After hopping around Region V in August, I’ll be able to stretch out a bit and swing east into Region-3. The September intel training class in DC will be rescheduled and (hoping that it’ll) get moved to the Pentagon.
At this time, it is Pennsylvania, Maryland, and back in Ohio for September.
The outlook for October has a wider spread as I have been assigned to Region-V, Region-IV, and Region-III.
Keep smiling because it’s 2014 National Preparedness Month! (MY FAVORITE MONTH)
| 14-004: A lonely shortened Facebook link on Twitter | |
| Agency: South Central Sierra Interagency IMT | Topic(s): Shared information/update |
| Date: Summer 2014 | Platform: Twitter |
Speed is primarily the reason why everyone loves social media…especially Twitter. Many agencies use social media to provide updates and information when assigned to certain incidents. That’s what the South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team did during the French Fire in California when they pushed this lonely shortened Facebook link out on Twitter.
I get that 140 character max on Twitter is short…and you have lots to say…and you don’t have time…and blah blah blah. Everyone else doesn’t have time too. But pushing a non-descript link, does raise a concern that perhaps your account has been compromised by spam bots. Your agency has worked diligently to establish solid working relationships. During an emergency is the WORST time for your audience to question and/or ignore your official accounts with trusted reliable information.
If your social media plan calls for directing all efforts to Facebook as the primary source of information, a Public Information Officer (PIO) should still take the time to provide a little information (like a short description) on other platforms driving the traffic to that primary source. Providing just a link is not enough.
In the PIO business, we are forced to be precise, however just providing a link pertaining to a dangerous situation or disasters will not be enough to satiate the Twittersphere’s social interest.
Audiences change on various social media platforms, however, many agencies *think* they are all the same.
Knowing your audience is the hallmark of success. If you pair your Facebook and Twitter accounts to save time and to pass the exact same message – you should consider separating them now. Remember, you write/post/share information differently on various social media platforms.
A more effective tweet could have read:
| Still assigned to the French Fire here in California-Check out pictures frm @BLMNational Interagency Fire fb.me/1BV35Tytx #CAWildfire |
By phrasing it this way:
Time is valuable, so tweet good stuff.
***To download this as a single-page printable format, click this: ALonelyShortenedFacebookLinkOnTwitter-Safety-PIO-SM-14-004a
Did someone say “social media magic”? Heck yeah…and it’s right here in Ashtabula: the use of social media during disasters!
Making sure we cover the entire state, we hit Columbus yesterday and today, we are setup in the farthest NE corner of Ohio, Ashtabula County.
We are fortunate to have State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA) PIO Tamara McBride (from Columbus) peek into the class and say hi to everyone.
Leveraging our current technologies during non-emergency times will help concrete our actions and increase our communications during disasters.
Looking forward to seeing some great progress and interaction in social media.
Additionally, it’s so nice to see old friends and colleagues from my past. Truly outstanding.
No matter wearing my flight helmet, my hospital shirt, my fire helmet, whatever….I’m just glad to see great friends again.
Another great morning here at the State of Ohio Emergency Operations Center.
Various agencies from all over the state in attendance at today’s social media class.
Special thanks to Ohio EMA Assistant Director Sima Merick for the welcome message.
Now to break down more info and tools on how effective PIOs (Public Information Officers) or PAOs (Public Affair Officers) engage on social media.
Excited to be instructing a bunch of PIOs today.
Made the news in Wisconsin.
Looks like I’m going to owe many many root beer floats when I get back to Ohio.
|
14-003: Write for Different Platforms |
|
|
Agency: Rocky Mountain Area IMT |
Topic(s): Social Media Platform Specific Messaging |
|
Date: Summer 2014 |
Platform(s): Press Release vs Twitter |
Despite the message being essentially the same, every communications platform is different.
Speed is important, but correctly addressing your audience is critical in the world of public information.
On July 1, 2014, this tweet was posted on the Rocky Mountain Area Incident Management Team’s feed during the Eightmile Fire while deployed in Canon City, Colorado.
“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” In all caps? All caps use on social media portrays yelling. Professionals should portray calm/control.
Twitter’s social media platform premise is a fast microblog service focusing on immediate information. This templated press release lingo (FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE) is not necessary. Every tweet is automatically time/date stamped including matching the recipients’ time zone. Do not waste your valuable 140 characters.
To me, this was a cut-and-paste action, or even worse yet, they just linked the agency’s Facebook and Twitter accounts together. No time was spent in addressing the various platforms used to push this valuable information. Remember, PIO actions on each platform in social media are not generic, they are specific. We talk about safety to kids differently than we inform adults on safety right? Likewise, we should address our audiences on social media accordingly to the platform they use.
A more effective tweet could have read:
“Updated information & stats on the #Eightmile Fire ongoing in Colorado can be found here fb.me/6KArLmgFr ”
By phrasing it this way:
Know the differences in mainstream social media platforms because what will work on one old platform (press release) will NOT work on newer platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc…) Know social media and use their amenities to your advantage.
Time is valuable, so post good stuff.
***To download this as a single-page printable format, click this: WriteForDifferentPlatforms-Safety-PIO-SM-14-003
Looks like I’ll be presenting Public Information Officer (PIO) / Social Media stuff at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) statewide conference in September.
Region-III baby!
http://www.pema.pa.gov/Pages/2014-Conference.aspx
or
http://www.pema.pa.gov/Pages/Default.aspx#.U-D3psJ0xJQ
Will I see you there?
After a quick visit to the White House in July, I realized that August will also be a busy month.
Akron, Columbus, Wauseon, Wisconsin, then back to Columbus and then to Geneva.
So yes, all month I will be in FEMA Region-V.
If all goes well, September will include several trips to Region-III, but I’ll keep you posted.
Keep your head down peeps.
Early start today meeting with Doc Lumpkins who is the Director of National Integration Center for DHS/FEMA.
Numerous points discussed w/ the group:
Doc’s team engaged our questions and honestly answered several burning issues. As the week continues, Doc informed us that more materials were going to be released from the National Integration Center and National Protection Framework shortly for review. EXCELLENT!!!
Just like at the NEMA conferences, UASI conferences, etc…I really enjoy meeting with Doc Lumpkins. He provides great insight and he is HILARIOUS!
Overall, by engaging with the core prominent Social Media in Emergency Management peeps, Doc Lumpkins and the rest of the National Integration team can continue to incorporate real and pressing issues into the new doctrine.
Thanks again for the meeting Doc!
Now my ride just arrived, a black suburban, headed for the White House!
If you ever thought punctuation doesn’t matter…just ask the Associated Press right now.
In 9 minutes, the Twitterverse went bonkers. AP was forced to respond.
Punctuation matters peeps.
Where is @rusnivek? 