Risk and Crisis Communication Methodology and Strategy (RC200)

This workshop is specifically designed for public information officers, public affairs officers, communication professionals, emergency managers and Joint Information Center staff. Participants learn and apply focused methodologies and strategies for:

1. identifying and addressing target audiences;
2. considering the literacy levels of your audiences;
3. communication strategies;
4. social media trends and principles;
5. social media legal matters;
6. employing news media outreach;
7. news media policy;
8. coordinating media staging and on-scene logistics; and
9. creating digital media kits.

*Maximum participants 25

Joint Information System and Joint Information Center Operations and Strategy (RC201)

This workshop, intended for public affairs professionals and Joint Information Center staff, prepares participants to build relationships and work alongside government, non-government, private, nonprofit and emergency/disaster aid organizations with a common goal of communicating with one voice to multiple stakeholders. Participants work in group sessions that facilitate planning, coordination, team building and implementation of Joint Information System and Joint Information Center (JIS/JIC) best practices. The workshop includes live news broadcasts, simulated radio broadcasts and digital news stories, and taped participant interviews that utilize one of the safest and most realistic training environments, the Exercise News Network. Participants have the opportunity to practice gathering, analyzing and verifying information; crafting and coordinating messaging; disseminating and monitoring information via multiple communication channels; and tracking and documenting incoming data. Real-world social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), are integrated into the final course exercise.

*Maximum participants 25

Identifying and Addressing Communication Complexities (RC202)

This training is for public affairs personnel, emergency management staff, government officials and subject-matter-experts tasked with providing emergency public information. In this course participants will be introduced to communication complexities and considerations that communicators should take into account when crafting messages during high-stress events. Case studies will be employed to reinforce the importance of identifying and addressing communication complexities during such times. The course will focus on identifying and formulating strategies to address various communication complexities that communities will likely encounter when preparing for, responding to or recovering from emergency events.

*Maximum participants 25

Building and Maintaining a Resilient Joint Information System (RC203)

This training is for public affairs personnel, emergency management staff, government officials and subject-matter-experts tasked with emergency public information responsibilities. Participants will gain experience and expertise in building and maintaining a robust Joint Information System (JIS). Based on National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirements, this course focuses on recruiting for the JIS, building bench strength, elements of mutual aid and assistance, employing emergency management assistance compacts, identifying and developing JIS capabilities, and key planning considerations for maintaining a resilient JIS.

*Maximum participants 25

Risk and Crisis Communications Strategy and Practice or Radiological and Nuclear Incidents (RC204)

This workshop is specifically designed to address risk and crisis communication for radiological and nuclear incidents. Recognizing the unique challenges associated with these events, participants will learn how to apply focused communication strategies and practices; identify and address communication complexities; identify and address target audiences; coordinate the communication of public information and speak with “one voice;” coordinate news conferences and effectively utilize news conference stagecraft; employ best practices for news media staging; develop radiological and nuclear incident key messages and talking points utilizing a message map; effectively communicate key messages and talking points on-camera; and implement social media strategies and best practices.

*Maximum participants 25

Risk and Crisis Communication Strategies for Dam Emergencies (RC205)

This interactive workshop will focus on understanding the fundamentals of risk and crisis communication strategies for dam emergencies. Using practical and participatory exercises, the workshop will cover the basics of risk communication, theories of protective action decision making, and how to communicate protective actions effectively based on the nature of the incident. Expert instructors in risk and crisis communication will provide workshop participants with skills, models and tools to enable effective response and communication for a wide range of dam safety emergencies and incident. This workshop will conclude with a tabletop exercise (TTX) aimed at examining and exercising communication plans. The TTX scenario will involve a simulated dam-focused incident at a local dam.

*Maximum participants 25

Risk and Crisis Communication Practice for Telephone Teams (RC206)

This highly interactive workshop is for agency staff who will interact with the media and public during emergency events as members of a telephone team. Key points to be stressed during the training include understanding how the telephone team fits into the Joint Information System/Center structure, and understanding responsibilities for providing approved, releasable information to callers. The course also focuses on how to speak with “one voice” to multiple stakeholders and the tools necessary to be effective. Participants will engage in extensive telephone interview practice and role-playing. Message delivery, methodology and strategy will be reinforced throughout this workshop.

*Maximum participants 12

Risk Communication – Moving Individuals from Awareness to Action (RC207)

This interactive course is designed for practitioners who have a role in working with and communicating risk to internal and external audiences. Participants will enhance their skills in applying key risk communication concepts and strategies to develop effective messages and outreach approaches. With a focus on understanding and using risk communication methods to motivate appropriate preparedness and response behaviors, the course examines the communication needs of different populations; how to create effective alerts and warnings rooted in research-based social science; and sharing best practices that demonstrate the ability to apply risk communication concepts to motivate action.

*Maximum participants 25

Identifying and Addressing False Information in the Digital Era (RC208)

The spread of misinformation and disinformation is an evolving threat to emergency preparedness, response and recovery that is ever-expanding in the amount and ease of transmission. The rapid influx of information and wide variety of digital mediums to disseminate it makes it increasingly difficult to discern what is accurate. This interactive workshop is designed to help improve the ability of federal, state, and local emergency managers and communicators to understand, identify and combat the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, and the challenges they present before, during and after emergencies. Workshop participants will learn about the various types of false information and how to successfully mitigate its effects.

*Maximum participants 25