Tag Archives: News

Day-2 of the Basic Public Information Officers course

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Did someone say PIO?

Don’t be scared, on camera interviews starting in 3…2..1…

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And yes of course, you gotta look good for your interview right?

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We definitely evaluated all interviews – open discussion with all class PIOs provides us the ability to enhance our skills and concrete our strengths.

Note: On camera interviews are only one part of the PIOs role on any disaster or emergency.

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We are fortunate to have Paris from RTV6 (ABC affiliate) stop by to have an open discussion with our class.

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These kinds of open dialog helps new PIOs understand the media needs as well as their short deadlines.

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Making sure our new PIOs get a flow for External Affairs dynamics is important as well as numerous discussions on strategies. And of course facilitating discussion on networking and training is totes important.

Great day of sharing the good word and supporting so many PIOs!

@rusnivek

 

 

 

Mean people do not like severe weather warnings

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Dear general public: Stop being mean to the National Weather Service, State/Local government public safety, and news reporters.

When “breaking news” occurs pertaining to safety, please adhere to the warnings put forth by the official sources.

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Again, stop being mean!

Most reporters are generally nice and they want to report the facts.

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For your protection, heed all safety warnings from official sources.

@rusnivek

 

Blizzard of 2015 meme – Hoard water, spam and bacon

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Since we are talking about winter preparedness today, I am reminded about this meme created in 2015.

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Yes, I said meme. It looks like a screen grab from a national news station, but it has been doctored up a bit. Obviously.

While I cannot support all the bullet points, I can tell you that first bullet point definitely on my list.

BTW-it’s Hoard water, SPAM, and bacon.

Long live the Oxford comma!

@rusnivek

 

#Snax will help better prepare your friends and family #NatlPrep #PrepareAthon

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Preparing for emergencies isn’t exactly a fun thing to do….but snacks will make it easier!!!

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Include your family and friends in your preparedness plans help calm their fears.

Many people will not digest information correctly and/or not take things seriously.

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But if you talk to them and help them assemble their preparedness kits WITH SNAX, you will have helped increase their readiness for any disaster/emergency.

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That’s cool. So don’t wait…

Now is the right time to discuss what to do BEFORE an emergency occurs.

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“Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today.”

@rusnivek

PIO Tip: Frame your shot and reduce your onscene variables

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I was finishing up my AARs and found a picture from the last night of the Republican National Convention (RNC).

Quick tip for you PIOs doing field reporting: Frame your shot.

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Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams doing an interview with Time Magazine. Obvious chalked roadway with profane statement behind him. Videographer is recording at an upward angle to frame his subject.

During the RNC, we found that it was critical to frame the shot. Onscene shots were particularly tough because so many activist groups had signs, chalked, or painted words that are inappropriate for pictures or even worse yet, uncontrolled live broadcast hits (Periscope or FacebookLive or YouTubeLive).

Additionally, live outdoor broadcasts from the scene are challenging because it is difficult to control the natural and man-made variables.

So as PIOs we need to reduce any signs, ropes, wires, etc….that could affect your framed shot.

 

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Trust me, reduce the amount of variables to a bare minimum.

Focus your energy in delivering your message. #PIO

@rusnivek

 

PIO-ing Cleveland’s Public Square during #PrideInTheCLE #ClevelandPride

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Yesterday, I supported Cleveland Police on the #PrideInTheCLE #ClevelandPride event in Public Square.

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Much different from the Republican National Convention.

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Lots of families out and about (and enjoying) the new cool fountain in downtown Cleveland.

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Everyone was having a great time.

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Lots of speculation and talk about public safety not being around to support the LGBT community – all totally false. Public Safety will be there to support any community.

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Trust me, lots of public safety was on hand to support our entire community.

Cleveland Police Bomb Squad and K9 teams…

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Cleveland EMS…

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..even the Cleveland Police bike patrol was out supporting the day’s events.

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Lots of areas to cover.

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Partnerships with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department and Cleveland Police Department are key in providing safety for everyone who attended the event.

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It was a relatively hot day so I am glad that many of the participants dressed appropriately for the event.

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Some not so much.

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Fun entertainment and friendly people staying cool out in Public Square.

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While waiting around, we had some time for a quick PIO selfie…

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Also had time for a few interviews with local media.

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Also happy to run into a long time good friend Mark Zinni who is the anchor for the Channel 3 Eyewitness News in Hartford, Connecticut. Great to see him again.

Thanks for the picture Zinni!

Thanks for the picture Zinni!

Can’t wait to see him again in Cleveland.

While out there, we even made a few new peeps into Junior Police Officers.

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Thanks Ken!

We were fortunate enough to do a few live interviews on Periscope from Public Square.

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We highlighted the event and gave a status report of the operations using Periscope.

Ever wonder what it’s like to hang with onscene PIOs? Here’s a behind the scenes shot of us doing some live interviews on Periscope.

Thanks for the pic Zinni!

Thanks for the action shot Zinni!

Trust me, it’s harder than it looks.

Overall, it was great to see so many people out on a Saturday afternoon in Cleveland.

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As always, I had a great time working the PIO magic with Jen!

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Hope everyone stayed dry while the rain hit.

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Great safe event everyone!

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Have a great weekend!

@rusnivek

 

Dispelling rumors. Thanks Reuters.

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Day-2 in the Joint Information Center starts out with…dispelling rumors!

Reuters reported that a Cleveland Police Transport van was shot near the Republican National Convention utilizing the #RNCinCLE.
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#booya Reuters.

Immediate engagement using (retweeting) incorrect info.

Then JIC emailed out information to all media on media lists.


Also because of time and deluge of phone calls, the onslaught of emails, and the avalanche on social media…


Being nimble on multiple social media platforms, immediate dispelling of rumor in a public forum, and use of all associative hashtags was deliberate and purposeful.

Solid JIC work today PIO peeps!

@rusnivek

 

During an emergency, amplify official information

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We talk a ton about people who carelessly retweet, share, and re-purpose information. Whether mis-informed or attention seeking whores, it is likely that people need a bit more digital responsibility on line esp w/ social media.

Part of me thinks that min-informed people don’t believe in the power of social media.

Seasoned PIOs know the potential of social media.

However, check out the tweet from Mountain View Police Department’s Capt Chris Hsiung re: Dallas Police Department.


Well said Capt Hsiung.

I encourage many in my classes to be good stewards of information and not to skew truth as it can only delay the root cause from others. We will not be led astray or swayed by sensational tweets, posts, etc…We must rely on straight facts and truth.

@rusnivek

How Emily Austen got fired in ~25 min bec of FacebookLive #SMEM #PIO Safety-PIO-SM-16-003

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Fox Sports reporter Emily Austen made the news…yes, she was the news this week when she FUBARed her career on FacebookLive. (If it helps, fast forward to 25:33)

Wait, did Emily just say “Like, I didn’t even know Mexicians were that smart.”

WTF!?!?!?!?

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Fox Network immediately fired her because of her comments on FacebookLive. Let that sink in for a moment. Fox Network fired her for all the inappropriate comments in this unaffiliated FacebookLive broadcast.

Yeppers-you can get fired for stuff you do on social media.

To be fair to her, Austen did post a statement about it here.

But, to add more fuel to this fire, here’s a story about it from Complex News.

Again, I repeat:

  • You can lose your job over a picture.
  • You can lose your job over a 140-characters (tweet).
  • And yes, you can lose your main job on a couch during a live broadcast.

All thanks to social media.

For more case studies on others who lost their jobs because of social media, check out this link.

In this case, what would have helped?

  1. Not saying dumb things.
  2. A behind the scenes PIO to help coordinate conversation.
  3. Sticking to the “script” of the interview/session.
  4. Professionally maintaining topic relevance and choice of words.
  5. Sticking to communications strategy and abiding by identified corporate Policy/Procedures and SOPs/SOGs.

Or just straight up – don’t say inappropriate things.

Now phleeeze – go out there and use your social media live broadcasting powers for good!

@rusnivek