COURSE INFORMATION
Course Description
This course will equip participants with the skills needed to be full or part-time PIOs, including oral and written communications; understanding and working with the media; and basic tools and techniques to perform effectively as a PIO, both in the proactive/ advocacy times and crisis/emergency response.
Course Objectives
- Using the strategic communications planning model, develop a public awareness campaign (95%)
- Using the strategic communications planning model, develop an incident communications strategy (5%)
- Indicate the purpose of a public awareness campaign
- Identify the steps in developing a public awareness campaign
- Develop a strategy for an awareness campaign on a selected topic
- Change the method of developing a plan to follow the 8-step StratCom process
- Demonstrate the role and function of the PIO in both day-to-day emergency environments
- Compare actions PIOs can take to work with the news media during day-to-day and emergency situation
- Describe different public information written products
- Apply effective news release writing guidance
- Adapt or repurpose written media products for social media
- Describe what types of impressions specific body language might convey during an interview
- Identify elements of an interview the PIO should consider ahead of time
- Identify steps a PIO needs to take to prepare for and conduct a news interview
- Demonstrate effective techniques for on-camera interviews
Mission Areas
Prerequisites
- IS0029.a: Public Information Officer Awareness
Disciplines
Primary Core Capability
- Public Information and Warning
STUDENT INFORMATION
UNIFORM/ATTIRE:
- Casual attire is encouraged.
CLASS MATERIALS:
- You will recieve a course welcome email approxiamtely one week prior to the start of class.
- NDDES no longer prints class materials (student manual and course handouts). Class materials are distributed as a PDF/link via email by NDDES or the course provider. Please refer to your welcome email for required class materials. You may print these to bring with you or use them on an electronic device (computer or tablet; phones are not recommended for this).
- It is your responsibility to have the required materials for class. If you experience issues with the attachments reach out to the contact in the email for assistance.
- This class requires both pre-test and post-test assessments which are delivered online, therefore a device such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone is required.
- Any method to take notes (notebook, iPad, tablet) is acceptable and encouraged.
- Food and beverages (in covered containers) are permitted.
- A positive and open attitude is always welcomed too.
TRANSPORTATION:
- Transportation will be coordinated at the individual unit/organization level.
LODGING:
Lodging is not provided. Effective August 1, 2025, the maximum in-state lodging reimbursement amount for North Dakota will match the GSA rate, which is currently $110 per night (plus applicable taxes and/or mandatory fees). Previously, the rate was capped at 90% of the GSA rate; however, that limitation was removed during the most recent legislative session.
Most hotels in Bismarck offer rooms at the state rate if availble. The hotels below are located close to the training location and offer state rates with varying ammenities.
- Holiday Inn Bismarck, 3903 State St, Bismarck, ND
Phone: 701-751-8240
Ammenities: Restaurant, Bar, Pool, Fitness Center, WiFi
- Candlewood Suites, 4400 Skyline Crossings, Bismarck, ND
Phone: 701-751-8900
Ammenities: Full Kitchen, Pet Friendly, Fitness Center, WiFi
- Wingate by Wyndham, 1421 Skyline Blvd, Bismarck, ND
Phone: 701-368-4181
Ammenities: Free Breakfast, Pool, Fitness Center, WiFi
NOTE: If you are claiming reimbursement to be paid back to a government agency such as a county, instead of you, then taxes will not be reimbursed and the maximum reimbursable rate is $96.30.
- DO NOT use a third-party hotel reservation system (hotels.com, expedia.com, trivago.com, etc.) if you’ll be requesting lodging reimbursement:
- You will most likely not get the state rate.
- You will most likely not get an itemized (shows rate, taxes, and other fees) zero-balance hotel receipt which is required for reimbursement.
- You will most likely get a composite receipt for the total amount and the hotel itself will not be able to give you one either.
MEALS:
Meals are not provided. In-state reimbursement rates are:
- Breakfast – $9.00.
- Lunch – $14.00.
- Dinner – $22.00.
REIMBURSEMENT:
NDDES will reimburse lodging and per-diem at state rates for participants who:
- Are employees of state, local or tribal government/jurisdictions, and;
- Are First Responders or work in Emergency Management, and;
- Live or work in North Dakota, and;
- Live more than 50 miles from the training/event location.
You will need:
