Primary Core Capability: Public Information and Warning

AWR 209 Working with the Media: A Course for Rural First Responders is designed to provide emergency responders with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to interact with the media and perform public information functions in preparation for and during incidents. Many agencies from small and rural communities do not have a full- or part-time public information officer (PIO) on staff and responders often assume this responsibility without formal training and practice. The intent of this course is to prepare responders for interacting with the media when required, whether it be roadside at the scene of an incident or for conveying directions to the public in a crisis situation.

For additional course information, including contact hours, please see the National Preparedness Catalog.

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the role of the media and possess the knowledge and skills to work with them

• Describe the skills and knowledge necessary to deal with the media at the scene of an emergency

• Comprehend components of on-scene and planned off-scene interviews and have the skills necessary to provide them.

• Describe the purpose of disaster public education and steps in developing and implementing public awareness campaigns.

• Describe ways to make stories more interesting to the media and know when to best promote a story idea

• identify elements of effective news releases and apply tips for developing and disseminating news releases to the media.

ICS 100

ICS 700

• Emergency Management

• Emergency Medical Services

• Fire Service • Governmental Administrative

• Law Enforcement

• Health Care

• Public Health