Welcome to episode #026 of The Crisis Intelligence Podcast, with Melissa Agnes and Tom Iovino.
“People have to know you care before they care about what you have to say.” – Tom Iovino
Public information officers and crisis communicators have critically important responsibilities in difficult times. They have (or should have) excellent communication skills, strategic minds and a unique ability to work well under pressure. They also have some pretty fascinating stories to share!
Tom Iovino is a public information officer for the Pinellas County Government and how he became a PIO is a fun tale! Within this episode of The Crisis Intelligence Podcast, Tom shares some of his more interesting stories and experiences as a PIO, along with the biggest and most important communication lessons he’s learned so far.
Tom also shares some unorthodox advice, discusses what him and his team have been doing to prep and educate the public on the Ebola crisis and some of the communication strategies they implement year-round to keep the members of their community safe. He also reveals that he’s a space geek and that he has learned a lot about being a good PIO from NASA!
This episode of The Crisis Intelligence Podcast discusses:
- Strategies to help you “excuse-proof” disaster planning.
- How to reshape your message to continue to make an impact and reach your audience in new ways.
- Digital communication strategies for PIOs
- Tips for feeding the media to inspire them (and make their jobs easier) to help share your important messages and stories.
If you’re responsible for your organization’s crisis communication, are a PIO or are interested in becoming a PIO, I recommend you listen to this podcast. Enjoy!
Running time: 1:15:11
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Thanks to Tom for having this fun conversation with me!
Author of Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, Melissa Agnes is a leading authority on crisis preparedness, reputation management, and brand protection. Agnes is a coveted keynote speaker, commentator, and advisor to some of today’s leading organizations faced with the greatest risks. Learn more about Melissa and her work here.
Great podcast! I recently completed the Advanced PIO course at Emmitsburg. Did I understand Tom to say that completing that course certifies you to teach the basic course? If so, would that be 290 and 291 or the 289? Thanks again for the podcast.
Glad you enjoyed the listen, Joe, and thanks for tuning in! I've sent Tom a note and I know he'll be happy to answer your question. Congrats on your completion of the Advanced PIO Course. Keep up the great work!
Hey, Joe, thanks for listening. You heard me right, here in Florida, to become an instructor for G290, G291 or G289, you have to attend Advanced PIO in Emmitsburg or in Anniston, Alabama. Now, the state also has a few other requirements (Florida likes to see you complete NIMS 100, 200, 300, 700, 702 and 800, plus they want to see some real-world experience in the field). Your state may vary on its requirements.
I wrote to the state training office in Tallahassee and let them know of my interest, They wanted to see my resume, and they had another experienced instructor work with me the first time I taught to ensure I was doing it right. After that, it was off to the races.
I would check with your state training office to ensure you get it right, and let them know about your experience.
Best of luck… now, time for me to go sleep off some more of that turkey overload… 🙂
Thanks for your reply. I'll certainly check into it.