tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38713165096615526852024-02-19T21:22:36.741-05:00PIO ChroniclesA home for practitioners of public informationTom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-27279949338314334232017-11-06T16:36:00.000-05:002017-11-06T16:39:17.843-05:00Overcome your fears<span style="font-family: inherit;">Who hasn't enjoyed sitting through a scary movie? You know the kind I am talking about. The one that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, make you give up a screech at the right moment and leave you checking the doors and the windows at your home for nights after you have seen it.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Alien. Halloween. Friday the 13th. Nightmare on Elm Street. Saw. And, my favorite, The Shining. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9FLfdxMP5K-BmOnAhfm599V4yNDpifdLspzxghrd_ep-DasxkB6v7TLchuOBdNPNsrFhySbHS9g9DBvxjE78nZ8QFhyphenhyphenidXZfxXEMG_y1R5VRbUDuIglkTf48eugoJeLO8wiPMtmgM_I/s1600/Shining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9FLfdxMP5K-BmOnAhfm599V4yNDpifdLspzxghrd_ep-DasxkB6v7TLchuOBdNPNsrFhySbHS9g9DBvxjE78nZ8QFhyphenhyphenidXZfxXEMG_y1R5VRbUDuIglkTf48eugoJeLO8wiPMtmgM_I/s320/Shining.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
Fear is so awesome in movies because it plays on your anticipation. You fear the unknown, thus your mind makes what you are anticipating so much worse than it really is. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's what made for an interesting e-mail I received from a student I instructed last week. Her biggest fear wasn't Bruce the Shark from Jaws or the Predator. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiL-gsLQ1fCrArMlxXLCrCGoJkfqR3PhFgnQxNUGoRWZRQ5rRFRojIX5TniFYcmDgI5ItQfcxtD9ynOvmMZGjCde7Wqje3okVOgFaPzcXZF2WzLZstQG-6CbpTzv6I77o3Ba-Ltwmrtc/s1600/woman-typing-writing-windows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="940" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiL-gsLQ1fCrArMlxXLCrCGoJkfqR3PhFgnQxNUGoRWZRQ5rRFRojIX5TniFYcmDgI5ItQfcxtD9ynOvmMZGjCde7Wqje3okVOgFaPzcXZF2WzLZstQG-6CbpTzv6I77o3Ba-Ltwmrtc/s320/woman-typing-writing-windows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
No, of all things, it was writing. Sure, she had copy written for the news in the past, but had never really put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) for longer, explanatory pieces. In fact, she said it was her 'weakest link', and her greatest fear was doing it wrong. After considering her words, I gave her the following advice. I hope it helps those of you who might be afraid of communicating through writing, or in any other medium. </div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fear.
Wow. That’s a tough one. I can understand that you want to do your best and impress everyone by not getting it ‘wrong’.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But, let me ask you …</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Were
you born knowing how to walk?</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Probably
not, right? I mean, if you were like me, you were but a wee helpless baby who
couldn’t move. That’s OK. Everyone expects you to start there</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When
you took your first steps, did you ever fall over? I bet you did, but family
helped pick you up and get you to try again. And try you did. Having raised two
sons, believe me, I couldn’t stop them.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
guess the moral of the story is this, if you want to learn how to write, there
is no substitute to trying, failing and trying again.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
assume you are a good typist. If not, pen or pencil and paper will work. Every
day, set aside half an hour and write. About your day. About the annoying
person who cut you off in traffic. About your dog. About what you had for
dinner, and how you made it. About the school you attended as a kid or about
your first crush in high school.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Basically,
you are learning how to tell a story in written form. At the end of 30 minutes,
put your pen down, save your document, whatever, and then walk away.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
next day, pick it up and read it. What was ‘wrong’ with it? What was ‘right’
with it? Start writing again. Add to your observations. Take it in a
completely different way.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before
long, you will start getting a feel for how the words are generated in your
brain. You will get an idea of how you tell a story and how you can communicate
with others.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep
in mind when it comes to writing that there are two kinds of writers – painters
and sculptors.</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Painters
take the time to painstakingly consider every single word they put to paper,
the same way an artist takes the time to consider every brush stroke. Are you a
painter? Do you worry about putting the wrong mark in the wrong place?</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sculptors
tend to throw a lot of words out and hope to chisel something from the mass of
material. Me, I am a sculptor. I have to keep trying until I get something out
of it. The whole idea that communication is 1% inspiration and 99% editing.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is
either style better? Nope. Just do it your way, and you will enjoy it.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Before
you know it, writing will be easy. You may even pick up a new hobby –
journaling. If you do it hand-written, there are plenty of blank essay books
you can pick up that you will treasure for years.</span></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One
magazine I used to subscribe to is Writer’s Digest. While it was geared toward
professional writers, there are a lot of exercises to get you writing. One I
love is when they give you a photo and you have to write a paragraph describing
what’s going on in it. Be crazy. Get creative. The more you use the language,
the more you can do with it.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
hope this helps…</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Musings
from a member of the <b>P</b>rofessional <b>O</b>rder of <b>E</b>nglish <b>M</b>ajors… </span></span></blockquote>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b></div>
Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-63120206091398468362016-07-14T09:10:00.002-04:002016-07-14T09:12:46.996-04:00Their expertise is elsewhereIt never fails. Whenever I teach a class on media relations, someone trots out an official sounding fact about the decline of reading comprehension in the United States, and how you have to 'dumb down' whatever you are talking about when you address the public.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jj5YPYkdfAJKLsSpr4ZazbnWIvap05zHa46mo40V63BRsKeN-uXmD-SyOoFOY3ac_FOkm-6qrISnzPV3_NcmBB_Ff8TOwictSxI6-qfccAbu_ZMN9gudcZzpLhVPLCz2zuMlscRNRmk/s1600/Dunce-Hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jj5YPYkdfAJKLsSpr4ZazbnWIvap05zHa46mo40V63BRsKeN-uXmD-SyOoFOY3ac_FOkm-6qrISnzPV3_NcmBB_Ff8TOwictSxI6-qfccAbu_ZMN9gudcZzpLhVPLCz2zuMlscRNRmk/s400/Dunce-Hat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go stand in the corner, dummy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have heard the average reading comprehension drop from 10th grade about a dozen years ago to as low as third grade. Yes, I was told by someone who regularly addresses the public that the average reading comprehension of an American is on par with someone who is about eight years old.<br />
<br />
To this, I say Hogwash.<br />
<br />
The problem we have isn't that reading comprehension has dropped. No, the problem we have is that we - as specialized communicators - often overlook the fact that our audience knows a lot, but their expertise is elsewhere.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJk5hY1LLgpA9r1vRGx9aINtIh6lRe08nIlnC9EsZtjJiwDFHMD8DHrWTJCu6mj_r1AASWq8sMEjxHxWGBPJ0jeWWnrPW59ku_1C6MhiX11qQRwq5vdTl_ns8_KvIWBbsGG72bg9cAk4k/s1600/rock-guitar-player.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJk5hY1LLgpA9r1vRGx9aINtIh6lRe08nIlnC9EsZtjJiwDFHMD8DHrWTJCu6mj_r1AASWq8sMEjxHxWGBPJ0jeWWnrPW59ku_1C6MhiX11qQRwq5vdTl_ns8_KvIWBbsGG72bg9cAk4k/s400/rock-guitar-player.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock on, my man!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Let me set up an example. You buy tickets to a concert. You go to the show, expecting awesome shredding lead guitar, gut busting drum solos and the lead singer to belt out the lyrics. Do you really want the band to take the stage to deliver a lecture on the importance of hand washing to prevent the flu? Not at $80 a ticket you don't!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisG3HXjx4PKHHnTUgkDnuQm91nJPRysByaHnCCSvhRQkDrNKWNsi5hearTbE-2tPh7Db5I3ZDAVrWvDJIPa14hktSGronRII4quctqbDCMwAr7YvKfAGz6Y398efRVrdj0ALtciC7LlsE/s1600/mechanic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisG3HXjx4PKHHnTUgkDnuQm91nJPRysByaHnCCSvhRQkDrNKWNsi5hearTbE-2tPh7Db5I3ZDAVrWvDJIPa14hktSGronRII4quctqbDCMwAr7YvKfAGz6Y398efRVrdj0ALtciC7LlsE/s400/mechanic.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's wrong under the hood?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the show, with your ears ringing and your adrenaline pumping, you start your car to head home, but it won't shift into drive. After fussing with the shift lever for a while, you call a tow truck to take your car to the garage. When the mechanic comes out to tell you what's wrong with your transmission, do you want her to pontificate about how long it will take to evacuate residents from a barrier island in the event of an approaching hurricane? Heck no! Fix the car and let's get moving again!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIAv3UqDQQ0f7OfxSEuurCLlPkb7fLCPy1xZRMoGISzpq-WXYFf3ZvgBBdRMxsiMFkxdgZP6VaDOX11j78jep9X68v8uKQANC0thWWVTRc147QNCaPWEkkVqcbRgbcYlMoHF8WD3EMDc/s1600/Cardiologist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIAv3UqDQQ0f7OfxSEuurCLlPkb7fLCPy1xZRMoGISzpq-WXYFf3ZvgBBdRMxsiMFkxdgZP6VaDOX11j78jep9X68v8uKQANC0thWWVTRc147QNCaPWEkkVqcbRgbcYlMoHF8WD3EMDc/s400/Cardiologist.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's one mighty big heart you have there, doc!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With all of the stress, you notice that you are starting to experience chest pain. You call 9-1-1 and are whisked to the nearest hospital, where a cardiologist takes a look at you. When that doctor comes into your room after running a battery of tests, do you really want him to take the time to advocate for smoke detectors in your home? Of course not. You have more pressing matters on your mind!<br />
<br />
Now, from this illustration, would you call any of these people ignorant? On a third-grade level of intelligence? Not a chance. Each of these people has a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge developed over years of study and practice, but not in the field that you are an expert. While the public may do things that drive you mad with exasperation, just remember that they don't have the background in the topic you have. Add to that they also have to juggle getting the kids to practice, do grocery shopping, balance their checkbooks, plan when they will finally get around to painting the house - well, you get the idea. <br />
<br />
So, how do we reach them? Easy. Drop the jargon. Lose the acronyms. Remember you aren't speaking to peers in your discipline, but people who can learn if the information is presented in the right way. In other words, we need to stop looking down on the public we serve and understand a great truth that Albert Einstein grasped so well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK4Bssvlj4jmlGPhVQA3s5-p1q1T946kibyEuOIMDEwHSTXSWJt9Gys-R53e5LsBg7yovFbDzlGZhAq2vICi-PTWtf1dRMtexND5vbB2wYx6WQJlbkzdEIwGHj_qS5nCR_b1snaQ9qEc/s1600/einstein-explain-simply.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbK4Bssvlj4jmlGPhVQA3s5-p1q1T946kibyEuOIMDEwHSTXSWJt9Gys-R53e5LsBg7yovFbDzlGZhAq2vICi-PTWtf1dRMtexND5vbB2wYx6WQJlbkzdEIwGHj_qS5nCR_b1snaQ9qEc/s400/einstein-explain-simply.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There. Now I will get off my soapbox.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-723497479757666262016-07-06T12:18:00.002-04:002016-07-10T11:50:21.590-04:00Politics and ... Communications?<i>All politics is local.</i><br />
<b> Tip O'Neill, former Speaker of the House of Representatives</b><br />
<br />
If you want to see a great study in the evolution of communications, you need only to look at the world of politics. After all, it's critical for campaign managers to reach out to the electorate to motivate their supporters to head to the polls on election day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgeSittwQHF73F2b6tqSX3ukrXpds4AFit5dZzd9OSFByzbuqHd_y7Z6A35YuKRByZZ5shdaL-IdOIYPz2fjfP7P7qtyXhMZOkTmbTuwPMqazlD3pOeS60NBK6YDzGGWkDf3wJmk0Tic/s1600/Ballot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAgeSittwQHF73F2b6tqSX3ukrXpds4AFit5dZzd9OSFByzbuqHd_y7Z6A35YuKRByZZ5shdaL-IdOIYPz2fjfP7P7qtyXhMZOkTmbTuwPMqazlD3pOeS60NBK6YDzGGWkDf3wJmk0Tic/s400/Ballot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Communications techniques become especially important in presidential politics in the United States. First, the national scale of the race precludes the individual door-to-door campaigning that a mayoral candidate could conduct in a small town. The four-year cycle between elections also allows different communications technologies to evolve, giving us great insight to how important they have become during the intervening time.<br />
<br />
Since the 2016 election cycle is ramping up, now is a good time to take a look back to see how people have effectively used the different media available to them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgych7A-4DAlQQDM31lQPXvlok0G2zcj92tR65C4SvIrSBVhlKGZmOqeEQMPHnqoo3D2QhTCcYEanGBJBfLNbfz50evtXTlL2rwsez8bCzwJQ2tt5RImtOcLL4amiFrVsIuFqCLl6LpizY/s1600/Polk_Dallas_campaign_banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgych7A-4DAlQQDM31lQPXvlok0G2zcj92tR65C4SvIrSBVhlKGZmOqeEQMPHnqoo3D2QhTCcYEanGBJBfLNbfz50evtXTlL2rwsez8bCzwJQ2tt5RImtOcLL4amiFrVsIuFqCLl6LpizY/s400/Polk_Dallas_campaign_banner.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Polk's campaign handbill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Initially, in such a large country where it could take weeks for news to travel throughout the states, newspapers and printed handbills were made available to local election organizers to get people to the polls. Sometimes, they would feature images of the candidates and a few inspirational quotes. Sometimes, wow, if you thought today's campaigns were messy affairs with negative ads, you should read what was said in the campaigns of the 1800s.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrodkeJDKYYOpFY-I0gX_ttyXhqbU0G93nsnvCr0d-6h7GbWoIaXUYKDnL2iQDmhDTSJU4jr4ibthlbQvxhZoTNJ7BEjJdG0etEkWBHLy4UCPpsLS4IQsVA_iM1Ki-jvmG4UTrzFvx-CU/s1600/Hoover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrodkeJDKYYOpFY-I0gX_ttyXhqbU0G93nsnvCr0d-6h7GbWoIaXUYKDnL2iQDmhDTSJU4jr4ibthlbQvxhZoTNJ7BEjJdG0etEkWBHLy4UCPpsLS4IQsVA_iM1Ki-jvmG4UTrzFvx-CU/s400/Hoover.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Herbert Hoover campaigning from the back of his presidential train</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once railroad lines started crossing the United States, it became considerably easier for candidates to conduct a true nationwide presidential campaign. And, with those railroad tracks came telegraph lines, which allowed advance notice to supporters to show up at the station for <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle_stop_train_tour" target="_blank">whistle stop campaign</a></b> speeches. From the days of Abraham Lincoln through Barack Obama, this form of campaign still resonates with Americans, even though new forms of communication have taken over and become far more effective at reaching voters.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHe9UfpmlR-JmYyxOKGT-iXVggcOZ0tL-dpOtZ_ujxl6E9VNXhHVuDeyC4aTDdsNnGFo_42bxlV4aeEiPkzsYLglbx5JZXxN_BCro2GTBvEFEMa3rIJ0IZ-kaE927x-5p4qHXLkf3gMw/s1600/FDR-September-30-1934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHe9UfpmlR-JmYyxOKGT-iXVggcOZ0tL-dpOtZ_ujxl6E9VNXhHVuDeyC4aTDdsNnGFo_42bxlV4aeEiPkzsYLglbx5JZXxN_BCro2GTBvEFEMa3rIJ0IZ-kaE927x-5p4qHXLkf3gMw/s400/FDR-September-30-1934.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FDR conducts one of his fireside chats from the Oval Office</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Radio became the next big evolution in communications, allowing the near-instantaneous release of information through the major radio networks. The president considered the most skilled practitioner of radio communications was Franklin D. Roosevelt. During his presidential tenure from 1933 until his passing in 1945, he masterfully utilized the medium during his campaigns and through his legendary <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fireside_chats" target="_blank">fireside chats</a></b>. Each of his conversations with the American public, while coming across as folksy and relaxed, was carefully drafted, edited and choreographed to build confidence during some of the nation's most trying times.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9fCboQKkwQA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9fCboQKkwQA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
After World War II, television became the next big thing. Now, not only could people hear or read about the candidates, they could also see them. That was a big step forward, because <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Mehrabian" target="_blank">studies have shown</a> </b>that the words we choose convey only 7% of the message we communicate. The rest comes from the tone of voice, facial expressions and body language. Dwight Eisenhower was the first candidate to use television ads for his campaign, to great effect. Lyndon Johnson would later use one of <b><a href="https://youtu.be/dDTBnsqxZ3k" target="_blank">the first negative ads</a></b> to great effect against his opponent Barry Goldwater.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYPv1ytisz4rbA7QNzeR_tZDOM5FtbpXWctZ1zGIlD8gsEXj3zRa9FxB5bJyUp9nhwxbFdhm3rT2dcL_S8BaGr6E7iG5X0XsPo516oPHGjtUJ9uluh9G2DmQjMCD2kYR-vzoFmWMXvCc/s1600/ClintonReal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYPv1ytisz4rbA7QNzeR_tZDOM5FtbpXWctZ1zGIlD8gsEXj3zRa9FxB5bJyUp9nhwxbFdhm3rT2dcL_S8BaGr6E7iG5X0XsPo516oPHGjtUJ9uluh9G2DmQjMCD2kYR-vzoFmWMXvCc/s400/ClintonReal.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign website</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While George H. W. Bush was in office and <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Performance_Computing_Act_of_1991" target="_blank">signed the bill</a></b> that opened the Internet to the public in 1991, it was his successor Bill Clinton that was first able to utilize the power of the Internet on the campaign trail. Granted, winning the web was not all that important in 1996, but those<a href="http://mashable.com/2012/09/10/campaign-websites-1996/#jLogamZyKGqk" target="_blank"> <b>first few brave steps</b></a> by the Clinton and Dole campaigns opened a whole new political battlefield for those who followed.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNkTiCuw3IS3XPmbGD3ZTDAdaETtZ6khxmZaQxhr_-shEll04Klu-1-9WzBfZQ_ZRjQI631DBhzXDRazrKTpoQGxfR2609Z57aDCvqLUZgLXLVVzeZh7bNJZfx42HIn0zM3kG8Us7ajY/s1600/Obama+FB.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNkTiCuw3IS3XPmbGD3ZTDAdaETtZ6khxmZaQxhr_-shEll04Klu-1-9WzBfZQ_ZRjQI631DBhzXDRazrKTpoQGxfR2609Z57aDCvqLUZgLXLVVzeZh7bNJZfx42HIn0zM3kG8Us7ajY/s400/Obama+FB.jpe" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barack Obama's 2008 Facebook page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This, of course, led to what we see today - social media as a political driver. It wasn't until the 2008 contest between Barack Obama and John McCain that Facebook, Twitter and YouTube became important players, but both candidates jumped in eagerly to embrace the new outreach tools. President Obama's campaign <b><a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2008/11/19/barack-obama-and-the-facebook-election" target="_blank">was lauded for its skillful use of Facebook</a></b> in getting younger voters out to the polls, helping ensure his victory.<br />
<br />
Who knows what communications outreach tools will help win elections in the years to come. But, one thing is certain, a wise Public Information Officer will take the time to study how people whose mission to communicate effectively with a wide number of residents accomplish their task and apply that knowledge to their communications plans.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-87347130747702985932016-06-20T11:50:00.002-04:002016-06-20T11:50:27.975-04:00When you can't say anythingI am a cinephile. I love movies. There, I said it. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6ULd4UJSB8015jFYb0TGFnYZRjrFVOR5dVrms8ewPPZurIP6RAQj_aOjFiTPIKjGNFaxBxHwx_Ctu7zC-6DKbndCs6DrC7R7SdNi2oUb0C0a72XKJBQQnz8nY4ZTx0rnj2ZoZnmXOx8/s1600/moviegoers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6ULd4UJSB8015jFYb0TGFnYZRjrFVOR5dVrms8ewPPZurIP6RAQj_aOjFiTPIKjGNFaxBxHwx_Ctu7zC-6DKbndCs6DrC7R7SdNi2oUb0C0a72XKJBQQnz8nY4ZTx0rnj2ZoZnmXOx8/s400/moviegoers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the love of movies! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
Whether it's the razor sharp dialogue of Quentin Tarantino's movies, the impeccable filmography of Stanley Kubrick or the masterful storytelling by Steven Spielberg or Martin Scorsese, there's always something to learn from each of the works these directors turn out. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But, while I appreciate the drama, I do have to confess my love for the slapstick. Caddyshack. Animal House. The Blues Brothers. And, probably my favorite, <b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080339/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Airplane</a></b>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8M3omK53Ar1qXmoIjcwfhZFeqJztcIYgwbt0OetMQmqHiEDjV4N8SW_fA6q9eksI1SVmCOSo0RWb3MaQ3vIZdDw3z_59ti2oai1zV55mIs8HSn9iBoNjNQUEWD7njsbZBD0tOynpIahs/s1600/airplane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8M3omK53Ar1qXmoIjcwfhZFeqJztcIYgwbt0OetMQmqHiEDjV4N8SW_fA6q9eksI1SVmCOSo0RWb3MaQ3vIZdDw3z_59ti2oai1zV55mIs8HSn9iBoNjNQUEWD7njsbZBD0tOynpIahs/s320/airplane.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For those who haven't seen this 1980 classic (And, I have to wonder who hasn't), it's the story about an Trans American Flight 209 flying from Los Angeles to Chicago that experienced numerous health emergencies, but couldn't land due to extreme fog. The majority of the action is straight faced, with several absurd sight-gags and exchanges taking place throughout that leave audiences laughing. For instance, there was an exchange between the Pilot Captain Oveur and Dr. Rumack, a physician on the plane who was assessing the health of the passengers:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS5h81DJ6U85SD2v-AGSOAeOeAPCsVUtpxABqLF4NzWJJS9PiU6lecGbu3HUFk3KS3Lj5dldytd6SMpHtM4csu6PtGwJZlbmMAkvlagD-t0WSCP-cLg55hQpADBAgObk2yEGyd9vxuiQ/s1600/Rumack+Oveur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzS5h81DJ6U85SD2v-AGSOAeOeAPCsVUtpxABqLF4NzWJJS9PiU6lecGbu3HUFk3KS3Lj5dldytd6SMpHtM4csu6PtGwJZlbmMAkvlagD-t0WSCP-cLg55hQpADBAgObk2yEGyd9vxuiQ/s400/Rumack+Oveur.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Rumack and Captain Oveur fight to control the airplane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Rumack:</b> Captain, how soon can you land?<br /><b>Oveur:</b> I can't tell.<br /><b>Rumack:</b> You can tell me. I am a doctor.<br /><b>Oveur: </b> No, I am just not sure.<br /><b>Rumack:</b> Well, can you take a guess?<br /><b>Oveur:</b> Not for another two hours.<br /><b>Rumack:</b> You can't take a guess for another two hours? </i></blockquote>
<div>
And on from there. And, I realized after those lines were delivered and I wiped away a few tears from laughing so hard, that they are interesting ones when it comes to the world of public information officers.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Think about it. For most of our job, we are out there giving information freely to the public through the media, social media, our websites or whatever. But, there are times when we can't share certain information about what we are doing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGEkGvl_mvSkt8Xbj5BHq0oEsv9RRBEAfSKiUXcVILqLKCyYbFJ8oOx-ish0kNXs18kYWLC7VDiFT6yZDMDiSi6qR6uj6jXIS4SZyrInru9AkWaMzczxn1RWlqxTStMk7tJDdZKvqVow/s1600/FireInvu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGEkGvl_mvSkt8Xbj5BHq0oEsv9RRBEAfSKiUXcVILqLKCyYbFJ8oOx-ish0kNXs18kYWLC7VDiFT6yZDMDiSi6qR6uj6jXIS4SZyrInru9AkWaMzczxn1RWlqxTStMk7tJDdZKvqVow/s400/FireInvu.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many firefighters could find themselves in this situation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
For instance, my good friend and mentor retired Tampa Fire Captain Bill Wade told me how he would routinely show up on scenes crowded with reporters. He would get his briefing from the incident commander, come back to the reporters and give them the basics. His messaging in most situations was very simple:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>The structure was on fire</li>
<li>We put the fire out</li>
<li>The cause is under investigation</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Now, why wouldn't he give the details as to what happened to cause the fire? There could be a bevy of reasons, first and foremost is that the fire inspectors haven't yet had the opportunity to determine exactly what caused the fire. Could it have been an overloaded fusebox with a penny filling the gap in one of the slots? Could it have been arson? Who knows, but the last thing that you would want to do is speculate. So, if you can't comment on something pending an investigation, say, "I don't know, but I can find out." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another important thing to remember are the laws in your jurisdiction may prevent you from releasing certain information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (<b><a href="http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/" target="_blank">HIPAA</a></b>) prevents the release of a tremendous amount of information. From patient names and conditions to current or past diagnoses can be withheld from release. So, be sure to know what is covered. A quick call to your agency's attorney can help sort this out for you.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0Xq8ZyFjrjZabwJaPxBDK0g0Lnf14iEXM5JXB-AFif3ahhD7xqWTzGzyKF8HvTdVxEc9kFPSvdYaeZ8f_DaICEY8sKefzOoKvfEuPc6RHx5mAvJAnCL4cQeJDPW_kHZpAm1AS7sbuyc/s1600/TalktoTheHand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0Xq8ZyFjrjZabwJaPxBDK0g0Lnf14iEXM5JXB-AFif3ahhD7xqWTzGzyKF8HvTdVxEc9kFPSvdYaeZ8f_DaICEY8sKefzOoKvfEuPc6RHx5mAvJAnCL4cQeJDPW_kHZpAm1AS7sbuyc/s400/TalktoTheHand.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talk to the hand, because the face ain't listening.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
What you shouldn't do, however, is just not give out the information because you don't want to. Sure, we get upset with members of the media from time to time, but just keep in mind that the first amendment's freedom of the press in the United States, as well as local public records laws trump your desire to seek your revenge against a reporter who may be pushing your buttons. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Always be sure you are in compliance with your local laws, or you may find yourself having to talk an airliner down with an emotionally disturbed fighter ace at the helm in the cockpit. The little room at the front of the plane. And, yes, I'm serious, and stop calling me Shirley. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b></div>
Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-36669039864305970192016-06-13T21:58:00.001-04:002016-06-16T09:15:22.934-04:00Who's safe?Well, it's been a while, hasn't it?<br />
<br />
Yes, nearly six months has passed since the last PIO Chronicles post, but I want to ensure you that I am still alive and well. There have been some major changes in my life that I really don't want to go into right now, but thank you all for your concern!<br />
<br />
It's interesting that some of you have been wondering about my well being. For me, I just needed some time away from the computer to get my act together.<br />
<br />
For many other Floridians, though, this week has brought unimaginable pain, as a radicalized militant assaulted the Pulse nightclub in Orlando - just a short drive down from I-4 from where I live.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NjQplUdm_4wqUUcb8m2jP-BbXacPcHqrBqNpfqgg1U107slZFKQ7d9sRxQKXmcO7ZUoeiBErjjDekVMHc4bLAx4uU7sAIneIqfBh356CiLW8UGElt10F0VwNBZKvYY4U3-Me9cXpjMU/s1600/carried.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5NjQplUdm_4wqUUcb8m2jP-BbXacPcHqrBqNpfqgg1U107slZFKQ7d9sRxQKXmcO7ZUoeiBErjjDekVMHc4bLAx4uU7sAIneIqfBh356CiLW8UGElt10F0VwNBZKvYY4U3-Me9cXpjMU/s400/carried.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shooting victim is carried from the scene by bystanders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the time of this writing, there are 50 confirmed fatalities and 53 others were wounded by the intentional fire from the assailant. In the confused first minutes, many patrons couldn't tell what the loud shooting sounds were - perhaps part of the music - until it was too late. Chaos erupted as people ran from the scene to save their lives or hid, hoping the perpetrator would not see them.<br />
<br />
In times like the shooting at the Pulse nightclub, immediate access to information was both critical and tragic. The shooter became radicalized after reading ISIL literature online. The owner of the nightclub posted a message on Facebook shortly after the shooting began for patrons to flee as quickly as possible from the premises.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/orlando-shooting-investigators-haunted-sound-8176777" target="_blank">Orlando police officers had to numb themselves to the eerie sounds of the victims ringing phones</a></b> as loved ones frantically tried to reach them to see if they had escaped the carnage safely.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2Ccj4dZnCEI6oXmnqC-0pyYMnoJJaMHSc4U3JnjIacNwklwGtOfpuz5OBjwONjVvwDjKC0O-NxDLnqXhH18Bj4CPuNWNYlL5Spioi0JGOsF469gBgOTh-xI2TEJhjxG1b8moBIHBJSY/s1600/sheriff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2Ccj4dZnCEI6oXmnqC-0pyYMnoJJaMHSc4U3JnjIacNwklwGtOfpuz5OBjwONjVvwDjKC0O-NxDLnqXhH18Bj4CPuNWNYlL5Spioi0JGOsF469gBgOTh-xI2TEJhjxG1b8moBIHBJSY/s400/sheriff.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A heavily armed Orange County Sheriff's Deputy helps to ensure there is no more threat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And, for the first time ever in the United States, <b><a href="http://www.pcmag.com/news/345199/facebook-safety-check-activated-for-first-time-in-us" target="_blank">Facebook activated its safety check feature</a></b>. This service, which was used extensively in natural disasters and other attacks as seen in Paris and Brussels, allows users to let their friends and families know they are OK in the aftermath of a dangerous incident. Because I have many friends and colleagues in the Orlando area, it was a relief to see their names come in as safe through the service.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdD7Q1iUhkiJ6hCqVjHcibpz7ZuEur8cpZp-2HRpckDdEytEe5_hHL1VLxv5DG-ezk-_-vjtsIovqSCdi5EkLQ0swxR0t5Lmxfqqm3QSfxhXD64HhhhGX9AcnJqOxRkirhcUPPoEOfwc/s1600/506176-facebook-safety-check-orlando.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdD7Q1iUhkiJ6hCqVjHcibpz7ZuEur8cpZp-2HRpckDdEytEe5_hHL1VLxv5DG-ezk-_-vjtsIovqSCdi5EkLQ0swxR0t5Lmxfqqm3QSfxhXD64HhhhGX9AcnJqOxRkirhcUPPoEOfwc/s400/506176-facebook-safety-check-orlando.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
And, finally, as is the case with any and all incidents such as this, I carefully watched the numerous news conferences that occurred. While the high-level dignitaries - Governor Rick Scott, Senators Ben Nelson and Marco Rubio - come with their entourages, it was good to see just how easily the many local agencies from the City of Orlando and Orange County pulled together to deliver coherent, timely information to an anxious public.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREc0GyTLLzIHPTe3l9enn1MfCUMh4lgky2QntzLQlBuaXxnQJT0L783cNjeBOc2Nwo21qCPXahPpxwpPHbJpbiTp-j0IH5oH7cK-JAfXTt1ymoYUC5KH2xhsk994eg1EgnMARkdH93mY/s1600/Conference.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREc0GyTLLzIHPTe3l9enn1MfCUMh4lgky2QntzLQlBuaXxnQJT0L783cNjeBOc2Nwo21qCPXahPpxwpPHbJpbiTp-j0IH5oH7cK-JAfXTt1ymoYUC5KH2xhsk994eg1EgnMARkdH93mY/s400/Conference.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Local officials worked closely with the FBI to help get the word out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The most important lesson to learn as a public information officer is that any emergency is a local emergency, and the people who live in the communities which are affected often have the best insight when it comes to communications. <br />
<br />
My biggest concern, unfortunately, is that we are getting way too much experience at events like these...<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-31063170779083233932015-12-15T09:58:00.002-05:002015-12-15T09:58:43.966-05:00Wrapped up with a bowGetting coverage for an event that you hold can often times be a difficult task. I mean, there are so many different competing events, news crews are stretched to their limits and - often times - the PIOs setting up their events fail to think of the most basic elements.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What will we see?</li>
<li>What will we learn?</li>
<li>What can we communicate to our viewers or readers?</li>
</ul>
<br />
We recently faced this conundrum at a holiday public safety event we wanted to hold. The event - a cooperative effort between the <b><a href="http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/firerescue" target="_blank">Hillsborough County</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.tampagov.net/fire-rescue" target="_blank">City of Tampa</a></b>, <b><a href="http://templeterrace.com/index.aspx?NID=140" target="_blank">City of Temple Terrace</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.plantcitygov.com/471/Fire-Rescue" target="_blank">Plant City</a></b> fire departments, was going to demonstrate a united front, showing how we work together to ensure the safety of our nearly 1.4 million residents during this time of the year.<br />
<br />
The first challenge, which proved easy to overcome, was getting everyone in the four departments on board. Given the fact that we are stronger together than separate, it was a no-brainer, and the cooperation couldn't have gone any better. With some hard work and juggling schedules, we were able to line up the City of Tampa's training grounds for the demonstration.<br />
<br />
Now, how to get the media's attention? I mean, lining up a 2 hour long media event had more than a few eyebrows raised. How would we keep the reporters there, and what would we be able to provide them? I mean, if this didn't go off well, we'd look like a bunch of dopes. We had to gift wrap this media availability with everything we could possibly need.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTi5FVR6EeFcEOr5zsyJt_9EilVMDT51e7Gh0WO4ZhzBj46A6HYGc7Duop-O0QEDiM88HUvzGb-zMQNu6Nc12o8q2ruihkFVUdXMSIN1bKHjNjzoqxLDyU9O6ct0C-BK26duPl6KEazw/s1600/wrapped_present.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTi5FVR6EeFcEOr5zsyJt_9EilVMDT51e7Gh0WO4ZhzBj46A6HYGc7Duop-O0QEDiM88HUvzGb-zMQNu6Nc12o8q2ruihkFVUdXMSIN1bKHjNjzoqxLDyU9O6ct0C-BK26duPl6KEazw/s320/wrapped_present.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Fortunately, we were able to get a lot of great information out. Bet you didn't know that candles are a huge source of fires this time of the year? Or that space heaters could lead to blazes if not handled properly?<br />
<br />
That was great information, but what the reporters wanted to see was flames. Burning. Combustion. We had PLENTY of that!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1O1Cg_JKuN8YkLQ9pG16ZWgEDbVFEXD33G3GprotUBj-cexlzddUScjm2_6G77X3r-_rHPF3nARjHU6TOlX4SqeM9PFZnUS0tSdsuH34fZvS1h28QzqQnoCI6vtkkrGm_fP-hygNx3w/s1600/20151211_093443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1O1Cg_JKuN8YkLQ9pG16ZWgEDbVFEXD33G3GprotUBj-cexlzddUScjm2_6G77X3r-_rHPF3nARjHU6TOlX4SqeM9PFZnUS0tSdsuH34fZvS1h28QzqQnoCI6vtkkrGm_fP-hygNx3w/s400/20151211_093443.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how bright you burn when ignited</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
How about not watering a Christmas tree? You do realize that by not giving the tree enough water, it can burn like the dickens. Putting that tree into a home can lead to an inescapable situation in mere minutes. Watering the tree daily is the best way to prevent things from bursting into flame.<br />
<br />
<br />
And, there's always the question about cooking the holiday dinner. Here in the south, a tradition of frying turkeys is something everyone can get behind. If the bird isn't completely thawed and rocket-hot oil spills onto the open flame of a propane burner, well, you can imagine the fireworks that you can expect to see.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoyic5xQ0HNSmVXMwwUZK0Wi0Zagq1r_Czqw5VvU2FK9CLb8mF_YYBLMZDsYsu-MUpjkJJZGiOrRr09v6IazeJNyBvmsGM5j15i6iHhabk73r9h0kiROBofDsTx5uWcmOnozUwbI1MaU/s1600/burn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoyic5xQ0HNSmVXMwwUZK0Wi0Zagq1r_Czqw5VvU2FK9CLb8mF_YYBLMZDsYsu-MUpjkJJZGiOrRr09v6IazeJNyBvmsGM5j15i6iHhabk73r9h0kiROBofDsTx5uWcmOnozUwbI1MaU/s400/burn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey flambe, anyone?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
By the end of the two-hour event, the reporters left with spectacular images, a sheaf of information about holiday fire safety and the material to put together some serious educational material for their viewers and readers.<br />
<br />
A holiday safety event wrapped up in a bow and delivered to the public.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-63790031619912443012015-12-01T06:33:00.000-05:002015-12-01T06:33:13.135-05:00"What do you do?"It's a simple, innocuous question, but for those who run the show at our organizations, it can give them fits.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP5rJr4Pj6m3MySFIz1VMwxPH-cECAB4KEOEA5a16kyFGQ-xA4DZTDg9BDT1Iz7QZ_KkYJFp6fUgorO5NV64RRzhJb6TSEeFGZd47-KZAAWYP_FUEl634q1RwOZgSffySQBpMhSLw2I8/s1600/30-rake6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP5rJr4Pj6m3MySFIz1VMwxPH-cECAB4KEOEA5a16kyFGQ-xA4DZTDg9BDT1Iz7QZ_KkYJFp6fUgorO5NV64RRzhJb6TSEeFGZd47-KZAAWYP_FUEl634q1RwOZgSffySQBpMhSLw2I8/s400/30-rake6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fairly innocuous scene</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Let's set the stage, first. A reporter shows up on scene at one of your facilities unannounced. They come over to one of the employees raking mulch in the hot sun and ask him or her, "So, what are you doing?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawpi71QGH8zUZKwFdKoiU35uPk-RWCQm9kwFEt4TV3ubOhf6TqX53v-49gQsnTrkGhVPuIfgoPj4QEcPOFpdnB3hL96gyw75_ZhRZKTtuO1F97mWV0Pj482XGp1xNT_FikIZ0_sp84Lg/s1600/windbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawpi71QGH8zUZKwFdKoiU35uPk-RWCQm9kwFEt4TV3ubOhf6TqX53v-49gQsnTrkGhVPuIfgoPj4QEcPOFpdnB3hL96gyw75_ZhRZKTtuO1F97mWV0Pj482XGp1xNT_FikIZ0_sp84Lg/s400/windbag.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, please just stop talking already ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Now, there are three types of responses these workers can have, based on their agency's media contact policies. First, they may have absolutely no guidance from their parent agency. The workers may engage in a lively 20-minute conversation with the reporter about how they love their jobs, how great it is to be out in the field, how it's awesome that the city sprang for such expensive mulch ... oops. Maybe the reporter is looking to find out just how much taxpayer money is being spent on mulch, and now your employee is on camera talking about the price of mulch as the reporter asks more questions.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJthkgdjrwAJWEHYa4vedrvP3Okp4aPmF_t3P2m2XgfKHlyu_2y_nNBZ1N01lC8ONMD3gCOhnJuFFdwfkRX03H0ydGCFvJU08NGEjpq5xY3QXW5DvhyphenhyphencMbzBiEn_Oz5pEIdEPCEX1Esak/s1600/duct-tape-mouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJthkgdjrwAJWEHYa4vedrvP3Okp4aPmF_t3P2m2XgfKHlyu_2y_nNBZ1N01lC8ONMD3gCOhnJuFFdwfkRX03H0ydGCFvJU08NGEjpq5xY3QXW5DvhyphenhyphencMbzBiEn_Oz5pEIdEPCEX1Esak/s400/duct-tape-mouth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silence is golden, duct tape is silver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Another response might be the strict enforcement of a policy where line workers are absolutely under no circumstances allowed to speak with the media. When the reporters arrive, the workers flee the scene or, if the reporter manages to ask a question, the worker fires off a terse "No Comment," or "I'm not allowed to talk with members of the media," and walks away. I mean, come on, it's not like the reporter can't see that that employee is raking mulch.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UBGWe3VLbkuVOblVZrPG8TzbNVIeeiwSGpu_SKF5FRQlhdmtfI8ahE6Vr8_1wV-SKZZbh8dURoYz0vrtSuNUaDoh_GjsqOYWbq_1fnYF4cO5l59fnabXorul1HOAbx3dIPJzXNb80XE/s1600/peter-wong-on-TV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UBGWe3VLbkuVOblVZrPG8TzbNVIeeiwSGpu_SKF5FRQlhdmtfI8ahE6Vr8_1wV-SKZZbh8dURoYz0vrtSuNUaDoh_GjsqOYWbq_1fnYF4cO5l59fnabXorul1HOAbx3dIPJzXNb80XE/s400/peter-wong-on-TV.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's OK to talk about what you are doing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Then there is the third, and probably most optimal way to handle this type of interaction, but it has to start way before the reporters arrive on scene. That is to craft a media contact policy where employees are empowered to speak with reporters about what is is that they are doing, but to refer more difficult or challenging questions to a more appropriate staff member to handle accordingly.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why adopt this model of media interaction? I think the answer is pretty obvious. It's the Goldilocks effect. Basically, if you use the first model, you run the risk of having someone who may not know all of the details of the situation to speculate, offer conjecture or just generally run off at the mouth, quite possibly not communicating your organization's message clearly. The second approach is just too hard, and not only shows the reporter that he or she is not welcome, but that the public should be suspicious as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But, that third model, wow. It allows the reporter to get what he or she needs to do the story while putting a welcoming face on the organization, yet still allowing for more qualified staff members to tackle the tough message points. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Basically, it's just right. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b></div>
Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-60359470149994118042015-11-19T15:45:00.000-05:002015-11-19T19:14:16.788-05:00Their most effective weaponI have been giving a lot of thought as of late to last week's attacks in Paris, and I have come to a conclusion as a public information officer. The terrorists' most effective weapon isn't the AK-47. Nor is it the homemade suicide vest. Nor is it even its willingness to enlist young children and women to participate in its deadly plans.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x5ACcUHms3pPCMCTpMhH5H7Lm4aC7h5HOoyKNaEzZLO32DiGzfDevtIpBEqTVhw1d1I21xwerdx0-jR3iAdL5gOK1f3nRpDcoXIvEybSnLEItcx9noxvGhtFREGKeG2V_DQMq_s4FPk/s1600/Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x5ACcUHms3pPCMCTpMhH5H7Lm4aC7h5HOoyKNaEzZLO32DiGzfDevtIpBEqTVhw1d1I21xwerdx0-jR3iAdL5gOK1f3nRpDcoXIvEybSnLEItcx9noxvGhtFREGKeG2V_DQMq_s4FPk/s400/Paris.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
No, it's most effective weapon is fear and doubt. That's right. Yes, 129 innocent victims were killed, and more than 350 were injured in indiscriminate gunfire and explosions last Friday in Paris, and we mourn their loss. The terrorists' goal, however, is much more grand that simply that.<br />
<br />
Terrorists want us to look warily at each other as we go about our business. Maybe find those who look different than 'we' do -<b><a href="http://sikhism.about.com/od/Tolerance_and_Discrimination/f/Are-Sikhs-Muslims.htm" target="_blank"> like a Sikh wearing his Turban</a></b> - and single him or her out for retribution. Maybe change those holiday travel plans out of fear that we may become targets of a group's anger.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJwgonAjhl1cldemFP3zYHNIHnuvOT7D4hdkvsJKyAw7hMTr4Gz0X53ly5Z_Yrsc86ZHlr_PRZRgvGrl5Y7U2xRZAQJDJAntpIxc9IxqonICm3hpRpdhdU9qgto7MCsZuZxRqEfsfLX4/s1600/misidentifiedterrorist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJwgonAjhl1cldemFP3zYHNIHnuvOT7D4hdkvsJKyAw7hMTr4Gz0X53ly5Z_Yrsc86ZHlr_PRZRgvGrl5Y7U2xRZAQJDJAntpIxc9IxqonICm3hpRpdhdU9qgto7MCsZuZxRqEfsfLX4/s400/misidentifiedterrorist.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://petapixel.com/2015/11/16/photoshopped-selfie-of-sikh-man-widely-published-as-paris-terrorist/" target="_blank">Veerender Jubbal, </a></b>an Indian-born Sikh, PhotoShopped to look like an ISIS terrorist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is only one true defense against that weapon - and that is fact. Pure and simple.<br />
<br />
It's been said that a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. In these confusing times, it's only natural to seek answers, no matter how off-the wall or discredited they may be. It's a need we have as humans. <b><a href="http://atpm.com/7.11/cider.shtml" target="_blank">Our brains need to find patterns. Answers. Fill in the blanks. </a></b><br />
<br />
Earlier today, I was reading my Facebook feed where someone posted an urgent warning supposedly from the Department of Homeland Security about someone buying a large number of UPS uniforms. Makes sense, right? If someone wanted to get access to any number of buildings, that would be an ideal way for this to happen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkBHoDLfGXDqkrh3n0dix5f9N-hlVgDZplzLwdJgSpRR8vu6vshKlKdlmge_mSOiCxh86WrztmVkd6TnnM1dZ2HUFbOUrvAHVAAF4uKzAQE9v0NuWMWFrAbYrTTT5ZdALqDBDB1Vd4XY/s1600/upstruck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkBHoDLfGXDqkrh3n0dix5f9N-hlVgDZplzLwdJgSpRR8vu6vshKlKdlmge_mSOiCxh86WrztmVkd6TnnM1dZ2HUFbOUrvAHVAAF4uKzAQE9v0NuWMWFrAbYrTTT5ZdALqDBDB1Vd4XY/s400/upstruck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The only problem? <b><a href="http://www.snopes.com/rumors/upsuniforms.asp" target="_blank">This is a recycled bit of netlore which surfaced shortly after the September 11 attacks.</a></b> It has been totally discredited by UPS, the Department of Homeland Security and other sources, yet it continues to make its rounds any time an event like this happens. As practitioners of this craft, we need to get the official, verified information out to the public as quickly and accurately as possible if we are to refute these bits of erroneous information.<br />
<br />
And, the most important fact we need to communicate <b><a href="http://www.medhelp.org/general-health/articles/The-25-Most-Common-Causes-of-Death/193" target="_blank">is that the odds of being killed </a></b>by a terrorist are staggeringly small. So small, in fact, that they fall into the range of one in 20 million. Your odds of dying from heart disease? One in seven. Does that stop you from ordering the double bacon burger at your local fast food joint? Maybe not. A traffic accident? One in 112. Lightning? One in 170,000. It's the sudden, gruesome and heartless nature that makes a Terrorist attack such a shock to the public's mind.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqi4j_Lg64IYWPK2DH1XebDI0mVC-Lmuue-KRhbNmJhhVudsG2eAP0LfSOPuuXaoguM-LpfGB8DllhzpBZGNc2fhG0ZhGNpiIGi3K-5kV6G8tCXpM4iqe80dn6AMzPGh0lYr7c7oMoozs/s1600/jaws.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqi4j_Lg64IYWPK2DH1XebDI0mVC-Lmuue-KRhbNmJhhVudsG2eAP0LfSOPuuXaoguM-LpfGB8DllhzpBZGNc2fhG0ZhGNpiIGi3K-5kV6G8tCXpM4iqe80dn6AMzPGh0lYr7c7oMoozs/s400/jaws.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
But, we have seen this type of panic before. The movie Jaws brought about fear of sharks after its 1975 release. People feared getting into planes after the 9/11 attacks. Last year's Ebola outbreak caused mass panic whenever someone presented in medical offices with gastric distress. Without a firm knowledge of what the risks are, people are terrible at assessing the danger these things present to them.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_Franklin_D._Roosevelt" target="_blank">At his first inauguration, Franklin Delano Roosevelt remarked:</a></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is ... fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. </i></blockquote>
In these trying times, let's all be the drivers who convert retreat into advance by denying the terrorists the very weapon they need to win.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-88043006143226393402015-11-17T07:33:00.000-05:002015-11-17T07:33:00.873-05:00It's a gambleThis past weekend, I was in Las Vegas. No, I didn't go for a bachelor party, nor did I go to play any high-stakes gaming. Although, there were plenty of opportunities for that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2L-OO2wJiMytvOI76v6Jzazhv_-GAPun1Rxl-iG9Z_jGkL6SLpHBt1GFn-SCwFiTARTYE9sJnlHwM2PGFSSpzHKZR1531ub1W4I1Q2WnlhZwZa2-C2IjHo0yeI27whEcO1U-5zlyP50/s1600/Clearwater-Casino1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2L-OO2wJiMytvOI76v6Jzazhv_-GAPun1Rxl-iG9Z_jGkL6SLpHBt1GFn-SCwFiTARTYE9sJnlHwM2PGFSSpzHKZR1531ub1W4I1Q2WnlhZwZa2-C2IjHo0yeI27whEcO1U-5zlyP50/s400/Clearwater-Casino1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
No, I was there to do some Public Information instruction for the <b><a href="http://www.iaem.com/" target="_blank">International Association of Emergency Managers </a></b>annual conference. Which happened to be held on the Strip in downtown Las Vegas.<br />
<br />
In a casino resort named the <b><a href="https://www.caesars.com/paris-las-vegas" target="_blank">Paris</a></b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL686EOJvDAY0iZQQu0eX_4pV25zgaeHG1Cy6QDf7YZdkuYrjZuzNPEL_1zNCbFVlWpVqfHpAAN7ALrbEdbsRF3sD23gE8FhvisNaCqKj3Vve_jpupuzkbtlJPtnk1usJzwWUhyYXMJ5A/s1600/parishotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL686EOJvDAY0iZQQu0eX_4pV25zgaeHG1Cy6QDf7YZdkuYrjZuzNPEL_1zNCbFVlWpVqfHpAAN7ALrbEdbsRF3sD23gE8FhvisNaCqKj3Vve_jpupuzkbtlJPtnk1usJzwWUhyYXMJ5A/s400/parishotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The poignancy of which was not lost on me or any of the other students in the class, given the events which unfolded 5,400 miles to the east in the real Paris last Friday.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWFOoOp4haiRLQIqav_29RxCgrHsp2NebhHqALbEoR8XevY97LKySVUMYbqxmtzHelBXgYYfutouzesxyHaMGE8GRrUhiMSFhCNrR3EXWtiNpjYSxz8ST7Elnn4_t-JYTgTEUZdSbqOw/s1600/France.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWFOoOp4haiRLQIqav_29RxCgrHsp2NebhHqALbEoR8XevY97LKySVUMYbqxmtzHelBXgYYfutouzesxyHaMGE8GRrUhiMSFhCNrR3EXWtiNpjYSxz8ST7Elnn4_t-JYTgTEUZdSbqOw/s400/France.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When it comes to emergency management, what are we trying to do? Whether it's a hurricane, earthquake, hazardous material spill or a coordinated terror attack, we are trying to prepare ourselves and our residents for the eventuality of low-probability but high-impact events. We want our residents to go about their daily lives, yet understand that they need to be be ready in the event that something should transpire.<br />
<br />
Do they know where to go? Are there enough emergency supplies on hand? What would they do in the event a situation began to spiral out of control? Where are the exits to the building, and can they be found quickly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIi3QhEcTMVVYrUNtrwF5XkUAs-p7854VwgzH5p42ppzJHyJsD_wsKexDM03kbUI6B8aY9twwVCFlbsVbgbMC7xT7lEeDPMf5LzSLHZnDhTQw0ZcXfUjNS4tn48zknUwoWt_zlmOmNtkQ/s1600/safety+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIi3QhEcTMVVYrUNtrwF5XkUAs-p7854VwgzH5p42ppzJHyJsD_wsKexDM03kbUI6B8aY9twwVCFlbsVbgbMC7xT7lEeDPMf5LzSLHZnDhTQw0ZcXfUjNS4tn48zknUwoWt_zlmOmNtkQ/s400/safety+card.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
As I flew home from the training yesterday, I was asked by the flight attendants to review the seat back safety card on both flights from Las Vegas to Tampa in the event that something happened and I had to react quickly should something happen on the flight. Now, the odds of something happening on the flight that would require me to make a hasty evacuation from the plane are pretty slim - almost as slim as me striking it rich at the craps tables in Vegas.<br />
<br />
But, would I be ready to take immediate action in the event something did happen?<br />
<br />
That's how we need to be thinking when it comes to our roles as Public Information Officers.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-26115725654559694072015-11-13T14:36:00.000-05:002015-11-13T14:39:38.736-05:00Wanna be a great PIO?<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every day I arrive at the office, run through the 200 or so emails I’ve gotten over night, scan the </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">headlines of the local papers and the wires, make a list of everything I need to check on and </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">then I get on the phone and make some calls. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdncut7rsndGSpg0yugYMuI9Cs9S_izudXsQdp1svv6AxoKzHh0m-X6ESZddKme9UcuHgyu47TBvhrb9m0R_g-RfzWAkSlaOHqXQjAUtDPV884sD5vGQkdSpxtt414Dm3l9AbOPB6Afg/s1600/20151113_104042_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxdncut7rsndGSpg0yugYMuI9Cs9S_izudXsQdp1svv6AxoKzHh0m-X6ESZddKme9UcuHgyu47TBvhrb9m0R_g-RfzWAkSlaOHqXQjAUtDPV884sD5vGQkdSpxtt414Dm3l9AbOPB6Afg/s400/20151113_104042_resized.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: 'Roboto Slab', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the most valuable (and potentially one of the worst) resources I have for information as a </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">journalist is the Public Information Officer. When they are good at their jobs, they are great, but </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">they are bad they can make an Assignment Editor’s life miserable. I’ve had the pleasure of </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">working with some really amazing professionals in my 22 years as an Assignment Editor. Men </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and women who understand that we need to have a symbiotic relationship. Then there are </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">those who act as if it’s chore to do what their job title implies - inform the public.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: 'Roboto Slab', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what does it take to be a great PIO in the eyes of a journalist? </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qHnS4wTEuBXH8_npe6ZfHyKMPIpfiiECVsULhH64sp4bF58Wf4lNtFXIUOZIsB4E_IaJjw_jBICBaxr1jdn-eBIUbjA2jRPMM4mKh9Ep1zvcVzvPPY545llP3dIlatsoIFODAYp3Y-g/s1600/10-01-2013journalists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qHnS4wTEuBXH8_npe6ZfHyKMPIpfiiECVsULhH64sp4bF58Wf4lNtFXIUOZIsB4E_IaJjw_jBICBaxr1jdn-eBIUbjA2jRPMM4mKh9Ep1zvcVzvPPY545llP3dIlatsoIFODAYp3Y-g/s400/10-01-2013journalists.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: 'Roboto Slab', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">First and foremost they need to be accessible. To me that means they check emails and </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">voice mails constantly when on duty and respond to messages of an urgent nature quickly. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: 'Roboto Slab', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When they are off duty they have a system set up where they or someone can be reached if </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">information is needed after hours, while in meetings or while on vacation. We know you don’t </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">work 24 hours a day but someone is always in the newsroom (and we have lots of questions) so </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">empower people in organization to give you a helping hand when you’re not around. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: 'Roboto Slab', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Secondly, they need to be truthful and fair. I’ve had PIOs just flat out lie to me about what’s </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">happening at an incident or given information to a competitor they did not share with me even </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">when asked direct questions. Getting information to the public is not their or my time to settle </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">scores or be petty. We don’t have to be friends but we do have to be professionals so let’s get </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">together after work and talk about why you’re mad at me or my newsroom and work it out so we </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">can come together. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8); font-family: 'Roboto Slab', 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;" />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, they should have an idea of how newsrooms work. What’s an assignment editor do? </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What about a producer? Have you ever been in a newsroom? Set up a tour and meet the folks </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">you talk to on the phone, invite them to your office so they can see what it’s like for you. I’ve </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">personally benefited from doing ride alongs, visiting comm centers and also from inviting </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">communicators, police, firefighters and PIOs into the newsroom to take a look around. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It helps </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;">all of us to understand the challenges we all face so we can work together to keep the public up to date and safe.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "roboto slab" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;">AnnMarie Breen, Assignment Editor</b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;">WTVD ABC 11, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina</b><br />
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmarie-breen-12ab5680" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #96999c; font-family: Helvetica, FreeSans, 'Liberation Sans', Helmet, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><b>https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmarie-breen-12ab5680</b></a>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-34068212372387523152015-11-10T05:57:00.000-05:002015-11-10T05:57:25.459-05:00Presentation PointersThere's nothing quite like a PowerPoint presentation to make things exciting. As a public information officer, either you may have to deliver one, or you may have to generate one for another spokesperson in your organization. And, that's cool. Seriously.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumNa243oaDG3s9rzhoOM6VP1gZQN03WOaHeRw51yaiIeAIjLLt1rAH8d9Jn0ESGt39ahAJhYQ5MttAcA8RR-hfoLCv26a8fF_xa-rwe0RpGxEwQWO7z60yJ5fG1Po8Jfb9Z366uc4lqg/s1600/overhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumNa243oaDG3s9rzhoOM6VP1gZQN03WOaHeRw51yaiIeAIjLLt1rAH8d9Jn0ESGt39ahAJhYQ5MttAcA8RR-hfoLCv26a8fF_xa-rwe0RpGxEwQWO7z60yJ5fG1Po8Jfb9Z366uc4lqg/s400/overhead.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I mean, think of the good old fashioned technology PowerPoint replaced. Hauling around slide projectors or reams of overhead transparencies. This program, created in 1990, allows you to port your presentation - videos and all - to and from wherever you need to go. No fuss, no muss. Bring your own laptop, get your hands on an inexpensive projector and you are in business.<br />
<br />
This can be a good thing, or it can also be so absolutely horrid, because I have seen people use and abuse <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PowerPoint" target="_blank">PowerPoint</a></b>, <b><a href="https://prezi.com/" target="_blank">Prezi</a></b>, <b><a href="http://www.apple.com/mac/keynote/" target="_blank">Apple Keynote</a></b>, <b><a href="https://www.google.com/slides/about/" target="_blank">Google Slides</a></b> and other various programs. To the point where I - as a member of an audience - would be willing to throw a chair through a window to make good my escape.<br />
<br />
While this isn't a post on how to put together a PowerPoint presentation, it can help steer you in the right direction and avoid a few of the most obvious pitfalls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0LHLRGq3rC9cCy90FNqYM2PKyGy8Mxj_YM83s1x8gMeSHWTPHPT4za1s_xej8pLLHNE7SJWNgzdYfkBNBPXkB20yD5eTee3wINGdXpU6L_qu_Ob11GfnwuZ_RIq2aYrdixWk4ZKj7qQ/s1600/PPT2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0LHLRGq3rC9cCy90FNqYM2PKyGy8Mxj_YM83s1x8gMeSHWTPHPT4za1s_xej8pLLHNE7SJWNgzdYfkBNBPXkB20yD5eTee3wINGdXpU6L_qu_Ob11GfnwuZ_RIq2aYrdixWk4ZKj7qQ/s400/PPT2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
First, let's talk about the things you want to do. Always remember the KISS principle - keep it simple, sucka. Be sure to make your slides as easy to read as possible, keep them to a few points and use graphics that help tell your story. Oh, and be sure to use spellcheck. There's nothing quite as jarring as misspelling a word on your slides ...<br />
<br />
What can go wrong with your slide design? Plenty. Remember, the slides on your presentation are guides to help keep you on track and your audience working with you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3FzdzuRxZWmX0iR8eQB_r_Ptwh6tXzMCjvxbLrZZ8K0r9tFOqoQPLnIg_oJHRtC6reHfEuRi0EfKfuELOpbIzDybrSo2H4QML0lbLJE6bRIiMVQpx8cjpqs7NPs2KIRm3MAABghbHa0/s1600/PPT3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3FzdzuRxZWmX0iR8eQB_r_Ptwh6tXzMCjvxbLrZZ8K0r9tFOqoQPLnIg_oJHRtC6reHfEuRi0EfKfuELOpbIzDybrSo2H4QML0lbLJE6bRIiMVQpx8cjpqs7NPs2KIRm3MAABghbHa0/s400/PPT3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You do NOT want to post a slide that looks like this. Trust me, it happens. I have seen department directors who were paid a considerable salary prepare slides that look like this. They INSIST that this is how people learn and want to see their presentation done. Let's face it, if you end up turning your back on your audience and read from the screen word-for-word, why are they even there? Just give them a handout and be done with it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRmV4Bhxfzgl2dD93L5qTOY6UIvywVNkZvaM-yLr-z0HbhLEZMyIPHWHZ-SKG-ExJj1Lc_HeqQY1U66LoBYJ7WSJbiml0UNBrCwr9-P0vEuIbrajPKv5E7qIcSH9leBYTfDbvx8mcfvU/s1600/PPT4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRmV4Bhxfzgl2dD93L5qTOY6UIvywVNkZvaM-yLr-z0HbhLEZMyIPHWHZ-SKG-ExJj1Lc_HeqQY1U66LoBYJ7WSJbiml0UNBrCwr9-P0vEuIbrajPKv5E7qIcSH9leBYTfDbvx8mcfvU/s400/PPT4.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Another don't is to jam your slides full of exciting visual effects, Just because you CAN put them in there, should you? As you can see from the moving graphic above, all of that excitement can wear your eyes out in a hurry, and it can also distract from your message.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ89HmzbOtPAGmNHBKugbz_XrRSHF2JMC6smEwFOF6N01i6mwdaGDOdUOUq7vUsB4ubQALHEF_xQzlcT6J1zGoFiDWxEHoYj47EmWtenKvTDz9TNYX6QSeyodJCLrhhiI3txqVKAIZDq8/s1600/PPT5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ89HmzbOtPAGmNHBKugbz_XrRSHF2JMC6smEwFOF6N01i6mwdaGDOdUOUq7vUsB4ubQALHEF_xQzlcT6J1zGoFiDWxEHoYj47EmWtenKvTDz9TNYX6QSeyodJCLrhhiI3txqVKAIZDq8/s400/PPT5.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh, and when speaking about distracting from messages, jamming a ton of photos onto each slide can detract from your message as well. Sure, a picture is worth a thousand words, but picture-paloozas with images stacked on top of each other are going to be a distraction, even if they are all of cute babies and baby animals. Find one good image that tells your story and go with that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3yEKK3SUGnaA3HYqabq1Isw2SLR5Fr_HHXX82VfXQo5lNHnf7meXIp_tw56yhhZfF3f4-mSkU7u8fqanm_jkP5K6YpwGuMagcUNxKecgpq5N3spDyQXDRGgnNhiaxKszjGZO8R5VzMw/s1600/PPT6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3yEKK3SUGnaA3HYqabq1Isw2SLR5Fr_HHXX82VfXQo5lNHnf7meXIp_tw56yhhZfF3f4-mSkU7u8fqanm_jkP5K6YpwGuMagcUNxKecgpq5N3spDyQXDRGgnNhiaxKszjGZO8R5VzMw/s400/PPT6.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Having the ability to embed video clips into your presentation can really bring your slide to life. Just remember, however, that each of these programs handles these files in a specific way. Just because the video plays with a single click on your desktop computer doesn't mean it will spring to life if you move it to a new computer for the presentation. Be sure to bring all of your files with you just to be sure you have everything handy. This way, you won't be scrambling, clicking the dreaded black box in your slideshow with no result.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkEvtRafzxswSWOrox4DPf8hyg5XZ-dy26gH6BFPp0xokkYKM_RbnYEfLxLtn09F1LX69t9FRzcBizH7LQuiY0-1ipCU5QwuqiOHBMb-xCp8z171qdptHGm4ayTBiMmeNmo0CqrqJXEc/s1600/PPT7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkEvtRafzxswSWOrox4DPf8hyg5XZ-dy26gH6BFPp0xokkYKM_RbnYEfLxLtn09F1LX69t9FRzcBizH7LQuiY0-1ipCU5QwuqiOHBMb-xCp8z171qdptHGm4ayTBiMmeNmo0CqrqJXEc/s400/PPT7.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally, checking your presentation one last time before you leave for your talk is critical. Sometimes the information changes on the slides or updates need to be made, and you may not realize that this critical data has gone missing until you are in the middle of your talk. Believe me, I have done it, and having to correct your information in front of a large group can be one of the most embarrassing things you may ever have to do.<br />
<br />
Will these tips make you a PowerPoint guru? No, but they just might help you build better presentations that stand out in your audience's mind for all the right reasons.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-65518487354778986832015-11-04T05:28:00.000-05:002015-11-04T07:01:38.887-05:00My go kitI have a confession to make. I am a PIO who happens to ride mass transit to work. That's right, I take the bus from my home, across Tampa Bay to my office.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/1425561645473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/1425561645473.jpg" height="225" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
Which means I can't keep my go kit in my trunk. So, I have had to make some adjustments on what I bring to work and how I travel with it. I go fully self-contained to work with my go kit on my back!<br>
<br>
How is it possible? It's actually easier than you think.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYiUaaLoyFmfH7A015SforffpeVNo4gkW_TmRJEcZKC45PdbPrB99u4bQhSPs3Gbz2cFyP8Xxsw2u-3Enx1BCOa-XP1pnA6ExBFGAgwPsgsYZbbpYvHxeas_MFYQERx9hGEJmRZ6ZLt8/s1600/20151103_094554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYiUaaLoyFmfH7A015SforffpeVNo4gkW_TmRJEcZKC45PdbPrB99u4bQhSPs3Gbz2cFyP8Xxsw2u-3Enx1BCOa-XP1pnA6ExBFGAgwPsgsYZbbpYvHxeas_MFYQERx9hGEJmRZ6ZLt8/s400/20151103_094554.jpg" width="225"></a></div>
<br>
First, I have to start with a really good backpack. This one from Swiss Gear has a lot of padding for my back, plus it has a ton of separated compartments, which make it easy to store things where I can grab them easily. I added the nifty orange handle flag so everyone will know it's mine!<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6X4WHH_ozGr9VD35dOSofm1SJqZKmYy9jSz_zWVXeHe9TG3LatQtUBkhskeJ5ytsJGX1ZIaBQYbmuFRRC3jr1UIVYMrQsDQuNc2rELFfb2rk5Ecu8fVzbWGbpbdm_8IoexXeSygLgIc/s1600/20151103_094347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6X4WHH_ozGr9VD35dOSofm1SJqZKmYy9jSz_zWVXeHe9TG3LatQtUBkhskeJ5ytsJGX1ZIaBQYbmuFRRC3jr1UIVYMrQsDQuNc2rELFfb2rk5Ecu8fVzbWGbpbdm_8IoexXeSygLgIc/s400/20151103_094347.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
In the easy scan pocket closest to my back, I have stashed my own personal Chromebook. It was cheap, it runs PowerPoint presentations, and it is lightweight. I have added the proper cables to connect it to a projector, a wireless mouse and a presentation clicker. This way, I am always good to go if I want to write a blog, do a talk... the works.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAciBP5sBOLcUzZxsi9LrYdNztmo0-cexkqP6D4tHn5bgx-019AOjGXTImWJGe_5ry0LCqefZeaIsaaWkG6THIz6htVaWCyw8hLS5bByY9q8JCZhAsRc7LXqgOikrXagv_rErZQfUb8YQ/s1600/20151103_094653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAciBP5sBOLcUzZxsi9LrYdNztmo0-cexkqP6D4tHn5bgx-019AOjGXTImWJGe_5ry0LCqefZeaIsaaWkG6THIz6htVaWCyw8hLS5bByY9q8JCZhAsRc7LXqgOikrXagv_rErZQfUb8YQ/s400/20151103_094653.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
Next up, I have my county issued iPad and my binder. Is it redundant? Perhaps. But, this way, I can have the Chromebook up presenting and I can work on other items if another presenter is speaking. I'm not stuck this way. The binder, well, what if my battery runs out? <br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN1yaZ3-C1VC-Dg-hmCa8ZMj4jLH4SxXUNzzz8ZOXrahRBpt1fQEKxNOx2wB61ftkJAt7hUrYiIugsoqr4NEYjJjdBN1sk5R44SYPcUBeCDK8Qulg-qF-hMsVaSQizOm0Rh9Vtvai9KQ/s1600/20151103_093642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPN1yaZ3-C1VC-Dg-hmCa8ZMj4jLH4SxXUNzzz8ZOXrahRBpt1fQEKxNOx2wB61ftkJAt7hUrYiIugsoqr4NEYjJjdBN1sk5R44SYPcUBeCDK8Qulg-qF-hMsVaSQizOm0Rh9Vtvai9KQ/s320/20151103_093642.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<br>
Also tucked in the backpack are a good supply of business cards, a few pens and markers and some reporter notebooks. I prefer the reporter style notebooks because they fit easily into a pants pocket and the spiral binding allows them to lay flat.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFw_oyudePe61fRkq7xTdivfnaNI67oUt3kNV1h3Tv7zXeaWLgNJU0nA0YCM-xNpfCo9HZHKPGk93RkFjmJkQg-kL7qdrEKMbLr3hJ8QyWYjMFZX0tUQR7rO30qj-yjWlhRMEahYDmOM/s1600/20151103_093900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFw_oyudePe61fRkq7xTdivfnaNI67oUt3kNV1h3Tv7zXeaWLgNJU0nA0YCM-xNpfCo9HZHKPGk93RkFjmJkQg-kL7qdrEKMbLr3hJ8QyWYjMFZX0tUQR7rO30qj-yjWlhRMEahYDmOM/s400/20151103_093900.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
I also have a paper list of phone numbers available because - again - what if I need to get in touch with someone? The lists have phone numbers for important county contacts, news desks, allied agencies ... the works.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-gdDLOMMhi3qi7GOQt7zlnTBBlkqxOhuNKXs7mLeo31QmU0g-GipxB1eKZrqvFYxaXymDQSHjlqZ6tpuwQB4EfcXsO3L2Ut4vhiy68TGqO77I1npeAZ30eghw8lXJM-wq2DPtfXSJbo/s1600/20151103_094002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-gdDLOMMhi3qi7GOQt7zlnTBBlkqxOhuNKXs7mLeo31QmU0g-GipxB1eKZrqvFYxaXymDQSHjlqZ6tpuwQB4EfcXsO3L2Ut4vhiy68TGqO77I1npeAZ30eghw8lXJM-wq2DPtfXSJbo/s400/20151103_094002.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
Since I now wear glasses, I have to keep them clean so I can see. The screen cleaner and microfiber cloth can keep the glasses, computer and phone screens spotless, and the hard glasses case also keeps a spare pair of sunglasses at the ready for me. Believe me, working outdoors in the bright Florida sunshine can really do a number on your eyes without some protection.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLynbNm4Jj0tqMyx-icDZADI97brakhGIX-iGbjWfDVO0HtG5zX1VUg4taqW5qVY4skRqi4iKazMFrkUqXw8VvZyD6GGS3jh0VN5P0GJ6DVwxH0qBNUYnOQkbf-jR0WUTw1kvwqUd2Uo/s1600/20151103_094528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLynbNm4Jj0tqMyx-icDZADI97brakhGIX-iGbjWfDVO0HtG5zX1VUg4taqW5qVY4skRqi4iKazMFrkUqXw8VvZyD6GGS3jh0VN5P0GJ6DVwxH0qBNUYnOQkbf-jR0WUTw1kvwqUd2Uo/s400/20151103_094528.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
And, when the bright sunshine gives way to pouring rain, there's no substitute for a good rain poncho. Now, I think I made a mistake by buying a black one. Had I thought about it, something a little brighter and more reflective would have been a wiser decision. Added bonus - the poncho also covers the backpack, keeping its contents dry if I have to head outdoors.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRLXCYBuaHHKNLLtiJ0vSK9wxoyTWPk0QjhOxPFafNMWJcFJZmw8WRrVVWIecAbZalUr4TVRV3nYNIGj2M0Gt6cJSlh6Qdf13qSwFy3iNmN4H8FS1sPeMEKJfrlKHR5C6x4v7nTuYktQ/s1600/20151103_093446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRLXCYBuaHHKNLLtiJ0vSK9wxoyTWPk0QjhOxPFafNMWJcFJZmw8WRrVVWIecAbZalUr4TVRV3nYNIGj2M0Gt6cJSlh6Qdf13qSwFy3iNmN4H8FS1sPeMEKJfrlKHR5C6x4v7nTuYktQ/s400/20151103_093446.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
How reliant have we become on electronics? That's why my kit has a TON of mirco USB and Apple Lightning cables in it. I also have a rechargeable battery, a wall plug, a car charger and a charger that also uses AA batteries, so I have lots of options. A pair of earbuds helps if I have to listen to notes (or music after a long day). My Slingshot phone cradle gets tucked in there as well, along with a power strip that not only accepts standard plugs, but also has a pair of USB ports to plug into as well.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQodF1FHG33wTJxGs58YM2PO2FGC8SzlaB1oWcgb-V2v-qLDHVS1ZJfXAni-A1jLBenst3TM4QGMySyrO5aZIh6b-97KF4kTFPXwmQFSqBRufl-Me4Qfpu5sshAEdgCZlfYfGP_TSVMlc/s1600/20151103_093815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQodF1FHG33wTJxGs58YM2PO2FGC8SzlaB1oWcgb-V2v-qLDHVS1ZJfXAni-A1jLBenst3TM4QGMySyrO5aZIh6b-97KF4kTFPXwmQFSqBRufl-Me4Qfpu5sshAEdgCZlfYfGP_TSVMlc/s400/20151103_093815.jpg" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
While you think about the gear to do the job, you often forget that you are out there as a person as well. That's why I don't go anywhere without a few essentials in the kit including hand sanitizer, a stomach settler, a painkiller, tissues and a few other essentials. A few sport bars that can hold you for a while until you can get a real meal can mean a lot out in the field.<br>
<br>
Sure, it seems like a lot, but when you think about it, keeping these items in a backpack right at hand can make your job just a little easier when you have to grab and go. Plus, whenever you get to where you are setting up, it's easy to sling that bag down and use what you need.<br>
<br>
Remember the old disaster preparedness mantra - it's better to have and not need than need and not have.<br>
<br>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-84823241583385878122015-10-30T06:13:00.000-04:002015-10-30T06:13:30.262-04:00So coincidental, it's spooky ...You know, Halloween is right around the corner. And, if you are anything like me, you really dig the holiday.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/pumpkins.jpg" height="150" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You get to dress up, pass out candy, enjoy scary movies ... maybe even dance the <b><a href="http://therockyhorrorshow.wikia.com/wiki/The_Time_Warp" target="_blank">Time Warp</a></b>, if you are a <b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073629/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Rocky Horror Picture Show</a></b> fan.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tkplPbd2f60/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tkplPbd2f60?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
With the daylight hours getting shorter and excited children headed to the streets, no doubt you have seen and heard media coverage about how dangerous a night Halloween is for pedestrians. Forget Dracula, Frankenstein's monster or ghosts, it's pedestrian accidents that are truly the scariest thing about Halloween.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bJnQfuO828PDgHaH61qGvY34RngM_plcLeDQo5sSfIHU00hAo2mFypht5YNVSp62JNRtaMjCvtLwkHPWQiZMYqcxox41IEroLYoYbouFsM50c7tuoLUrXa5F4i-9F0oB8wz2dMT0Qd4/s1600/halloween1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bJnQfuO828PDgHaH61qGvY34RngM_plcLeDQo5sSfIHU00hAo2mFypht5YNVSp62JNRtaMjCvtLwkHPWQiZMYqcxox41IEroLYoYbouFsM50c7tuoLUrXa5F4i-9F0oB8wz2dMT0Qd4/s400/halloween1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In fact, according to the <b><a href="http://www.transportgooru.com/2012/10/halloween-kids-and-pedestrian-safety/" target="_blank">National Highway Traffic Safety Information's Fatality Analysis Reporting System</a></b>, pedestrians are twice as likely to die in accidents on Halloween than nearly any other day of the year. That astounding number sends a shiver up my spine - and the spines of public information officers for law enforcement, fire rescue and other organizations around the country. If you were going to put out information about pedestrian safety and get the media's attention, now would be a great time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeCVI-VsZX5j68alXRaPmZbWNyWLaiJZIkYCiOwktmsOReZ3QW9mZ0MIh6wr-15vcMiqE3VlQuKPJBv2p2ewLOG4iYNR44hYRb0H4JKQhRxgYngju-avAgBiNn9VJP5Msxblah8-xTZo/s1600/16065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFeCVI-VsZX5j68alXRaPmZbWNyWLaiJZIkYCiOwktmsOReZ3QW9mZ0MIh6wr-15vcMiqE3VlQuKPJBv2p2ewLOG4iYNR44hYRb0H4JKQhRxgYngju-avAgBiNn9VJP5Msxblah8-xTZo/s400/16065.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Halloween is also great this year because it falls the night before <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time" target="_blank">daylight saving time</a></b> ends, meaning we fall back to <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_time" target="_blank">standard time.</a></b> Now, if you live in Arizona, Indiana or a number of other places, you won't be fiddling with your clock, but the rest of us poor saps will. Which is good, because it is also a great opportunity to remind folks that they should be checking - or, even better - changing the batteries in their smoke detectors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FaJUuJUgX1U6xMSvl_yRAa9gfyZi889Ho5E7Ce8xLz6ABnhUcPmoumo_AiuBBWsTGUW5aJeAblhCGLuBqEP9o_AsY3_D7Be7t_eYnrolG0mK93cbjdRB2Vmfp4IPl8zngvKTQGRD0tI/s1600/Battery-change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FaJUuJUgX1U6xMSvl_yRAa9gfyZi889Ho5E7Ce8xLz6ABnhUcPmoumo_AiuBBWsTGUW5aJeAblhCGLuBqEP9o_AsY3_D7Be7t_eYnrolG0mK93cbjdRB2Vmfp4IPl8zngvKTQGRD0tI/s400/Battery-change.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Smoke detectors have significantly reduced the number of fatalities in house fires over the decades, but they only work if they have working batteries. While the time change may be a real pain in the rear, it does serve as a great annual reminder to do a small part to ensure the safety of your residents.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcxL8bgtcZw3GZzyOeGPDTkCiAE0hIeOc_vYq7kBlg6xsdi0T142HGxMnH0mT9dAIA4vwVBQ_jGj1FstL1rPc8cqZaLz4BjJTiGsQut7bfmXpkROF4SV3K_3XfBbnuH9DftWl33L_DLQ/s1600/yard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcxL8bgtcZw3GZzyOeGPDTkCiAE0hIeOc_vYq7kBlg6xsdi0T142HGxMnH0mT9dAIA4vwVBQ_jGj1FstL1rPc8cqZaLz4BjJTiGsQut7bfmXpkROF4SV3K_3XfBbnuH9DftWl33L_DLQ/s400/yard.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh, and do them one more favor. With the time change, irrigation systems may not get the message that they will be working out of synch with the summer time. So, maybe a notice to your utility customers for them to check their irrigation timers could help keep them out of hot water if you are under watering restrictions.<br />
<br />
By just looking at the calendar, you can find many more of these spooky coincidences throughout the year to slip your message out to the media. They will consider them treats - not tricks - for their papers and newscasts.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-50022774262763604292015-10-27T05:56:00.000-04:002015-10-27T05:56:44.242-04:00Getting to know you ...Getting to know all about you ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZ_rIr4cq-2EBSbbI2PIiupV0tA0Qxx0PKLUBVmCHycOsyrFFJLOR64JOOm5qvzJgme4_ON81YY6zYSeD4xXC7BBKpIfZ8R5LJAsR2JBjK_Fz7jLMgesi2z0IQcHIH5m3Gf6HFUnPakY/s1600/Poster+-+King+and+I%252C+The_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZ_rIr4cq-2EBSbbI2PIiupV0tA0Qxx0PKLUBVmCHycOsyrFFJLOR64JOOm5qvzJgme4_ON81YY6zYSeD4xXC7BBKpIfZ8R5LJAsR2JBjK_Fz7jLMgesi2z0IQcHIH5m3Gf6HFUnPakY/s400/Poster+-+King+and+I%252C+The_02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Ever since that Rogers and Hammerstein hit was first performed in the play <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_and_I" target="_blank">The King and I</a></b>, it has become a favorite, and it should have been named the anthem for PIOs everywhere. After all, didn't we establish that stories have to be <b><a href="http://piochronicles.blogspot.com/2015/05/what-makes-news-human-interest.html" target="_blank">first and foremost about people?</a></b> And, how else can you tell the story about a group or organization without getting to know the members?<br />
<br />
That's what happened while a coworker and I were preparing for the opening of a newly rebuilt fire station just outside of Tampa. We had heard stories about a retired Capitan who the crews respected, but it wasn't until we actually headed down to the fire house that we got to know the story.<br />
<br />
It turns out that this retired <b><a href="http://fsfa.com/firefighter-of-the-year-winners-2006" target="_blank">Captain Billy Riley</a></b> had been a mentor to the officers in the county's fire service, and on a February day in 2006, he did something which moved him to the level of legend. While responding to a call of a child on a bicycle struck by a car, Captain Riley made a quick assessment of the situation and selflessly crawled under the car to the severely injured child. Mustering all of the strength he could, he did a push up that lifted the car a few inches off the road, allowing two other firefighters to pull the boy to safety.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5Q_54E68EDAH_t5o__N_7JvYpFsLoZnKJ_uem7uboaBTn63Xd9qtroJmkk7p_IkpCpY8bvruUUfxkm9NMwSrMX4b0GbOr_wjP0OD5oK3vs-btDdIO6S-xCsJjbG9mmnPQj-ybxel1_c/s1600/20151023_142757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5Q_54E68EDAH_t5o__N_7JvYpFsLoZnKJ_uem7uboaBTn63Xd9qtroJmkk7p_IkpCpY8bvruUUfxkm9NMwSrMX4b0GbOr_wjP0OD5oK3vs-btDdIO6S-xCsJjbG9mmnPQj-ybxel1_c/s400/20151023_142757.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The scene is memorialized in the <b><a href="http://locations.firehousesubs.com/locations/fl/bloomingdale" target="_blank">Firehouse Subs shop</a></b> just down the street from the new fire station. There, on the wall, is a mural depicting that moment.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYvavRQwX_k7BB8UT6AWF_4_mh4kItv0vA8otu_aOoRuPoV7i6Zr7YZ8Cpup5g2ubK3N0hqR3A0U-bag1giwISFydyldQKWunaAo5uoVDCOgLmHmeiPujaw73I0xqaU0hPheAnwSV2s0/s1600/20151023_125113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYvavRQwX_k7BB8UT6AWF_4_mh4kItv0vA8otu_aOoRuPoV7i6Zr7YZ8Cpup5g2ubK3N0hqR3A0U-bag1giwISFydyldQKWunaAo5uoVDCOgLmHmeiPujaw73I0xqaU0hPheAnwSV2s0/s400/20151023_125113.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
So touched by Captain Riley's efforts and his tireless leadership, the crew had a flag made, calling Station No. 7 the House that Billy Riley Built.<br />
<br />
With that understanding, it has been easy to craft talking points for the dignitaries and pitches to the reporters. The new fire house isn't just bricks, mortar and bunks - it's a place where heroes work, waiting for the call to spring into action to maybe just save a life.<br />
<br />
There's a lot to be said about that kind of story.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-50511910589501218872015-10-23T06:07:00.000-04:002015-10-23T06:07:13.176-04:00Educating your partnersI can remember it like it happened yesterday. It was 11 years ago this past August. Hurricane Charley was beginning to really look scary, and our emergency manager, Gary Vickers, ordered the largest evacuation in Pinellas County, Florida's history. A level C evacuation, which affected nearly half a million residents. Long time reporters in the media room were visibly shaken, having not seen something this serious since Hurricane Elena's near miss back in 1985.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7n4XTzptROTjKes7IyfzPktLpEt1Gl6Tz-ZNxJn79VM4N5LxpePtVkYrKGrdZbUZhS0oNzfg0X8XkgiQjuxtYinaK54TxvfNcfRtqzhpKBExjxQZeaDG874eaU70jdQ3q_QBlocwalg8/s1600/GaryVickers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7n4XTzptROTjKes7IyfzPktLpEt1Gl6Tz-ZNxJn79VM4N5LxpePtVkYrKGrdZbUZhS0oNzfg0X8XkgiQjuxtYinaK54TxvfNcfRtqzhpKBExjxQZeaDG874eaU70jdQ3q_QBlocwalg8/s400/GaryVickers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary Vickers in the old Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That's when a young reporter raised her hand from the back of the room. "Mr. Vickers! Mr. Vickers!" she yelled, trying to get his attention. He recognized her, and she proceeded to ask one of the strangest questions I had ever heard in an emergency briefing.<br />
<br />
"Can you tell our viewers what a hurricane is?"<br />
<br />
I froze, stunned by such a basic question coming from a reporter. Didn't she realize her station had five meteorologists who had been going wall-to-wall on hurricane coverage once Hurricane Charley had become a thing? Didn't she understand that hurricanes are a big deal here in Florida? Why was she interrupting our media briefing with such an inane question?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wPUOYALeD0ygZ6fvRmRct7ksLG8ALTOs9-SiOrrcImdUULYlEqncPngolSdVyVxZlCNgg811FW17ePNRE0TI5wj9ES_F-FMB_ecNrIqXUg5Fsg7JWr4cGhSn_DPU0Z9ytZM_Yyhfm-k/s1600/Haboob2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wPUOYALeD0ygZ6fvRmRct7ksLG8ALTOs9-SiOrrcImdUULYlEqncPngolSdVyVxZlCNgg811FW17ePNRE0TI5wj9ES_F-FMB_ecNrIqXUg5Fsg7JWr4cGhSn_DPU0Z9ytZM_Yyhfm-k/s400/Haboob2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A haboob, or dust storm, closes in on Phoenix, Arizona</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then, the reason hit me in a blinding realization. She was a reporter brand-new to the market from the desert southwest where hurricanes aren't a normal occurrence. To her, wildfires, flash-flooding and <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haboob" target="_blank">haboobs</a></b> were the big threats where she used to report, not hurricanes. Based on her knowledge base, she wasn't 100 percent sure that her viewers knew what a hurricane was.<br />
<br />
That's when I realized that our education plan was missing a major component - were we reaching the reporters in the market and educating them on the issues?<br />
<br />
It was that point that we put into place some efforts to bring reporters up to speed on what we were dealing with in the Tampa Bay area. Our emergency managers worked more closely with the local TV meteorologists, often sharing the stage with them at public events to spread the word. We ensured that we had media briefings at the beginning of the season so they knew what the areas of emphasis were for that year.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxyUL1BoTYNrmbpgHoBcqGsqL7YDpByIKr6bAS6mkoAAv0OGicAimcb16uDvyHoma1Livv7zEeR8ri-7Xz3Bv_hjDJqOpBZlCmeLJE-Ndt1vWhNA1rjF3W260IUJxs3zOIRnSF_HY6rY/s1600/briefing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxyUL1BoTYNrmbpgHoBcqGsqL7YDpByIKr6bAS6mkoAAv0OGicAimcb16uDvyHoma1Livv7zEeR8ri-7Xz3Bv_hjDJqOpBZlCmeLJE-Ndt1vWhNA1rjF3W260IUJxs3zOIRnSF_HY6rY/s400/briefing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Media briefings ensure reporters are up to speed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We even rolled that into other areas of concern. How does mosquito control work? Why is stormwater management so important? Why are people so vulnerable to fraud during the holiday shopping season?<br />
<br />
And, that education effort has paid dividends by increasing coverage, helping residents get a better idea of why they need to pay attention - and through the thanks we get from our partners in the media.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b><br />
<br />
<br />Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-72223273681502645742015-10-20T06:02:00.000-04:002015-10-20T06:02:12.707-04:00Know your recordsMan, I can remember going to the mall back in the 1980s. Sure, there were the young ladies, the book stores, and the record stores. I spent a lot of time there, digging through the huge bins of vinyl records, looking for the awesome music that would be perfect for the soundtrack of my angst-filled teen life.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqYBbtD-HjPgny-32y4_v4Mc_29BbwACACBK_JMYLADtgwVl0xluZ7wuFtNbhnojOn1Lk6_wNZOyvnqDxXcIyoVXhwlBMPP0u3Ia79DH2MasKz78lexQzI1ymmknmK7uoLBH9aD6h31k/s1600/records.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqYBbtD-HjPgny-32y4_v4Mc_29BbwACACBK_JMYLADtgwVl0xluZ7wuFtNbhnojOn1Lk6_wNZOyvnqDxXcIyoVXhwlBMPP0u3Ia79DH2MasKz78lexQzI1ymmknmK7uoLBH9aD6h31k/s400/records.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, my precious vinyl...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then, there are records of another variety. The highest score in a football game. The lowest temperature ever recorded. Some records, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Beamon#1968_Summer_Olympics" target="_blank">like the long-jump record set by Bob Beamon at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games</a></b>, stand for an incredible amount of time. In fact, his world record stood until 1991, and he still holds the Olympic record by a long distance.<span id="goog_18983208"></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3BWqSOOjXnh7Ml3tKvpJ5pXAzO_Y_vlOpbs6YuRltw-zSAQArKJ1jNLcFMVzzwKoAFG1J46iIS9ggcCTC3CCIxg7Gcbt_-ouhpWquaWUpxW9f2TownvuDG-cl-RWf4jvjx71tds2zNY/s1600/bob-beamon-at-maximum-altitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3BWqSOOjXnh7Ml3tKvpJ5pXAzO_Y_vlOpbs6YuRltw-zSAQArKJ1jNLcFMVzzwKoAFG1J46iIS9ggcCTC3CCIxg7Gcbt_-ouhpWquaWUpxW9f2TownvuDG-cl-RWf4jvjx71tds2zNY/s400/bob-beamon-at-maximum-altitude.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Beamon with his record-breaking jump in 1968</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And, then there are other kinds of records. If you work for a government agency, you know they are known as public records. Other agencies may be required to make public financial records or other documents - this varies from state to state and country to country.<br />
<br />
If you have anything to do with medical issues here in the United States, you are no doubt aware of <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Insurance_Portability_and_Accountability_Act" target="_blank">HIPAA</a></b>, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which restricts the type of information that can be released to the public. Thus, as a PIO on the scene of a crash or other incident, you are limited in releasing names of victims and types of injuries.<br />
<br />
Here in Florida, we are also very familiar with <b><a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0119/0119.html" target="_blank">Chapter 119 of the state statutes</a></b>, the chapter which deals with public records. While no one outside of the legal beagles in your attorney's office will be expected to know all of the ins and outs of the law and pertinent legal rulings, it pays to have a general idea of what the statute encompasses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LhpQ3CnENZIhWCYskUpjr2-RLYYtMSN-087_NJ15bI0tQDmetgDScJD1gSEiIyagWvXtpifaJOEsCMFMUeAn09YQDBX2wUnPqV667lSj5647oxqVFvlaOAqXDr4ILcv_EYaElahxWEo/s1600/public-records-pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LhpQ3CnENZIhWCYskUpjr2-RLYYtMSN-087_NJ15bI0tQDmetgDScJD1gSEiIyagWvXtpifaJOEsCMFMUeAn09YQDBX2wUnPqV667lSj5647oxqVFvlaOAqXDr4ILcv_EYaElahxWEo/s400/public-records-pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Believe me, there will be citizens and reporters who will understand how the system works. I have seen government employees fail to turn over simple sign-in sheets to a reporter or interested citizen, only to end up the subject of an in-depth story with questions about their 'evasiveness' when approached for the records.<br />
<br />
As a public information officer, it's our duty to not play lawyer, but to help brief staff members on what the laws are for your jurisdiction and to provide clear, concise instructions on what to do should someone ask for records.<br />
<br />
I don't want to sound like a broken record, but believe me, this is part of the role of trusted advisor you have signed on for. You might as well do your best! <br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-31533637590085647382015-10-16T11:06:00.002-04:002015-10-17T13:42:13.588-04:00Debonair facial hair<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
I learned a valuable PIO life lesson today…from mustaches.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
Every autumn, several fire and police agencies in my community raise funds for charity by holding a mustache contest party, an event billed “Octoberstache.” My hypothesis is these fall-time follicle fundraisers are only thinly-veiled excuses to grow mustaches (which men love) while skirting the ire of significant others (who get a little plucky against them), under the guise of philanthropy. I’m helping with outreach.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFW3xMyJQQgxgrmsbR-jMZVPoKHZ_YS6GcsLMklsaANedt7yXcCvQDbakRq03Goh9IQuXXF9ux4l7B8FpLLkSGbh6L7TwviQr7FaD9XriC3YPK4vtBTiRIxX6-5xq_P_eyNsNmy9M5Fk/s1600/Photoon2012-12-22at1458_zps42ad835a-1_zpsc4f1d4de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFW3xMyJQQgxgrmsbR-jMZVPoKHZ_YS6GcsLMklsaANedt7yXcCvQDbakRq03Goh9IQuXXF9ux4l7B8FpLLkSGbh6L7TwviQr7FaD9XriC3YPK4vtBTiRIxX6-5xq_P_eyNsNmy9M5Fk/s400/Photoon2012-12-22at1458_zps42ad835a-1_zpsc4f1d4de.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A debonair 'stache</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">This year our cause is an organization that helps athletes with disabilities.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Specifically, to buy a sports prosthetic for a local boy whose leg was amputated due to illness. His dad’s a cop. The boy likes to play soccer. Soccer is hard to play on crutches.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
As I set about constructing a media outreach plan, my proverbial PIO salivary glands began to water. Let me get this straight- You want me to pitch a story that has kids in need, triumph over disability, <i>and</i> handsome firefighters in mustaches? Why, all I need is a baby animal involved somehow and I’m golden!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
But then I paused to reflect. As PIOs, by nature, some of our tasks are easier than others. Sometimes we have to narrate disaster and quell fear, apologize for the knuckleheads in our agencies and the knucklehead things they do, look good on camera while wearing yellow brush coats (no one looks good in yellow), and report on ghastly things we’d soon rather forget. These are the hard parts of the job.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfMy7a0EqKKVNsnuCEQq8X19ZMVkAF59WD5JFkKnq6pFrLg1FlsIZY76ybtYsotCCghKJg7IIEZVVy4te_wUZqctzp1be9MeruhDVIeC099hLw48sxIG1AikKofB3m4MtVK18vPiw6sQ/s1600/dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfMy7a0EqKKVNsnuCEQq8X19ZMVkAF59WD5JFkKnq6pFrLg1FlsIZY76ybtYsotCCghKJg7IIEZVVy4te_wUZqctzp1be9MeruhDVIeC099hLw48sxIG1AikKofB3m4MtVK18vPiw6sQ/s400/dog.jpg" width="364"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touching stories are easy pitches to the media</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">But on the flip side, sometimes what we do is </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">so, so</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> easy. We get to carry forth beautiful stories –tales of communities coming together, great acts of sacrifice and courage, events with compelling visual elements. Some of our pitches are so inherently solid they get snatched right out of our hands. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
How do we react when these latter opportunities occur, however? It’s easy to get sidetracked with that little dance about how many cameras will show and re-tweets we'll rack up and how hard the Chief will pat us on the head. But ultimately, what we do is not about us, but it's about the people who benefited from our work. Whether that benefit equates to attendees showing up for fundraisers or people getting out with their lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
For those of you granted the gift of gab and pen who use it in service to others, carry on humbly in this dedicated service of your community. That’s what I will be reflecting upon solemnly <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_822735214" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">next Friday</span></span>, as I fit a box of puppies with costume mustaches.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<b>Loralee <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Olejnik</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Southern California PIO</b></div>
Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-69672941105449099382015-10-13T05:52:00.000-04:002015-10-13T05:52:12.875-04:00Everyone in the pool!Sure, it's autumn. And, temperatures in most areas of the country are starting to drop off as the leaves change. But, there are still a few areas where the mercury is holding high, and the folks who live there are considering one last pool party before everyone changes into their heavier clothes for the colder months ahead.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MIDqcy_h_8M7noWj-OIwpC5JFM3rS_VO_JZfvyLHM7UsHdB2zWOtxS0sLnJcQWaBhgRE4YoQvvBRodrH02J7Cb7soUlcWN72DkIPCvwpIxpzvpRCbCikY7RkC9TrfPuS0h87xz12plQ/s1600/Jumping-in-Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MIDqcy_h_8M7noWj-OIwpC5JFM3rS_VO_JZfvyLHM7UsHdB2zWOtxS0sLnJcQWaBhgRE4YoQvvBRodrH02J7Cb7soUlcWN72DkIPCvwpIxpzvpRCbCikY7RkC9TrfPuS0h87xz12plQ/s400/Jumping-in-Pool.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone into the pool!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While pools can be awesome, they sometimes can be troublesome, especially when it comes to media pools. Those are arrangements where either due to time restraint or the conditions of a scene where bringing every single member of the media through to get video, sound or still photos difficult or impossible.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBjzu_ccGRaO7pkFJvfcmx7mXqPIC1KnZqtv0shLpxxUW5ybq1aN1tBX7TZBmDi_QlGbCK629ODocwHlmAg29UXPgvWKNrwYSQ7zX8yBv063uTNldkSrKCqIkWIEsFiwGKybDFwDFuHI/s1600/so-crash1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBjzu_ccGRaO7pkFJvfcmx7mXqPIC1KnZqtv0shLpxxUW5ybq1aN1tBX7TZBmDi_QlGbCK629ODocwHlmAg29UXPgvWKNrwYSQ7zX8yBv063uTNldkSrKCqIkWIEsFiwGKybDFwDFuHI/s400/so-crash1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The downed Bayflite helicopter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My first experience with a media pool happened during an <b><a href="http://www.hultgren.org/news/00-2/n0-0103.html" target="_blank">April 2000 crash of a Bayflite emergency transport helicopter</a></b>. The craft clipped a guy wire on a 500 foot tall antenna in a nature preserve and went down with all three souls aboard. Because the crash site was well back in a very swampy area - complete with alligators, water moccasins and jet fuel - fire rescue units on scene determined that the site was just not going to be accessible to all of the media outlets.<br />
<br />
The incident commander did say, however, that one member of the media could come back with the rescue units to get video of the scene. This was the first lesson I learned about creating a media pool - you never select which outlet gets the video. You simply announce to the media members assembled on scene that there is the opportunity, and that they have five minutes to prepare. At that point, it's critical to let the members of the media decide who will do the deed. In this case, one of the stations was considerably closer to the site than the others, so that photographer went back to his station to get the necessary gear to head into the woods while the other stations offered to cover any briefings if he missed them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEv3bvjZKEW6j5N8lSCz1NNBtboacspQIFut64ODKqFVdGsIXw1fes7S6rkmv08G7wBp-Exbm-Ng6dLtJt4Pl0X1z6RIfX5dF3Goh-76pGy0TJ_otzikyGk9YbX7JOLjTdkQ_BWZfUcE/s1600/photo_news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEv3bvjZKEW6j5N8lSCz1NNBtboacspQIFut64ODKqFVdGsIXw1fes7S6rkmv08G7wBp-Exbm-Ng6dLtJt4Pl0X1z6RIfX5dF3Goh-76pGy0TJ_otzikyGk9YbX7JOLjTdkQ_BWZfUcE/s400/photo_news.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't forget the still photographers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Where we bungled things was by not including a still photographer in the pool, and boy, did we ever hear about that from the print media. Sure, they could get stills from video, but still cameras can give so much better resolution for getting the image on paper. We apologized profusely and promised that we would learn from our mistake.<br />
<br />
Of course, the danger for the PIO is that he or she may start to - ahem - set up situations where only single members of the media can be pooled for a situation, but reporters are pretty savvy and can see when you are simply doing that to prevent answering questions from all of the reporters on scene. Don't play that game, it just makes you look shifty.<br />
<br />
While it may not be the answer to every situation you run into, for the right situation, the pool may be the right tool for what you need to accomplish.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-55028213130207012342015-09-29T05:56:00.000-04:002015-09-29T05:56:25.376-04:00The collapse caught in memoryThis past weekend, I paid a quick visit to Kansas City, Missouri for a woodworking conference. It's an annual tradition, and I get to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, discover new woodworking techniques and salivate over the really sweet new tools for sale. And, are there ever sweet new tools for sale! <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGcwcT9ZujfkbrUqJI0sD8PjoQFPGj5EMAQBCEA0-liH8G3R9vAKUrLXtHO1F65Ho7XIePHrwg7BwNV8z1RQa6HCnq4Hi0IEDWSxPazuLckGV_xUUbWFKzM-RzYsjqZN7tPkB6ao1kBs/s1600/DSC02447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGcwcT9ZujfkbrUqJI0sD8PjoQFPGj5EMAQBCEA0-liH8G3R9vAKUrLXtHO1F65Ho7XIePHrwg7BwNV8z1RQa6HCnq4Hi0IEDWSxPazuLckGV_xUUbWFKzM-RzYsjqZN7tPkB6ao1kBs/s400/DSC02447.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">De planes! De planes! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was something else, though, about the hotel we were staying at. For some strange reason, I felt as if I had seen the lobby before, even though I had never been to Missouri.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnX_TeJNkXRkty8U2wA4I18Pgub3Bv7sJ_oX3lKbq4ZpMvurdz5kCM2HKknPGdo0W6ll50lAIJQq945LQTwkE9m6eTM3HjIdwEA_iVfpSanNJbrdbHEFVTBEuhMUOEuS1pfr1EMpOSJHc/s1600/DSC02479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnX_TeJNkXRkty8U2wA4I18Pgub3Bv7sJ_oX3lKbq4ZpMvurdz5kCM2HKknPGdo0W6ll50lAIJQq945LQTwkE9m6eTM3HjIdwEA_iVfpSanNJbrdbHEFVTBEuhMUOEuS1pfr1EMpOSJHc/s400/DSC02479.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lobby in question</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was beautiful and spacious, but it wasn't one of those large atrium hotels with all of the rooms arranged around a tall open court. It had some interesting architecture with some distinctive cantilevered stairs and a large circular opening at the top of the escalators to the mezzanine level. But, that's not what caught my attention.<br />
<br />
No, it wasn't until I had the opportunity to break out my smartphone and search for what I was looking for did everything click.<br />
<br />
I was sitting in the lobby of a hotel that saw a major disaster.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4R25Du9PqWFOTjGCS0Y5otkXfRNI1cl-ymdkiCYoITH9oAZsyXKtE2nJ76da9lkzFZQjEcdvgY71cVwsLDB3ofKpvqyFPtbu7_0u9dH9YVp2JF_WfQup-3fALzd60XVsqkoSfp3qwuo/s1600/01_DanceFloor04_jpg_410x600_upscale_q85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4R25Du9PqWFOTjGCS0Y5otkXfRNI1cl-ymdkiCYoITH9oAZsyXKtE2nJ76da9lkzFZQjEcdvgY71cVwsLDB3ofKpvqyFPtbu7_0u9dH9YVp2JF_WfQup-3fALzd60XVsqkoSfp3qwuo/s400/01_DanceFloor04_jpg_410x600_upscale_q85.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
<br />
Picture if you will a hot midwestern afternoon in Kansas City. The brand new Hyatt Regency - a brand new 40-story structure overlooking downtown - was hosting a tea dance. Open for less than one year, the new building drew a crowd of nearly 1,600, and spectators were gathered on the floor to dance, while many others were on the three skywalks which crossed the lobby floor.<br />
<br />
What no one had noticed is that a few changes from the design radically affected the ability of these stunning skywalks to handle the weight of people, and at 7:05 p.m., the fourth floor skywalk gave way, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyatt_Regency_walkway_collapse" target="_blank">collapsing onto the second floor skywalk and onto the dancers below</a></b> on the lobby floor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWA_MLpJieIIt_eXvA8sb4KziWMZbnSUoP3qxKaUmjlPYOwKYqhDpauvD8__OySvdm5XLBHUAzszGE6z7n82vX2qu6gVGr7CgJhyKoSzrUNF51Rr5IKkkhtrjAMH2WYf9fQjVyS6JTh4/s1600/lobby_cropped_jpg_700x400_upscale_q85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWA_MLpJieIIt_eXvA8sb4KziWMZbnSUoP3qxKaUmjlPYOwKYqhDpauvD8__OySvdm5XLBHUAzszGE6z7n82vX2qu6gVGr7CgJhyKoSzrUNF51Rr5IKkkhtrjAMH2WYf9fQjVyS6JTh4/s400/lobby_cropped_jpg_700x400_upscale_q85.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
For a few moments, the scene was utter chaos as victims and survivors struggled to make sense of what happened. Since the debris of the fallen skywalks was acting as a dam, rising water from the fire suppression system began to flood the lobby floor, threatening to drown those pinned under the wreckage. All told, 114 people were killed, with another 216 injured. It remained the deadliest structure collapse in American history until the collapse of the South Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.<br />
<br />
And, it left an indelible mark in the history of Kansas City. That's why the city's largest newspaper - the Kansas City Star - created a page called <b><a href="http://skywalk.kansascity.com/" target="_blank">City in Shock</a></b> to capture the memories of those who survived that terrible event. From people enjoying the surroundings to the first responders to the first reporters on the scene to see what unfolded, memories of the event have been recorded for posterity.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJILgX3mqntjGIpZ6ezw3ciuqubUnClog0wr8PnYLgYe7lObB8yLnjDTwBsbW_hYUf4epnJl-YUKT-oARbW03V3WFx0oPRRabEaxYvNeFZE9d-tJ3Q66YT4FTVsu5DGn9fWCOE70GNfeI/s1600/Survivors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJILgX3mqntjGIpZ6ezw3ciuqubUnClog0wr8PnYLgYe7lObB8yLnjDTwBsbW_hYUf4epnJl-YUKT-oARbW03V3WFx0oPRRabEaxYvNeFZE9d-tJ3Q66YT4FTVsu5DGn9fWCOE70GNfeI/s400/Survivors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
As with any disaster, the skywalk collapse in Kansas City has taught us many valuable lessons. It has been said that the collapse was the impetus for <b><a href="http://www.commandsafety.com/2011/07/17/the-hyatt-regency-walkway-collapse-1981-the-begining-of-urban-heavy-rescue/" target="_blank">creating urban heavy rescue fire units </a></b>in cities around the country and the world. As public information officers, we may not know what the next day's duties will challenge us with, but we can be sure that by learning from incidents such as this, we can help get better at our craft.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b><br />
<br />Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-90329661389891166762015-09-22T06:02:00.000-04:002015-09-22T06:02:09.923-04:00Capture those memories<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>When I think back on all the crap I learned in high school ...</i> - Paul Simon, Kodachrome</blockquote>
In addition to being a journalism teacher, my wife also has the honor of serving as her high school's advisor for the yearbook, which usually means she spends her time keeping her eyes out for big events that her students should probably be covering. Football games. Clubs and organizations. Academic achievement.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8icbwhXOIIl9wjrgPDmpFu3j6Y3qpLTqoK8sa34nNUHRl-O94oMoJOIGsHgySh5EDBcxmMErfBkmue2Sn9cgwGS5bS55J0eFK3kpEN6CORiBW2zVlAkHY3RF7RXGq8Le_65i8t6oRMLU/s1600/HS+Yearbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8icbwhXOIIl9wjrgPDmpFu3j6Y3qpLTqoK8sa34nNUHRl-O94oMoJOIGsHgySh5EDBcxmMErfBkmue2Sn9cgwGS5bS55J0eFK3kpEN6CORiBW2zVlAkHY3RF7RXGq8Le_65i8t6oRMLU/s400/HS+Yearbook.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahh, the good old days of laying out yearbooks before computers...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Why? Well, until someone develops time travel, it's going to be difficult for the young yearbookers to recreate shots of events which happened eight or nine months earlier. So, she has to encourage her charges to get out and do their work now before that incredible game, play or achievement is a footnote that few will remember nine months from now during graduation.<br />
<br />
As public information officers, we should take a page out of the playbooks from my wife and all of the other yearbook advisors out there - it is critical to capture the memories of important moments we experienced while we are doing our jobs. Think about it for a moment - your job is a busy one. You move from event to event quickly, barely giving a second thought to what we are doing, especially in the heat of a real-life event.<br />
<br />
The reporters are there. The situation is evolving. You are needed to get the right information to the right people at the right time so they can make the right decision to save lives and property.<br />
<br />
At the end of a busy day doing that, you are beat, and there's a high likelihood that you will just want to go home, grab a bite to eat and catch some sleep. That's important.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAagxe5KjpGwtFZCxBoEo452Ok3tiSmXeax32Oy1SEFpYkP1aOOCNn53pLk60ViY9OpQcuxi4866rdD2b7ZuIwAF39k2LgRMeY4V50cPxQJ7Snyh9XiqrQYXO7b6Py-sYwcsHQsGNH-c/s1600/joiurnaling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAagxe5KjpGwtFZCxBoEo452Ok3tiSmXeax32Oy1SEFpYkP1aOOCNn53pLk60ViY9OpQcuxi4866rdD2b7ZuIwAF39k2LgRMeY4V50cPxQJ7Snyh9XiqrQYXO7b6Py-sYwcsHQsGNH-c/s400/joiurnaling.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Write your thoughts down - digitally or in analog form</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But, as you get to a point where you have a little down time, take a few moments to write down the lessons you learned from that day's work. What were the successes? Where did you fail? What was that pithy quote you gave - or thought of once the reporter walked away? This is known as a hot wash, and believe me, the folks working in operations do this all the time. Get those thoughts down in writing, too. Believe me, once a few days go by, you will forget the details.<br />
<br />
Another reason why my wife enjoys doing the yearbook is that she gets to play a part in telling the history of her school for many years to come. Future yearbook advisors may look back through the archives, see something she did and incorporate those ideas into yearbooks to come. Maybe even a rival school might consider adopting one of her ideas if they think it's a particularly good one.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_3t2BQb2AGEqXUfa_TRb4Am5w3gSlUH0jYlWkIJM8uAdENNi7yac7Pl9vWmXeS9Q39UeGrOKneQtgSIWOBe_m-cnFefc66dq4llwFOEBblYRH4fKAtKaY5nL292ltwyldQZHktM5F9k/s1600/Tom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_3t2BQb2AGEqXUfa_TRb4Am5w3gSlUH0jYlWkIJM8uAdENNi7yac7Pl9vWmXeS9Q39UeGrOKneQtgSIWOBe_m-cnFefc66dq4llwFOEBblYRH4fKAtKaY5nL292ltwyldQZHktM5F9k/s400/Tom.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working logistics in New York City post Sandy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That's the second reason why you should be documenting what you do - so other people might learn from your hard-earned lessons. Why did I <b><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/blog/TampaTom/archive.html?year=2005&month=06" target="_blank">document my trip to Charlotte County after Hurricane Charley passed? </a></b>Why did I put together a blog to<b><a href="http://pinellasem.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"> do daily reports from New York City during our EMAC deployment after Hurricane Sandy</a></b>? Heck, why did I start this blog?<br />
<br />
So that the lessons I have learned could be shared with everyone who stopped by. The good, the bad and the ugly.<br />
<br />
Am I advocating that everyone start their own blog and get articles published about what they do? That would be awesome, but I'm realistic and know that not everyone will be so inclined. But, never shy away from sharing what you have learned with others.<br />
<br />
Many years from now, some other PIO will be glad you did.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-55196186965334414142015-09-17T05:52:00.000-04:002015-09-17T05:52:30.464-04:00Fill your toolboxI don't know if I have ever alluded to this, but I am a woodworker. No, I don't build cabinets for a living, but I do like to mess around in my garage and build some halfway-decent looking pieces. <b><a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/" target="_blank">I have even been running a woodworking blog since August of 2007,</a></b> which is what gave me the confidence to start this blog in the first place.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/DSC00206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/DSC00206.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me working in the shop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Every month, I get catalogs stuffed to the gills with advertisements for the latest and greatest tools in them. There are <b><a href="http://www.japanesetools.com.au/products/rentetsu-chisel-42mm-made-with-100-year-old-anchor-chain" target="_blank">ultra-fine Japanese chisels made from the iron of century old ship anchors</a></b>. There are <b><a href="http://www.grizzly.com/products/20-Professional-Planer-w-5-HP-Single-Phase-Motor/G5850Z" target="_blank">enormous, behemoth milling machines </a></b>that can straighten and face boards more than 20 inches across in seconds. Heck, there are <b><a href="http://www.shopbottools.com/index.htm" target="_blank">even tools that promise to do most of the woodworking for you.</a></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAq2HHjozoso_nZp1hnzTuUrC4IiOBZFDPyRoAuHj0Lhk3qBQYZX4sC6eDrmhvtpA4vW5rgTZViA-K_-G8yg6-MBtzcd5IhpkJVgb7mqovS-8ruF3R-1RhaOdI7bY9ypQl0YeKMjr4y5k/s1600/underhill_leg_IMG_3147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAq2HHjozoso_nZp1hnzTuUrC4IiOBZFDPyRoAuHj0Lhk3qBQYZX4sC6eDrmhvtpA4vW5rgTZViA-K_-G8yg6-MBtzcd5IhpkJVgb7mqovS-8ruF3R-1RhaOdI7bY9ypQl0YeKMjr4y5k/s400/underhill_leg_IMG_3147.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Clown Prince of woodworking, Roy Underhill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
But, every time I look at these tools - and check the bank account - I have to remember that each of those tools is just that - a tool. Woodworkers such as <b><a href="http://www.woodwrightschool.com/" target="_blank">Roy Underhill </a></b>demonstrate that the vast majority of woodworking until the early 1900s was done with a very basic set of hand tools. As new tools have been introduced over the decades, they may have changed the way that woodworking happens, but they don't change the fact that by putting two boards together the right way, you can build a beautiful project that can last several lifetimes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqfKXJ0VhJ93dOO4py4WssuDLcuD3DCRxdR8gZqq1p8sr20wAUWFxf1u4vtbZetY5OLQ1o2KZmPM2dqjMwTZGpP0A0vgMlAYvJib_E8e-7IfbYaGsDrN8qt93c839IMa2MTlKwKj-qKk/s1600/social_media_strategy111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqfKXJ0VhJ93dOO4py4WssuDLcuD3DCRxdR8gZqq1p8sr20wAUWFxf1u4vtbZetY5OLQ1o2KZmPM2dqjMwTZGpP0A0vgMlAYvJib_E8e-7IfbYaGsDrN8qt93c839IMa2MTlKwKj-qKk/s400/social_media_strategy111.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, social media....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Why bring this up in a PIO blog? Well, the drumbeat has been getting louder since about 2008. At first, people asked if I had ever heard about these brand new social media services - Facebook and Twitter. Maybe, if people had the right video hardware, they might question how to incorporate videos from YouTube. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Over the years, the questions have become more sophisticated. When is the best time to post? Who should have access to the account? Should we even be doing more traditional public information and media relations, or should we just shift totally to a social media based media outreach program?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My answer throughout the years has always remained the same. Maybe it's because I am a woodworker, but I always answer by asking, "What are these services to you?" That's usually the a-ha moment when people realize that yeah, they are simply tools to make our jobs a little easier to accomplish.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/IMAG1415.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/IMAG1415.jpeg" height="358" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My well-stocked hand tool tool chest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Would I ever advocate giving up traditional outreach tools? Absolutely not. Just as in my workshop, I have tools that work exceptionally well for different jobs. For instance, my table saw is a great tool for cutting boards in half either length or crosswise, but it is awful at cutting curves into a project. For that, I would turn to my band saw or a jig saw. And, there are sometimes when I simply need the accuracy, control - or silence - that a well-sharpened chisel or block plane can only provide. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The reality is that the best PIOs develop a well-stocked toolbox of methods to conduct their outreach, and they pull them out to do the right job with the right audience at the right time. Sometimes, a social media post is the best way to reach one audience, but a news release may work better. A public speaking engagement might grab the audience you are looking to reach, or maybe a well-written flier handed out at a local library will fill the bill. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/DSC00727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://tomsworkbench.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/DSC00727.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cherry hope chest I built for my neice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Believe me, having a full tool box - and knowing how to use the tools contained within - will go a long way toward making your work a masterpiece. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b></div>
Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-80596832526287793972015-09-15T05:49:00.000-04:002015-09-15T05:49:26.865-04:00Triple AWhen it comes to telling your story to the media, there are really only two schools of thought. The first one involves getting out in front of the story, knowing your stuff and doing the best job you possibly can. Is it scary? You bet. There are many times, especially during controversial stories, where I would much rather be anywhere else but in front of the camera. But, sometimes, you just gotta do what you just gotta do and - as Shakespeare said so eloquently in Hamlet - <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_be,_or_not_to_be" target="_blank">suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.</a></b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM8yH3VAPAqlE6WwBeYCSO329yi5xs9uOSzgF-lW4_ZAPYTlglvqkQM3ewxJyvDcofOzN371f5SBtKeZf-EW_bgzsXzNXpgjdqcjX39z4Z3YQjIvzDBibaNn2ye4yXyqzwu4_xZh3JxE/s1600/the-myth-of-the-ostrich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM8yH3VAPAqlE6WwBeYCSO329yi5xs9uOSzgF-lW4_ZAPYTlglvqkQM3ewxJyvDcofOzN371f5SBtKeZf-EW_bgzsXzNXpgjdqcjX39z4Z3YQjIvzDBibaNn2ye4yXyqzwu4_xZh3JxE/s400/the-myth-of-the-ostrich.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one way to accommodate a media request...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The other approach is to put your head in the sand and avoid the reporters altogether. And, in the short run, it's an awesome technique. The only problem is that it's only good for the short term. The really short term. Before you know it, the reporters will be knocking on your door, camping out in your lobby, making public requests for your schedule and meeting you at your very important lunch appointment, waiting by your home's front door... yeah... and you will look shifty, evasive and - believe me - the reporter will spare no eloquence in describing his or her Herculean efforts to wrest a comment from your uncooperative lips.<br />
<br />
The other technique that the reporters will employ was taught to me by my good friend and mentor Bill Wade. The reporters - if pressed by their deadlines - will simply seek out Triple A.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2FjFMoxYZm_22IdL-VH4p4pPQJ2G2EDiVWK8bXu5xG-lEVx9RWLWcmIWwYDAnvmIHEPfsATaEbloWxKW1zk5A3yVWWYmnpNxV7m9jYMJAWM2y1n2BdgbubaVsOOAfCsFB3bAH9Vwamk/s1600/800px-Bofors-aa-gun-algeria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2FjFMoxYZm_22IdL-VH4p4pPQJ2G2EDiVWK8bXu5xG-lEVx9RWLWcmIWwYDAnvmIHEPfsATaEbloWxKW1zk5A3yVWWYmnpNxV7m9jYMJAWM2y1n2BdgbubaVsOOAfCsFB3bAH9Vwamk/s400/800px-Bofors-aa-gun-algeria.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not THAT kind of Triple A</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
No, not the<b><a href="http://www.aaa.com/" target="_blank"> automobile club which rescues stranded motorists from roadsides the country over</a></b>. Nor are they<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aircraft_warfare" target="_blank"> looking for anti-aircraft artillery </a></b>which they will use to shoot down bombers conducting their raids.<br />
<br />
No, the Triple A that Bill mentioned stands for something that should strike terror into the heart of any seasoned PIO -<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Ask</li>
<li>Any</li>
<li>A ... authority. Yeah, that's right. Bill had a more colorful term for this A, but I'll use the one I teach about when I instruct. </li>
</ul>
<br />
What this means is that the reporters are going to look for someone who will be eager to speak with the reporters - and, believe me, there will be TONS of people who will be willing to do that. Disgruntled former or current employees? Yup. Ten-minute experts? You betcha. Maybe just some interesting people who are just looking to get their big break to be on the nightly news. Folks like these (Needless to say, some of the language is a little salty. Like cured, dried country ham kind of salty. Listen with earbuds in. Seriously) :<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hkK-gI7xAP4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hkK-gI7xAP4?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NhcXH0tSx_M/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NhcXH0tSx_M?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iLx6ZeJNjmg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iLx6ZeJNjmg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
Now, as uncomfortable as you might be in front of the camera, who would you rather have telling your organization's side of the story? You or someone familiar with your organization's roles and responsibilities, or the luck of the draw? If it was me, I'd much prefer to be out in front of something like this than totally blindsided when I turned on the evening news - and called on my boss's carpet the next morning.<br />
<br />
So, while it may be tempting to circle the wagons, retreat and hope the story goes away, fight the urge and get out in front of the issue. Trust me, it will be a whole lot more comfortable.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;"><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.48px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.48px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.48px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-50753956852820718112015-09-10T09:06:00.001-04:002015-09-10T09:06:23.742-04:00The best pyramid schemeNothing quite says 'hard work' like taking a peek at they pyramids in Egypt. There, in the middle of the desert, Pharaohs had either their impressed labor/religious devotees bust their behinds for decades to construct some of the world's most amazing structures. To this day, they remain engineering marvels.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MUSaSoibGna-NnAmnkwgVfVGzMGnuDmh-3HwryEam-eUDkaHY_sBMR6nWfwJg67gw2c5g72R_V0dQoFsloOJJHrFdPpDsJUFqLkJHg0AIIRi4zBxtYDffiuXcFk42g9_AFdetE37ibI/s1600/pyramid+construction+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MUSaSoibGna-NnAmnkwgVfVGzMGnuDmh-3HwryEam-eUDkaHY_sBMR6nWfwJg67gw2c5g72R_V0dQoFsloOJJHrFdPpDsJUFqLkJHg0AIIRi4zBxtYDffiuXcFk42g9_AFdetE37ibI/s400/pyramid+construction+picture.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'm pretty sure that stone goes over there..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course, they did take a ton of work to build. But, what if I told you that using a pyramid could help make your job as a public information officer a whole lot easier? Would you believe me?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb2TzcJvdAEdAkL1BNM4gIkOohycd-F5yYqzmGYO6uJyALdfEsjdzlSJfACJwhKmWkndg4Z-HgDSmfa7ufwzzQtJYW9Z8E_iK0l_e35-QoXB634FAcxakgUZeWbRQR9NWlZKO6L9fJLU/s1600/KHM-Inverted-pyramid-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeb2TzcJvdAEdAkL1BNM4gIkOohycd-F5yYqzmGYO6uJyALdfEsjdzlSJfACJwhKmWkndg4Z-HgDSmfa7ufwzzQtJYW9Z8E_iK0l_e35-QoXB634FAcxakgUZeWbRQR9NWlZKO6L9fJLU/s400/KHM-Inverted-pyramid-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Inverted Pyramid. Get to know it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sure it will, if you flip it up on its head. The <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_pyramid" target="_blank">Inverted Pyramid</a></b> is a tool that journalists have used for a long time to guide their writing. And, if we want to succeed in pitching our information to the media, it only goes to follow that we should be providing our information in a manner which reporters are familiar with.<br />
<br />
The basic premise of the Inverted Pyramid is this - you put all of the most important information up at the top of your news release. I know, there are some of us out there who want to be mystery novel writers who would love to keep our readers in suspense until the last minute, but that's not what's going to fly with reporters. Many of them are working hard to file a few stories each day, and they don't have the time to read through your release to get the big payoff. In fact, given the volume of news releases that cross an editor's desk in a day, your release may have an average of five seconds or less to grab his or her attention.<br />
<br />
Not a lot of time for exposition.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsfulqgwqgy4RZ3Rrq2ZZWM5w3PFtwkcO5iQvL-cjlNeSbEz56xDDu3eDlJh_3D8ACFBzlVNhcnY50fbHxsHF1Xs4bmG2GHzq1q0DgtmgkvGbtToOiWLwMwIp4_tCoMmup6Z49Th_hBE/s1600/Friday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsfulqgwqgy4RZ3Rrq2ZZWM5w3PFtwkcO5iQvL-cjlNeSbEz56xDDu3eDlJh_3D8ACFBzlVNhcnY50fbHxsHF1Xs4bmG2GHzq1q0DgtmgkvGbtToOiWLwMwIp4_tCoMmup6Z49Th_hBE/s400/Friday.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Friday just wants the facts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just like <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Friday" target="_blank">Detective Joe Friday in the TV show Dragnet</a></b>, just the facts, ma'am. That's what the reporter needs. But, it's so much more than that. When you write in the Inverted Pyramid, you help get the most important facts out to the public because of cutting.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZesKs-rTzYld-kKgp3c-1-zpwXdy_caOCCtEc6p0DpToGx6bJ-n2qV8fU-eeaA09uI-q2pSfahpj7GByxNcLlhFqjTwZ5rumBpL1gD-6r8kIhuzTXGDgvhh_ksEGcCKpQwFi0nX-zcSw/s1600/cutting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZesKs-rTzYld-kKgp3c-1-zpwXdy_caOCCtEc6p0DpToGx6bJ-n2qV8fU-eeaA09uI-q2pSfahpj7GByxNcLlhFqjTwZ5rumBpL1gD-6r8kIhuzTXGDgvhh_ksEGcCKpQwFi0nX-zcSw/s400/cutting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut away the unnecessary stuff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I go back to my example of the incredible number of releases received by editors and reporters in a day. In many cases, your press release can serve as a stand-alone story in a newspaper or a reader in a broadcast. If the story is too long, the editors may simply cut from the bottom of your release. If you have all of your important news at the top, it makes their job much easier, and no one will miss the less important facts which you have placed at the bottom of your release.<br />
<br />
Where does this get sideways? I'm glad you asked. I have taught many public information officers through the years, and one of the exercises we do is to have them write a sample press release based on a hypothetical event. The people who have the toughest time understanding this concept are law enforcement and fire rescue PIOs. Not because they can't understand the concept, but because just about everything else they write is done in a chronological format. If the first call to the station for help came in at 2 p.m., but the chlorine gas wasn't released until 4:30 p.m., no one is really going to care about the two and a half hours that led up to the potentially lethal event. A release should focus on the most important and critical piece of information before anything else is even mentioned.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pMV4nDAOOhkW1esEyuqqSQmSVCF8lv7JYbpET_WOEArenHLdTLPJKdCWyrvEccYCUfeCzKJOTWkAGP8TOHclljz2GM5s6jM4lyi12IAmfR3gQ8esjkZlaH1tzwmeMfMeaCEUFpkuYXo/s1600/Inverted+pyramid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pMV4nDAOOhkW1esEyuqqSQmSVCF8lv7JYbpET_WOEArenHLdTLPJKdCWyrvEccYCUfeCzKJOTWkAGP8TOHclljz2GM5s6jM4lyi12IAmfR3gQ8esjkZlaH1tzwmeMfMeaCEUFpkuYXo/s400/Inverted+pyramid.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some truly inverted pyramids</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now that you know about the Inverted Pyramid, you might discover that the whole concept stands your view of the world on its head. That's a good thing, especially if it helps you get your message out to the public.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-9587758784333323322015-09-08T08:27:00.000-04:002015-09-08T08:51:53.147-04:00Out of nowhereImagine if you will a bright, sunny day. Not a care in the world. You are enjoying the lovely scenery and maybe even taking in some time at a local park, when someone tells you that the latest and most advanced communications technology is on the fritz. Strange things are happening, and people who operate these devices are even getting shocked if they touch them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDTj6SG-chr90T4S3nn24lYVWa2e1apwbasItPHX7TRbIDriZJkQFMi2CO2joAgEJA_LTF4-PoLR1MVAYs-_2iBRvUuI5e9Z-bAcKukJRWpoYmyi1_yYh5bsrtDKBWlEgFY-XFzPf6Mk/s1600/man-frustrated-with-phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDTj6SG-chr90T4S3nn24lYVWa2e1apwbasItPHX7TRbIDriZJkQFMi2CO2joAgEJA_LTF4-PoLR1MVAYs-_2iBRvUuI5e9Z-bAcKukJRWpoYmyi1_yYh5bsrtDKBWlEgFY-XFzPf6Mk/s400/man-frustrated-with-phone.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What do you mean, "No signal?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sounds like some kind of sci-fi fantasy before the onset of an alien invasion, right? Knock out the infrastructure, then attack. Actually, this scenario is based on a real-life event which took place on September 2, 1859. Back then, the high-tech communications infrastructure - the telegraph - made near-instantaneous continent-wide communications a reality. News traveled from coast to coast in a fraction of the time it would take to travel by rail, horse and rider or sailing ship.<br />
<br />
On that date in 1859, a massive solar storm, known as the <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859" target="_blank">Carrington Event</a></b>, took place. During the event, the Sun spit out a tremendous solar flare which made its impact felt on the Earth. Aurorae were seen as far south as Tampico, Mexico and in sub-Sahara Africa, while southern hemispheric auororae were seen as far north as New Guinea. Normally, these phenomena are restricted to the far northern and southern regions, so something of this magnitude must have been tremendous to see.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8bHHXA6Rm38KUjqhAv_wPavStvOkJnYJbHwSUP4_Q_rj-TKdfurS5ev2vHXWBMxMMtO-TkWBMR9eTQukKD7hnujNqEscSMGbWSFbkty069nCQ5CVK8lXGSiT1XINB-p32GH_Ux4JrWE/s1600/green-mountains_2220833k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8bHHXA6Rm38KUjqhAv_wPavStvOkJnYJbHwSUP4_Q_rj-TKdfurS5ev2vHXWBMxMMtO-TkWBMR9eTQukKD7hnujNqEscSMGbWSFbkty069nCQ5CVK8lXGSiT1XINB-p32GH_Ux4JrWE/s400/green-mountains_2220833k.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aurorae in their glory</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Event such as these before 1859 were visual spectacles for sure, but after the invention of the telegraph and the establishment of electrical infrastructure, this became a huge issue. Telegraph operators reported being shocked by their equipment and wire pylons threw sparks. The interruption took a few days to clear, and the impact was recorded by newspapers which had to rely on older technology to try to gather news.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe3l9Qt8OTMOrpvA35WNIXd1sphlhuto-xKEbtYiXrCzngLX0d2EAytj4SAN5Jxbh5VqVsXuuQzixIjqr_lD23kvpxXWC6L-aSuHDWewtEL4TBMEBIkZYGxoiQWRUyPCUXg0zdLoEXn4/s1600/6-Baudot-Telegraph-Operators-1890-150dpi-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe3l9Qt8OTMOrpvA35WNIXd1sphlhuto-xKEbtYiXrCzngLX0d2EAytj4SAN5Jxbh5VqVsXuuQzixIjqr_lD23kvpxXWC6L-aSuHDWewtEL4TBMEBIkZYGxoiQWRUyPCUXg0zdLoEXn4/s400/6-Baudot-Telegraph-Operators-1890-150dpi-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Telegraph operators working on vulnerable equipment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Why bring this up? I think you already know the answer to this one. How much more reliant have we become on electricity and electronic communications in the 150+ years since then? Entire power grids span the world. Cell phone towers now dominate the communications infrastructure. We have built our plans around the idea that our residents will have immediate access to information at a moment's notice, and many of our backup plans have been relegated to the annals of history.<br />
<br />
That might be a big mistake. We have seen what can happen during ice storms and hurricanes when power is knocked out to localized areas. And, we know for a fact that on <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_2012" target="_blank">July 23, 2012</a></b>, a solar flare the size of the Carrington Event occurred, just missing the Earth. Had that event not missed our planet, we could have been looking at an event which could have caused up to $2.6 trillion in worldwide damages, and could have taken years to recover from.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEECurb-o2QPeJQ7Xha8tfH8LDixcsbcS1yAzFIKQqOvdL-OIPaH-NS-ysrzxFq8hWTCS3bY-XxMCtPOoOtB5wBP7rI7fI-wfE3r1p2T33ej_R9K0Zgqf3X_BgDtMaiTksXFF6vmKKmE/s1600/CME_of_23_July_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEECurb-o2QPeJQ7Xha8tfH8LDixcsbcS1yAzFIKQqOvdL-OIPaH-NS-ysrzxFq8hWTCS3bY-XxMCtPOoOtB5wBP7rI7fI-wfE3r1p2T33ej_R9K0Zgqf3X_BgDtMaiTksXFF6vmKKmE/s400/CME_of_23_July_2012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The solar flare of July 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This type of event has not gone unnoticed by disaster planners. In fact, FEMA has an <b><a href="http://m.fema.gov/space-weather" target="_blank">entire research division working on space weather</a></b>, and offers disaster preparedness tips just as it does for earthquakes, tornadoes or other hazards.<br />
<br />
While the possibility of another Carrington Event is not huge, it does merit at least a little discussion among the disaster preparedness community.<br />
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b>Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871316509661552685.post-8506184963010529622015-09-01T05:53:00.000-04:002015-09-01T05:53:41.949-04:00It was seen in advanceTen years ago, we were watching some of the most incredible images coming from the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina" target="_blank">Hurricane Katrina</a></b>, a storm with winds less powerful than <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Camille" target="_blank">1969's Category 5 Hurricane Camille,</a></b> was flooding the largest city in <b><a href="http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t3/tables/tab03.pdf" target="_blank">the nation's 35th most populous metropolitan statistical area. </a></b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH2_MtqI9PI6qxb8sCGvh9B1ekrG50-GV6PTMKX5R0eJCSfFAgxnLVoE5pT5iZlHA4wlNzJgdKh97ti9PchZik6Gtp-NaWgZP-sFXsTJe4usniHU4qOsY5ZRMZQiOtF0UeWg_CHZDv-g/s1600/NewOrleans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHH2_MtqI9PI6qxb8sCGvh9B1ekrG50-GV6PTMKX5R0eJCSfFAgxnLVoE5pT5iZlHA4wlNzJgdKh97ti9PchZik6Gtp-NaWgZP-sFXsTJe4usniHU4qOsY5ZRMZQiOtF0UeWg_CHZDv-g/s400/NewOrleans.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devastation in the center of New Orleans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was no way that anyone could have possibly imagined the devastation that was to come. We had so few examples of cities laid so low in recent history. Sure, <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1900_Galveston_hurricane" target="_blank">Galveston was laid waste to in 1900</a></b> and <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1906_San_Francisco_earthquake" target="_blank">San Francisco had been shaken to its foundations in 1906</a></b>, but in modern times, seeing a major city leveled like that was unbelievable. <span id="goog_303103854"></span><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Hugo" target="_blank">Hugo's clawing of Charleston in 1989</a></b> and <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Andrew" target="_blank">Andrew's near-miss of downtown Miami in 1992</a></b> were wake up calls for sure, but it always seemed as if the big cities would always be spared the direct impact, right?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79F0PYer5veuYGjxR3KxuGvfOtd9FxTjXRyAUBQY-HfE2md5IPnaa9NaEgxPV2FKLBRgkSFfF16PL8LNSZ6xeqr1BDC58OmYpPpqklNo-vfI5jsx4PW9yKr_zYDCr-imTKNxP6RuxL60/s1600/NGeoOct2004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79F0PYer5veuYGjxR3KxuGvfOtd9FxTjXRyAUBQY-HfE2md5IPnaa9NaEgxPV2FKLBRgkSFfF16PL8LNSZ6xeqr1BDC58OmYpPpqklNo-vfI5jsx4PW9yKr_zYDCr-imTKNxP6RuxL60/s320/NGeoOct2004.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The October 2004 edition of National Geographic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not everyone believed that. In fact, in October of 2004, hurricane-weary Americans who subscribed to National Geographic picked up their copies of the magazine to see <b><a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2004/10/louisiana-wetlands/bourne-text" target="_blank">a story about the loss of Louisiana's wetlands</a></b> and their potential impact should the city be hit by a hurricane.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjF1w8Z5QaYS6q8Gu65jH2iKfyysQZLv2zIYiBUyGKHwBKecs44cztDq7_uUYkYhiAUxwWZgzBDBS3tzMHkkPIJ86mHkGWjgCi0nKFrCetw447r_OEb4XreGJ_wECy7ynR8rkuDWhehs/s1600/louisiana-wetlands-clean-615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjF1w8Z5QaYS6q8Gu65jH2iKfyysQZLv2zIYiBUyGKHwBKecs44cztDq7_uUYkYhiAUxwWZgzBDBS3tzMHkkPIJ86mHkGWjgCi0nKFrCetw447r_OEb4XreGJ_wECy7ynR8rkuDWhehs/s400/louisiana-wetlands-clean-615.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The hypothetical storm, Hurricane Pam, brought sustained winds of 120 miles per hour and nearly 20 inches of rain to the Big Easy, and challenged the teams assembled from nearly 50 federal, state, parish, city and non-governmental organizations. You can <b><a href="http://www.fema.gov/news-release/2004/07/23/hurricane-pam-exercise-concludes" target="_blank">read the news release about the summary of the operation here</a></b> to get all of the details.<br />
<br />
And, in less than one year from that story hitting the news stands, an actual storm of the hypothesized system's strength plowed ashore, causing many of the anticipated issues.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDkbWlfQKSuGJJEmhhu6XJOZCijABlhtpjALFMnqUbhavDCnPt2cUlHrAQNf3qCnT607MMdyTHbUtUHWykA7rWVrBJLPWkuFDJuuYTQaVcXrxTg305hDXCvkPcqxT_Ty_gtZQpqTqiNM/s1600/Industrial-Canal-Breach3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDkbWlfQKSuGJJEmhhu6XJOZCijABlhtpjALFMnqUbhavDCnPt2cUlHrAQNf3qCnT607MMdyTHbUtUHWykA7rWVrBJLPWkuFDJuuYTQaVcXrxTg305hDXCvkPcqxT_Ty_gtZQpqTqiNM/s400/Industrial-Canal-Breach3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The levees failed - as envisioned during the Hurricane Pam exercise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This post is not to assign blame or to Monday morning quarterback the public information efforts taken by the cities, parishes, counties or states involved. Instead, it should serve as a motivational tool for each of us as public information officers. We know what areas may be paralyzed by ice storms this coming winter. We know what areas may be affected by tornadoes in the fall or spring. We know what times of the year hurricanes or nor'easters can affect coastal areas. We know the potential for earthquakes, wildfires, mudslides or other disasters can befall our residents.<br />
<br />
So, what are we going to do about it?<br />
<br />
Are we going to look back in history at the disasters that befell where we live and learn the valuable lessons dearly learned by our predecessors,? Are we going to take the opportunities presented to us each and every day to make that connection with our residents?<br />
<br />
It has been ten years. Do we still remember the lessons?<br /><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">T</span><span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">om Iovino, Public Relations Strategist</span></span><br style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;" /><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Hillsborough County, Florida</span><br style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;" /><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino" style="color: #888888; line-height: 18.4799995422363px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomiovino</a></b><br />
<br />Tom Iovinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14020185083536533618noreply@blogger.com0