The Do’s and Dont’s of Social Media for Law Enforcement

🚔 Social media plays a pivotal role in enhancing the connection between law enforcement agencies and the public, while fostering transparency. The vast number of individuals and diverse personalities present on social media platforms emphasize the significance of upholding professionalism within law enforcement agencies. 🕊️

📢 Maintaining a professional presence on social media is essential …

The Crucial Role of a Media Contact Sheet for Crisis Communicators

 

In today’s interconnected world, I firmly believe that effective crisis communication is vital for organizations to safeguard their reputation and successfully navigate challenging situations. As a crisis communicator, I understand the importance of being well-prepared with a robust crisis communication plan that ensures the timely and accurate delivery of information to the media and …

Press Interview

Unveiling the Role of a Public Information Officer

Whether it’s in times of crisis, major events, or day-to-day operations, organizations and institutions rely on skilled crisis communicators to disseminate accurate and timely information to the public. One such key player is the Public Information Officer (PIO). If you’re intrigued by the idea of being at the forefront of communication and playing a …

Media planning for crisis communications.

8 Steps to Develop an Effective Crisis Communication Plan for Your Private Business

Every business, big or small, is susceptible to a crisis and you need a crisis communication plan. These can come in many forms, such as natural disasters, cyber-attacks, product recalls, financial downturns, or even a pandemic like we’ve experienced recently. While it’s impossible to predict every possible crisis that could happen, it’s crucial to …

Bridging Statements: Navigating Media Interviews with Confidence

Sheriff Mellinger (Ret.) being interviewed by media during a lost child search.

In my podcast last week, I discussed the importance of bridging Statements. I promised to write a blog to give more written information about bridging statements. In today’s media-driven world, interviews with the news media play a significant role in shaping public …

The PIO Golden Hour

Law Enforcement on scene on a response.

As a Public Information Officer (PIO), the first 60 minutes of a disaster can be one of the most critical periods of your career and this is the Golden Hour to any large scale response.. This is the time when the PIO must act quickly and effectively …

Why is Your Agency Not on Social Media?

Literally Facebook is larger than most countries around the world.  People spend hours a day reading, watching and listening to social media posts.  Why would any public safety agency not want to use a medium of journalism, that you and your agency can control every single message you post.

That’s right, nobody else controls your …

The Role of a Public Information Officer: A Commitment to Professionalism

Introduction:
Assuming the position of Public Information Officer (PIO) within an agency brings with it great responsibility and a significant time commitment. While your work hours may align with regular administrative schedules, the demands of this role transcend the conventional Monday-to-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM timeframe. In today’s world, where technology permeates our lives …