Course location
In person location: Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM)
3930 Fairview Industrial Dr SE Salem OR 97302 in Room 123
3-day Course October 20-22, 2025
Course Description:
This course equips 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
- Develop a public awareness campaign using the strategic communications planning model
- Develop an incident communications strategy using the strategic communications planning model
- 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 media during day-to-day and emergency situations
- 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
Attendance:
Per FEMA standards, no more than 10% absenteeism is allowed to receive a certificate of completion.
Accessibility Requests and Questions:
If you have any questions, or to request any reasonable accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in this training, please contact the OEM Training Program (oem.training@oem.oregon.gov). Please reach out at least two weeks in advance to request any accommodations.
