throughout the Public Information Training Series, the 95/5 concept A. is a management concept unique to public information management. Additionally, it can provide those in executive level roles the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and . 0. Lets start by reviewing the Incident Command System (ICS) and the PIOs role in ICS. One that is completely out of reach is de-motivating. Tammy Kikuchi: The response was overwhelming. The most popular social networking sites have groups, which offer chat boards for members. Tell the media representatives: Follow-through goes a long way to establishing good relations with the news media. Sound bite B. Video sharing sites to expand or market a story, and. In their haste, each suffered minor injuries, including stitches for their son who cut his ankle on the glass of the first floor window. When preparing written products, it is important that your message is understood. The Incident Command System is a fundamental element of emergency management. Tammy Kikuchi: I would say it, whatever expense it takes for your Public Information Officers to get the training, spend it. Demonstrating an understanding of media needs and operations. Manages resources including supplies, personnel, and equipment. 1. The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is:A. Describe the role and function of the PIO. 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. Prepare a Go Kit filled with your tools, contact information, and other vital documents. This course is designed for new or less experienced state, local, tribal and territorial PIOs or those who have this role as a secondary function. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. 1928 0 obj <> endobj Continue to monitor the weather., Example 3:4 Shelters remain open: MassMutual Ctr, 1277 Main St. Springfield; Quarry Hill Comm. %%EOF C. B. Chris Mrela wrote a dynamite report on this a couple of years ago. Announce events of interest to your community or share information about an incident. D. seek media release approval from the Communication Unit Leader., 24. Traditional media (print, radio, television). 494 0 obj <> endobj C. is presented as a bad example of public information management. Doug Miser. B. an important part of the PIOs job. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. Joanne H. Moreau: We focus a lot on making sure that we have a very accurate and timely information process of information dissemination. Do they have special communication needs (e.g., visual or hearing impairments, or limited English proficiency)? If a media pool is not an option, consider providing professional-quality images to the media in the form of video and stills. Work to keep them out of danger as you would any member of the public. Measurement is how you evaluate success, but make sure your numbers reflect significant achievement. To help you in monitoring conversations on social media sites, you may want to use a social media monitoring tool or social media dashboard. Click on a program for additional information. Watching the background. Social media have changed how quickly information about a disaster is available. Some evaluation data can be collected without contact with the audiencefor example, number of Web page hits or increase in the quantity of smoke alarms purchased. The rise of zombies in pop culture has given credence to the idea that a zombie apocalypse could happen. Gathering feedback and heading off problems, Explaining your mission, policies, and goals. Terms of Use, IS-100.b, Introduction to the Incident Command System, IS-200.b, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents, IS-700, National Incident Management System, An Introduction, ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents, ICS-400, Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff, IS-702.a, National Incident Management System (NIMS) Public Information Systems, IS-800.c, National Response Framework, An Introduction. For example, change the location or angle of the lectern so cameras dont capture an unwanted view. 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. Year in and year out, nearly 1,400 Arizonans get heat related illnesses so serious that they end up in an emergency department. Its not complicated; its very easy for them, which makes for better reporting. 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). Describe the role of the PIO in an emergency. If you use an acronym, make sure your audience understands it. The median, annual pay for public relations specialists, during the same period, was $52,090, with the top 10 . 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. 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. 281757518-Role-of-Catering-Establishment-in-Tourism-Industry-PRINT.docx. 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. With an eye on public safety, the mayor began looking for a way to educate people about disaster preparation and response. Identify contacts and sources that are relevant to your organization. Do you follow through? 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. Influence an audience to modify behavior C. Sell government or nonprofit products and programs D. Enhance social media, 11. Even the best writer can make mistakes, particularly when under pressure or in a time crunch. 0 AZ Department of Health Services Directors Blog. endstream endobj startxref 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. 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. There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. What are people in your community concerned about? 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. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. 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. Although its meaning has changed slightly over the years, it refers to a human corpse mysteriously reanimated to serve the undead. In this lesson youll learn more about creating public awareness campaigns. Determining hazard impact is a crucial component in emergency planning. The role of the public information officer A. is strictly dictated by the National Qualification System position task book. Select it carefully and choose your background wisely. Emergency Manager jobs 33,535 open jobs Below are some, but not all, of the critical skill sets learned during this training program: Personnel who are assigned or may be designated to perform public information duties during an incident, emergency, or disaster and anyone in a response discipline who may be assigned or designated to perform public information duties. The message should be: How will you get the message to your audience? Include information on evolving media contacts, instructions, and resources. People have a right and a need to know about the risks they face. What is in it for them? As a PIO, you need to: In the next lesson you will learn about various tools available to you for communicating with the community. 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. 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. 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. endstream endobj startxref 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. As demonstrated by the examples, micro-blogging has become an important source of information in preparation of, during, and after crisis situations. What is happening in other areas? Effective public communication involves collecting, verifying, and disseminating information to your target audiences. When creating your media list: Media information is constantly changing; make sure you have a process to keep your media list up-to-date. 95% B. Goals should be stated in clear, concise terms that have meaning for those working on the campaign and other key stakeholders. Selects the right tools for the messages. An important part of your role as a PIO is to communicate with your community before something happens. endstream endobj 1929 0 obj <. An important part of the PIOs role is to prepare written products, so the PIO must be able to write clearly and effectively. It provides a framework for people from multiple agencies to work well together B. 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. ), 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.) This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the media and the whole community. Additionally, it can provide those in executive-level roles with the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. FEMA-NIMS@fema.dhs.gov NIMS Basic Guidance for Public Information Officers 2 II. 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. 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. Remember to treat amateur journalists the same as you would any other journalistwith courtesy and respect. Below are some tips for writing in a clear, concise, and organized manner: Although active voice is preferred and is more interesting, passive voice may be appropriate when the doer is unknown or you want to focus on the receiver of the action. 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 . 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! 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. Avoid visuals C. Chunk content to make it more scannable D. Maximize search results by using acronyms, 6. The Public Information Officer may also perform a key public information-monitoring role. 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. A good overview of ICS is provided in the independent study . These examples are micro-blogs from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (Example 1), the Mayors Office of Homeland Security in Baton Rouge (LA) (Example 2), and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (Example 3). In such a scenario zombies would take over entire countries, roaming city streets eating anything living that got in their way. Jeff Leduff: We are the first line of information for the rest of the team because were out there all the time. Do you know what to do to protect yourself and your family? A tornado strikes in the Midwest. 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. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?. The test questions are scrambled to protect the integrity of the exam. 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.. 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. Are there cultural differences to take into consideration? As a PIO, you will likely communicate public information and emergency public information as well as conduct community education. Simplify complex ideas by using short sentences. Increased information needs can be handled. The Governor declared the emergency following a similar declaration by Liberty County. It can be taken alone or before Basic Public Information Officer Training (G290). Media management skills including knowing what the media wants, managing amateur journalists, and using media pools and media areas. Final Exam for: IS-29.a: Public Information Officer. Identify the purpose of what you are writing and start with the main message. 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: The highest-ranking State official C. His/her regular boss D. The Operations Section Chief, 13. wA{)K+Xk80538L``V[mvWS|?9U7 Do not be afraid to put bad news first if that is the message. After taking this course you may want to take other courses to help you continue your professional development. Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. NIMS Description of the PIOs Responsibilities. . The five (5%) segment of the 95/5 concept B. downtime when working an emergency. C. blue sky time but makes no difference in credibility. Recognize various legal aspects associated with emergencies and public information. Wear your uniform or neat, conservative attire if not in uniform. 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. Refer to the list below. 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.. *F ;/7Bw1p i~$^y' _r] They knew that they werent being led down another road, that they were hearing things unfiltered. 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. Dont date your materials by using the year or referring to news events that will become out-of-date quickly. List the skills needed to be an effective PIO. For some incidents, implementing a media area may be an important way to manage the situation. It is important to build relationships with your media contacts. As a PIO, your target audiences include . Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 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. 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. The news release should use the inverted pyramid as illustrated below. 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. When will you implement your campaign? Timely updates and corrections to information in evolving incidents. 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Provide information and updates in a timely manner. Operates with the understanding that any video, audio, or interviews acquired will be shared with the rest of the media. When considering whether a goal is attainable, ask yourself: Do I have the skills and resourcesor can I get themto achieve this goal? Having clear goals is the foundation for your campaign. In their zeal to get the story reporters may not always recognize the potential for danger to themselves. Communicates with internal and external stakeholders. Transparency in government promotes efficiency and effectiveness and allows the people in your community to understand and participate in your processes. The steps to organize and conduct a news conference or briefing are: Note: You may want to identify several knowledgeable people to assist and provide information at the news conference or briefing. 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. 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. They will go other places to get other information (local citizen reactions, sidebar stories, etc.). The public information officer (PIO) reports to the incident commander, who in turn reports to the agency or jurisdictions responsible. Create clear and easily understood messages. What is the community sentiment toward your organization or the issue? It is important to note that traditional media sources are not being replaced by social media; instead, traditional media are using social media to connect with their audiences and expand their reach. Each time this test is loaded, you will receive a unique set of questions and answers. T;)D2Dt `NY"`~XH@P ` Develop and pre-test materials C. Develop an action planD. At the end of this course, participants will be able to: Federal Emergency Management Agency | Emergency Management Institute, Notice to Applicants for EMI or NFA Courses, How to apply for a FEMA Independent Study course (Online Course), How to apply for a course held in EMI (On-Campus Course), Non-Resident Courses (EMI Courses Conducted by States), National Standard Exercise Curriculum (NSEC), Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP), Emergency Management Professional Program (EMPP), National Incident Management System (NIMS), Integrated Emergency Management Course (IEMC), Disaster Field Training Operations (DFTO), Schools Multihazard and Mass Casualty Planning, Virtual Table Top Exercise (VTTX) (Sites participate from home via VTC), Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, Exercise Simulation System Document (ESSD), Guidance on COVID protections for EMI students, Please review the IS FAQ's for more information, Define emergency public information and the importance of being proactive.