I was just cleaning up my favorites sites on Internet Explorer. I have not updated my links section on this blog in awhile. I use these favorites for both my work as a fire department PIO and as a marketing and public relations professional for a national not for profit organization. Over the weekend I will hopefully add some of these new sites to my links page.
I present to you the most often visited PR sites that I rely on for information.
I was recently looking at the “competition’s” websites as I often do to see what other departments are posting and updating. There are some really great fire department sites on Long Island. Unfortunately it dawned on me that even some of the top sites, and even in their contact areas, do not list an email address to reach.
I was contacted a few weeks ago by a free distribution children’s magazine that was doing a story on what kids wanted to be when they grew up. Obviously, as it has been for generations, becoming a firefighter ranked right up towards the top.
The editor did not need the Departments input into the story but instead wanted me to e-mail a series of photo’s that depicted what we do both in the firehouse and at a scene without being too graphic for children to look at.
Kind of a strange post today that takes us to a world of public relations we never see. Last month I had a meeting with some of my staff to figure out ways to make our press presentation packages look better. We have outstanding brochures and flyers, but were lacking in ways to present customized materials.
Both in the Department, and in my regular job, budgets continue to get crunched so there is not much latitude to be creative if it increases cost. The big brainstorm was to get a machine that allows us to do spiral binding of presentation folders.
After my appearance last night on Firefighter Netcast, which I thoroughly enjoyed I sat down to recap exactly what my responsibilities are as a PIO. We touched on a number of the areas last night.
There has long been a battle over the defining line between marketing and public relations. A goal of many of us in PR for many years was to take command of all communications functions, including advertising and marketing. Well it appears that this is finally coming to fruition.
I just received some PowerPoint slides from a presentation I saw in Las Vegas a few weeks back that tackled this issue. I thank Peter Clarke of Omnex Marketing and Media Solutions for the presentation he sent.
Here are some of his salient points. Some pertain to our work as PIO’s, some are more business and agency related, but still interesting reading -
When I departed Long Island for Las Vegas a few days ago I noticed that the TSA was profiling blue hair. Oh I understand everyone is on edge with recent breeches, put this was the definitive example of perhaps spending too much time on the wrong person.
I was cleaning out my favorites file from Internet Explorer last night. Many websites that you initially list as a favorite fade fast from the memory. I came across a site I made a favorite about a year ago. The “Ambassablog” is an employee blog of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. Since I last looked several months ago, it has become an “award winning blog.”
This is a testament to Steven Shultz, the deputy PR director for the Authority. We all know as PIO’s, whether in a paid or volunteer department, the difficult process at times of convincing the powers that be to use creative tools to enhance our relationship with both the public and employees. Sometimes it’s better to sun on the beach then go in the water and get hit by a big wave.
I recently hosted a webinar for a freelance marketing assignment I am working on. There were about 100 people in the audience, so I knew, since they couldn’t see my face that I would have to create some quick rapport with them to grab attention.
I recently read the book ”Brain Rules,” by Dr. John Medina, who wrote “You’ve got seconds to grab your audience’s attention and only minutes to keep it.”
We held our 102nd Installation of Officers this past Saturday night. I wrote a post on public perception of installations a few days ago. Contrary to popular belief we did not have to tap the nuclear arsenal to quell any disturbances in the community from rampaging firefighters.
In addition to the installation of officers, Firefighter of the Year Awards, (I was shocked to get the 2009 Firefighter of the Year) service pins (two 50 year members) and speeches, two legislative awards were presented. Congressman Timothy Bishop and Suffolk County Legislator Lynn Nowick were given Special Achievement Awards. Both help our department in many ways. Bishop helped us obtain a new ambulance through a grant and Nowick works the Legislature for us to make sure we get our just due when it comes to extra County funding.
As Public Information Officer I think it is important that we publicize these types of legislative awards as much as possibly. This is a kinder and gentler form of political payback for a job well done.
An interesting incident took place at work late yesterday afternoon. I was sitting at my desk reading a copy of MEDIAWEEK when a colleague came into the office to report on a meeting he had attended. He asked if I had time to chat with him and I told him I was reading an article and could he shoot back in ten minutes. He gave me the strangest look and then I realized that I had committed the most heinous workplace crime of all – reading while on the job.
I thank Doug Walton for reminding me to let you know about the SMILE Conference (Social Media in Law Enforcement) taking place this week on April 7-9 in Washington DC. I had planned to attend this conference when I first learned about it a few months ago but could not fit it into my schedule. I’m happy that I can attend the Los Angeles version tentatively scheduled to be held in October.
Although the conference is specifically geared towards law enforcement, there are so many parallels, that Fire Department PIO’s can benefit equally as much from the topics and sessions.
During my quick trip to Las Vegas, I’m glad someone was on fire watch at The Fire PIO desk. I want to thank Bill Carey at Fire EMS Blogs who does such fantastic work managing these blogs as well as well as websites for FirefighterNation.com/ Fire Rescue Magazine /JEMS.connect/JEMS.com LawOfficerConnect/LawOfficer.com.
The first piece Bill brought to my attention was written by Howard Kurtz in the Washington Post. It is about stressed newroom budgets and how reporters must multi task to get a story out.
So many of us benefit from the use of Motorola radios and equipment. There flawless performance is something we many times take for granted. I just want you to know how Motorola gives back. I just accepted a check on behalf of America’s VetDogs for $30,000 at a Motorola corporate and authorized dealer event at the new Aria hotel in Las Vegas.
I have recently read a number of articles about whether hard copy print materials should be distributed as freely as in the past. The volume of printed materials distributed by public service organizations is massive. Just think about how many department newsletters, brochures, and flyers go out to your community.
The question is if all this paper is really necessary? I think an assessment of your outreach materials is a good start. A summary of some of the tips I have culled are as follows -
I’m writing this post as an introduction to a topic I will frequently cover. I understand that the core job of a PIO, whether it be in a volunteer or paid department, is to provide information to the public and media. In our world this task is a 24/7 job that keeps our plates quite full. Many PIO’s do not engage in marketing or brand identity, but solely concentrate on providing public information. For those PIO’s whose responsibilities extend into the marketing arena, developing your departments brand is essential to maintain a high public perception of the type of service you provide to the community.
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