the role of the public information officer fema

Identify how messages should be conveyed. In other words, express parallel ideas in parallel grammatical forms. In their haste, each suffered minor injuries, including stitches for their son who cut his ankle on the glass of the first floor window. B. describes a writing technique applied to social media content. A defining characteristic of wiki technology is the ease with which pages can be created and updated. Your media list should be current, complete, and tailored to your organization. NIMS describes the use of the Joint Information System (JIS) to complete the critical tasks of information sharing and coordination. The widespread use of social media means you and your organization need to include social media in your communication strategy. Promote government programs and activities B. 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. Television is the main source of news for Americans. 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. In the Incident Command System (ICS) structure, the Public Information Officer (PIO): A. Monitor to determine if the media coverage is: Whether or not your organization is using social media, you should still monitor it. He and his wife threw open their window and helped their kids drop to waiting neighbors gathered below. Tools to enhance the flow of public information are housed. 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: Public Information and Warning . 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. 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 The heat on the desert floor isnt just a nuisance, its expensive & lethal. Blogs to cover events as they are happening. To help you in monitoring conversations on social media sites, you may want to use a social media monitoring tool or social media dashboard. Communicate information to enable people to prepare for an incident and to make decisions during an incident to protect lives and property. Coordinate information being distributed to ensure consistency with other agencies messages. Coming back after the fire to retrieve them, their ghostly shadows left indelible evidence of the inferno that swept through their home. Refer to the list below. Measurement is how you evaluate success, but make sure your numbers reflect significant achievement. 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. Technology allows anyone to be a journalist. Images, sound, and information captured by the public can be used by traditional news organizations, or posted to social media sites, and broadcast globally. Is the conduit for information to internal and external stakeholders. . They can be seasonallike hurricane preparedness week. (Unit 2), Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. Watching the background. Do you follow through? 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. Its not complicated; its very easy for them, which makes for better reporting. Office: (301) 447-1200 Fax: (301) 447-1201, (800) 621-FEMA / TTY (800) 462-7585 More than 70% of the illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths are guys. 281757518-Role-of-Catering-Establishment-in-Tourism-Industry-PRINT.docx. EMI is introducing a limited number of IS courses that have been translated to the Spanish language. 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. Public Information Officers | Indian Affairs - Native Americans in the PIOs need to have a complete understanding of the community's demographics in order to: A. Develop relationships with other organizations PIOs B. A campaign on hurricane awareness wont get much play in December. 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. For example, you can post videos, use social networking sites, and/or create a blog. 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. 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. Break your ideas into one subject per sentence. Themes weaved throughout the series include the 95/5 concept and an emphasis on whole community strategic communication planning. 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. 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. Illustrate the multiple roles of the Public Information Officer and the media in planning for and responding to an emergency. Be accessible and return calls and emails promptly. Develop and implement your campaign by setting a goal, creating a message, choosing your medium, and identifying timing. Determining hazard impact is a crucial component in emergency planning. Uses information from other members of the local unit to develop accurate, accessible, and complete information on an ), Prescription medications; basic first-aid supplies, Weather gear (e.g., rain poncho, gloves, sunscreen). Additionally, it can provide those in executive-level roles with the necessary knowledge of PIO roles and responsibilities during an emergency. 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. . 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. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median, annual pay for public relations managers was $91,180 in May 2012, with the top 10 percent earning more than $166,000. Sit on your coat tail to keep your jacket from riding up. At the completion of this course you should be able to: The remainder of this lesson presents information on your role as a Public Information Officer (PIO). * The social media links provided are for reference only. The following was originally posted on CDC Public Health Matters Blog on May 16, 2011, by Ali S. Khan. Tornadoes or wildfires in neighboring States may increase your communitys interest in preparedness. Check with them to see if the location selected for a media area will allow them to accomplish this connection. 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. Final Exam for: IS-29.a: Public Information Officer. Determine information to be communicated to the public. Supporting information can be described as: A. for the incident. Contact local, tribal, territorial, and State press associations to obtain media lists. Emergency management guidance for public- and private-sector organizations C. A database of Federal-level emergency incidents D. Another name for the National Response Framework, 21. A media pool: Note: Media pools can cause disagreements among the media. Uses correct grammar and contains no spelling or punctuation errors. The median salary for a public information officer is near 60,000 a year in most states and between 80,000 and 90,000 a year in higher cost of living states. %%EOF 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. People use technology to tell others that they are okay. IS-29.A: Public Information Officer Awareness - FEMA Verdi White: And I believe that that has helped in our relationship with the media. How or what can your community learn from these events? One that is completely out of reach is de-motivating. This lesson covered the knowledge and skills you need to effectively manage emergency public information during an incident: The next lesson summarizes your role as a PIO and how to use all the tools available to you to help your community be prepared and to share critical information when an incident happens. Create clear and easily understood messages. 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. 140-character stand-alone micro-blog statements. 'Ss S>*2MbX^f Consider your resources and your role in ICS. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. This lesson presents information on how to effectively communicate with the whole community regarding the importance of being prepared for an incident. Make it less likely that your release will be cut C. Impress people in the target audience D. Be a barrier to communication, 22. Determine who your audience is, what they need to know, and what they already know. The news media and local government ask the community to send videos and photos via social media, email, and text messages. 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. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 A social networking site is a great tool for: Now you know about the many tools available to get your message out. Describe the role and function of the PIO. The role of the pubic information officer. 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. When preparing written products, it is important that your message is understood. The media area is a place where media congregate to help enhance the flow of information. This demonstrates how social media are now an integral part of our lives and a valuable part of the PIOs toolkit. Overview: The FEMA IS-29.A course was published on 8/5/2019 to familiarize participants with the concepts underlying the PIO role. 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. Managing public information is another fundamental element of emergency management. 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. Is there any restriction on the information to be released? (Passive). What will you change in future campaigns? 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. Hundreds are so ill that they end up being admitted to the hospital. Avoid visuals C. Chunk content to make it more scannable D. Maximize search results by using acronyms, 6. 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. 0. Successful blogs are compelling and current, and encourage interaction with readers. Many edits, however, can be made in real-time and appear almost instantly online. Print medianewspapers and magazinesare the first type of mass media developed. Include email addresses and Internet sites for the media contact. Construct and deliver an appropriate crisis and emergency risk message. (Unit 4), Given a scenario, apply the 8-Step Model to a public awareness campaign. Identify the purpose of what you are writing and start with the main message. Campaigns that combine a mix of media are more likely to be effective in influencing people. In the next lesson you will learn how to communicate effectively when an incident happens. What is happening in other areas? Next you need to identifyhowyou will communicate. For each of these toolstelevision, newspaper, radio, news briefings, and evolving mediayou need written products. Holding the session indoors, if possible. 1. For more information on AP style, go tohttp://www.apstylebook.com. Emergency Management Institute PDF Public Information Officer - FEMA +O,))8+l"O{i9"5QKh^R7YH'gI@P+,,#+pbH,ZJt-9#)*~{"Dxu The news release should use the inverted pyramid as illustrated below. ICS is used to manage an emergency incident (like a wildland fire, search and rescue, hurricane, etc.) They have access to the officials. Effective public communication involves collecting, verifying, and disseminating information to your target audiences. Make sure the media area is far enough away and/or your workspaces are shielded from prying cameras, microphones, and eyes. the feedback has been, you know, we appreciate this. %%EOF 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. ), 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.) When a newsworthy incident occurs, the media will be there, whether youve invited them or not! Different types of written products include the following: View actual news releases, statements, and fact sheets on the InciWeb site [http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/]. 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). 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. 50% C. 25% D. 5%, 9. what is role of public information officer in fema? Expert Help. 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. Emergency management knowledge including an understanding of NIMS, ICS, the JIS, and the JIC. The training courses listed below include those delivered at the state, local, tribal, and territorial level as well as higher-level training managed by EMIs subject matter expert training teams. Conducting public awareness campaigns; Gathering key information/details of the event; Prioritizing and issuing notices, alerts, and warnings; Taking action to maintain control of rumors; Coordinating inquiries from the public, the media, and elected officials; Coordinating tours or other interviews with agency reps and the media Do not be afraid to put bad news first if that is the message. 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 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. 95% B. Mayor Holden: Sometimes you have to get your story out very quickly. Join to apply for the Public Information Officer - 48752 role at University of California, Merced. 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. Emergency Manager jobs 33,535 open jobs Describe how to manage the news media at the scene of an incident. Time will also impact the shelf-life of your campaign. Joanne H. Moreau: Working with the children, and with such an emphasis on the children, we wanted a tool that could reach them. Also, it may be necessary to explain to them the danger, and how if they fail to heed the warnings and become injured, they may endanger others who would have to then go in to rescue them (e.g., passing into the plume of a Hazmat area, traveling over an unsafe structure that may collapse, or moving into the line of fire of an armed suspect). Providing information and access to newsmakers. As with ICS, the JIS is as simple or complex as the needs of the situation. Lets review the different types of communication tools in more detail, starting with print media. Establish one that doesnt hinder operations but affords the media reasonable, legitimate access. 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. 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. 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). 1. The media will want to get as close as possible to get pictures/audio/interviews. . 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. Check off the things you would plan to include in your Go Kit and add other items as you see fit. 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. wA{)K+Xk80538L``V[mvWS|?9U7 Possess and enhance certain qualities and skills that make an effective PIO. In their zeal to get the story reporters may not always recognize the potential for danger to themselves. Some tips for speaking publicly and improving your responses (or assisting and preparing a speaker) are: When distributing written products or speaking to the media, you will often need to work with a person to get your information out. Describe the target audiences for the PIO. D. a required responsibility of the PIO as outlined by NIMS.. Video sharing sites to expand or market a story, and. Some examples of evolving media tools are: Web sites can be used alone or in conjunction with traditional media and other evolving media to get your message out. Well, were here to answer that question for you, and hopefully share a few tips about preparing forrealemergencies too! Distribute family emergency preparedness kits through community elementary schools is both clearer and more meaningful. Media management skills including knowing what the media wants, managing amateur journalists, and using media pools and media areas. 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. All goals should have a target date for completion. Time is a crucial element in any public awareness campaign. IS 29.A Public Information Officer Exam Questions | FEMACourses Timely updates and corrections to information in evolving incidents. Sound bite B. Selects the right tools for the messages. While local, tribal, territorial, and State governments may have different laws regarding transparency and open government the general principles are to be: As a PIO, it is important to know the laws that apply in your area because of your role in providing information to the public. @8'_= J J0 I know our superb team of firefighters will do all they can, but the conditions on the railroad are particularly difficult, Smith said. Describe the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in an emergency. 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. 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. Here are the FEMA test answers to IS-29.A: Public Information Officer Awareness. The Governor repeated his request that everyone use caution and heed warning messages on TV and radio, or in their newspapers. Describe the role and functions of the Public Information Officer (PIO) Describe the types of written products used in public information activities. 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. Quantify results when evaluating public information efforts. 0 This course can provide a basic understanding of the PIO function for those new to the position. Simplify complex ideas by using short sentences. Mayor Holden: We have what they call Mayor Mouse, and Mayor Mouse basically is operated to go to various schools. if4-0lP,H^F1!P`8FF@T br.afQP0G@U@} )F%H (wtP9 lF `PFn*Lks]k^s9LgsXxh|s ]bpa Demonstrating an understanding of media needs and operations. Describe the role of the PIO in an emergency. 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. Under the ICS, the PIO works for: A. Work within the emergency management system. 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. Conduct research to determine which tool is best to meet your agencys needs. 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!). FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications. Governor James Smith today declared a state of emergency in the Great A&P fire that is rapidly spreading west. Emergency Management Institute 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. 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. Responds to the media while respecting restrictions on the release of sensitive information. It provides a framework for people from multiple agencies to work well together B. B. Lesson 3 introduced the importance of establishing relationships with the media. Students also learn message development and delivery, legal considerations, press conferences, the operation of a Joint Information Center, stress management, and strategic communication and planning. Narrator: Red Stick Ready targets every segment of the community. 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. 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. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. Campaigns are usually multifaceted, combining events and various media to get the message out. Social Media: Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse. The good news is that preventing heat related illness is easy to do if you just use common sense. Many wikis are open to alteration by the general public without requiring them to register user accounts. An important part of the PIOs relationship with the media is knowing what they want. 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. 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. 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. C. Monitors costs related to the incident, and provides . (For example: The suspicious package was the size of a laptop computer. Switchboard: (301) 447-1000 This lesson introduced you to different tools you can use to communicate your message as a PIO, including: In the next lesson you will learn how to prepare quality written products for these tools and how to speak effectively with the media and to the public. For more information on the Public Information Officer training program, contact FEMA-Master_PIO_Program@fema.dhs.gov. 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.

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