Attendees will gain the skills needed to be full or part-time Public Information Officers (PIOs), including oral and written communications; understanding and working with the media; and basic tools and techniques to perform effectively as a PIO, both in the proactive/ advocacy times and crisis/ emergency response.

Course Objectives:

• Using the strategic communications planning model, develop a public awareness campaign (95%)
• Using the strategic communications planning model, develop an incident communications strategy (5%)
• Indicate the purpose of a public awareness campaign
• Identify the steps in developing a public awareness campaign
• Develop a strategy for an awareness campaign on a selected topic
• Change the method of developing a plan to follow the 8-step StratCom process
• Demonstrate the role and function of the PIO in both day-to-day emergency environments
• Compare actions PIOs can take to work with the news media during day-to-day and emergency situation
• Describe different public information written products
• Apply effective news release writing guidance
• Adapt or repurpose written media products for social media
• Describe what types of impressions specific body language might convey during an interview
• Identify elements of an interview the PIO should consider ahead of time
• Identify steps a PIO needs to take to prepare for and conduct a news interview
• Demonstrate effective techniques for on-camera interviews

Recommended for: Public information officers, personnel in emergency management roles, and any others who may support your organization's public messaging, communication, or media coordination during emergencies.

Course Link: Wisconsin Emergency Management