Essential Functions of the Essential Functions of the Joint Information CenterJoint Information Center

California Emergency Management AgencyCalifornia Emergency Management AgencyOffice of Media Relations and Public InformationOffice of Media Relations and Public Information

August 2010August 2010

The PIO MissionThe PIO Mission

To serve as liaison with To serve as liaison with the news media and the news media and

to facilitate an to facilitate an accurate and accurate and

consistent flow of consistent flow of public information to public information to

various various constituencies. constituencies.

PIO Functions = JIC FunctionsPIO Functions = JIC Functions

Essential Skills / Essential Essential Skills / Essential FunctionsFunctions

Crisis Communications and Crisis Communications and JIC Practices JIC Practices

Customer FocusCustomer Focus Joint Info CentersJoint Info Centers The Virtual JICThe Virtual JIC

Customer FocusCustomer Focus

ICS and Crisis CommunicationsICS and Crisis Communications

Building a JICBuilding a JIC

Lead PIO/JIC Manager

News DeskResearch and Writing

Desk

Rapid Response Information Flow

Media Liaison Desk

Admin. Support

Virtual JICWeb Support

Lead Public Information OfficerLead Public Information Officer

Appointed by Appointed by Incident Incident CommanderCommander

Usually from a Usually from a lead agencylead agency

Focuses on the Focuses on the big picturebig picture

JIC ManagerJIC Manager

Support the Lead Support the Lead PIO’s strategyPIO’s strategy

Maintain the flow of Maintain the flow of information information

Plan for staffing Plan for staffing needsneeds

News Desk UnitNews Desk Unit Primary Primary

Spokespersons Spokespersons Obtains Status Obtains Status

Reports from Incident Reports from Incident CommandCommand

Maintains Accurate Maintains Accurate Status BoardsStatus Boards

Does Media Does Media Monitoring Monitoring

Liaisons with other Liaisons with other PIOs and JICsPIOs and JICs

Research and Writing UnitResearch and Writing Unit

– Develops News Develops News Releases and Briefing Releases and Briefing sheetssheets

– Develop and maintain Develop and maintain the incident Web sitethe incident Web site

– Develop fact sheets, Develop fact sheets, brochures and brochures and publicationspublications

Media Liaison UnitMedia Liaison Unit

Assist visiting MediaAssist visiting Media

Plan Press ConferencesPlan Press Conferences– Order for speakersOrder for speakers– Speaking LanesSpeaking Lanes– The view/backdropThe view/backdrop

Schedule special media requests for staff interviewsSchedule special media requests for staff interviews

Rapid Response InformationRapid Response Information

Fact checking questionable reportsFact checking questionable reports From Media MonitoringFrom Media Monitoring Reporter CallsReporter Calls

– Arranging for breaking news/PIO coverageArranging for breaking news/PIO coverage Working with Field PIOsWorking with Field PIOs

Administration and Support UnitAdministration and Support Unit

Schedule PIO StaffSchedule PIO Staff Maintain JIC Maintain JIC

recordsrecords SuppliesSupplies Distribute materialsDistribute materials Status BoardsStatus Boards Support JIC Support JIC

ManagerManager

Virtual Joint Information CentersVirtual Joint Information Centers

Virtual JIC ToolsVirtual JIC Tools

Conference CallsConference Calls Email distribution listsEmail distribution lists PDAs/Web Enabled Devices PDAs/Web Enabled Devices Web Sites and toolsWeb Sites and tools Secure Portals, EOC SoftwareSecure Portals, EOC Software

Three Steps for Lead PIO Three Steps for Lead PIO (in ANY situation)(in ANY situation)

Assess Event (Assess Event (and resourcesand resources)) - Jurisdiction, time constraints, media needs- Jurisdiction, time constraints, media needs

2.2. Develop planDevelop plan - Early buy-in and strength of organizational - Early buy-in and strength of organizational

relationships is criticalrelationships is critical - Mentally prepare for contingencies- Mentally prepare for contingencies

3.3. Make assignmentsMake assignments - Based on resources and incident needs- Based on resources and incident needs - Let your team cover your bases- Let your team cover your bases

Three Steps for JIC TeamThree Steps for JIC Team

1.1. Work within the systemWork within the system- Respect the process developedRespect the process developed- Track system weaknesses and suggestions for Track system weaknesses and suggestions for

strengthening themstrengthening them

2.2. Complete your assignmentsComplete your assignments3.3. Look for ways to collaborateLook for ways to collaborate

- Joint logos, speakers, agency creditJoint logos, speakers, agency credit- Know when its just time to helpKnow when its just time to help

Tina Walker

Questions?Questions?

Contact InformationContact Information

Tina Walker, ChiefTina Walker, ChiefOffice of Media Relations and Public InformationOffice of Media Relations and Public Information

916-845-8456

tina.walker@calema.ca.govtina.walker@calema.ca.govor

tinamartinwalker@gmail.com