USCG Auxiliary - Public Affairs - Training Division
IS-29 Public Information Officer Awareness
Course Description:
This course covers basic information about the role of a State or local Public Information Officer. The goal of this awareness course is to provide an orientation to the public information function and the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the public safety/emergency management environment.
The topics addressed in this course include:
- Understanding the PIO role.
- Using tools and resources.
- Communicating effectively.
- Preparing the community.
- Communicating in an incident.
Course Objectives:
Upon completing this course, the participant will be able to:
- Describe the role and function of the Public Information Officer (PIO).
- Describe the target audiences for the PIO.
- List the skills needed to be an effective PIO.
- Describe traditional media available for communication.
- Describe evolving media tools for communication.
- Describe how to effectively communicate orally and through written products.
- Describe how to have a successful relationship with the news media.
- Define a public awareness campaign.
- Describe how to develop and execute a public awareness campaign.
- Describe the role of the PIO in an emergency.
- Describe how to manage the news media at the scene of an incident.
FEMA no longer permits access with the SSN, so all of us will be required to obtain a FEMA Student ID #. The process takes 5 minutes or less and the number will be mailed to you after your application is processed. You cannot take any FEMA courses without that number. Click here to register.
Auxiliary Instructions:
When the course is complete, send a copy of your certificate of completion to your DIRAUX and it will be entered into your ICS Record.