L0105: Public Information Basics

The following course is part of the National Emergency Management Basic Academy being offering in FY24 at Troy University. More information can be found in the attached flyer including information about discounted food and lodging during the courses. Additional courses are:
L0101: Foundations of Emergency Management (May 20-24, 2024)
L0102: Science of Disaster (June 10-12, 2024)
L0103: Planning: Emergency Operations (June 13-14, 2024)
L0146: Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program Training Course (July 18-19, 2024)

Flyer: FY24FullBasicAcademy

POC: Training@ema.alabama.gov

Course Description:

To equip participants with the skills needed to be full or part-time 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

Prerequisites:

• IS-29.A: Public Information Officer Awareness