Having a Public Information Officer (PIO) or Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the incident scene who handles media inquiries is critical to ensuring that the public is informed about what happened at an event.
Having an officer at the scene can also be useful if a public official is injured at the event and needs to get in touch with a media outlet to explain what happened.
PIO at the Incident Scene Who Handles Media Inquiries
Public Information Officer
During an emergency, a Public Information Officer (PIO) may be called to handle media inquiries. This can be done by a single individual or a team. The PIO is responsible for disseminating factual information to the news media.
A PIO can be a full time employee or assigned to an emergency management agency. They also coordinate the release of information during emergencies. This is a very important part of an emergency situation. Without adequate staff, the demand for information will overwhelm the system.
Also read: “What Are the 3 C’s of Assertive Communication?”
During an emergency, the Public Information Officer will help the Incident Commander to communicate the news to the media. It is important to prepare for media inquiries. This includes writing a media release and preparing the public release form. The PIO should also monitor press briefings.
The public information officer should be able to provide factual information that will not compromise ongoing investigations. They should also be prepared to respond to questions. If they cannot answer the questions, they should provide a statement in a release.
Public Relations Officer
Oftentimes, the first contact an organization has with the media is the Public Relations Officer. This person is often responsible for handling media inquiries at the scene of an incident. A Public Relations Officer has to have stellar communication skills to make the most of this position. Having an understanding of social media and other communications is a plus.
The Public Relations Officer’s job is to inform the public about the latest developments in the organization, while maintaining a positive image for the organization. This can involve providing information to the media on a number of topics, from public safety issues to the organization’s latest products.
One of the most important tasks of the Public Relations Officer is to maintain and monitor the organization’s online presence. A Public Information Officer may manage the department’s official website or social media accounts, or handle press releases and media inquiries. The best public relations officers have strong communication skills, are able to anticipate needs and communicate efficiently.
Communications Officer
During an emergency, who handles media inquiries at the scene of the incident? The Communications Officer provides critical information to public safety and public relations staff. He or she coordinates and executes informational campaigns and marketing efforts to promote City programs.
Media Services handles media inquiries from local and international outlets. It is the first point of contact for major incidents. Its staff deal with inquiries from English-based media and specialist press. They also consult with the senior investigating officer to determine how much information to release to the media.
The Media Services Section is formerly known as Force Information. It handles inquiries from English-based and Scottish national media. It also handles inquiries from documentary teams and local and regional current affairs programmes.
The Media Services Section is overseen by the Manager (Media and Public Relations). The section is divided into Newsdesk and Forward Planning. The Newsdesk is staffed by four press officers and a supervisor. They respond to press inquiries, keep the press updated on incident developments, and compile a log of incidents for release to the media.
