It was October 27th, 2003 when President Bush declared Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties as major disaster areas. At the time, more than 8,000 firefighters were doing their best to contain at least 10 wildfires, many of which had destroyed thousands of homes, left tens of thousands without electricity and had led a tragic loss of human life. During the 2003 wildfire crisis, hundreds of thousands of acres were lost and Southern California was brought to a standstill. The crisis was covered by the international media and left many struggling for answers and ways to deal with the damage. A wildfire crisis can take a serious toll on the economic and emotional health of a region. The ability to deal with the media in an understanding and compassionate manner that provides information to a news-hungry public is crucial during a wildfire crisis. Our Wildfire Crisis Media Training workshop provides public officials, fire department spokesmen, government and agency representatives and other public relations professionals with the ability to effectively manage a wildfire crisis situation with the media.
The Wildfire Crisis Media Training workshop focuses on empowering individuals who must deal with the media during a wildfire crisis, regardless of the size or scope involved. Even communications related to a wildfire crisis that is easily contained and does not pose a threat to the general public is covered. This crisis media training workshop will equip you with the tools and skills required to successfully communicate and inform the public and media. These crucial skills can be utilized by multiple agencies, regardless of their role in dealing with the media during a wildfire crisis. Local and federal government agencies can utilize the skills in this training workshop to communicate with the media to discuss the effect on forestlands, communities and wildlife or to detail relief efforts during a wildfire crisis. These training concepts can also be used by organizations that, for some reason or another, may have been found at fault and must answer to hostile crowds, non-stop media questions and other concerned parties. Several simulated press conferences and question and answer situations are utilized to provide crisis media participants with wildfire crisis skill practice. One-on-one coaching sessions provide personalized feedback from a training instructor. Time is spent working on training modules, application exercises, question and answer sessions and other activities to reinforce the learning process in this crisis media training workshop.
Wildfire Crisis Media Training program participants will learn to:
- Understand the issues faced during a wildfire crisis
- Deal with the emotions of angry crowds, hostile print media and broadcast media
- Properly interact with the media during a crisis
- Enhance image and credibility when conveying wildfire crisis information
- Determine media attitudes and needs
- Overcome nervousness during a high pressure crisis situation
- Use visual aids and other media to reinforce a message
- Conduct face-to-face and telephone media interviews during a crisis
- Satisfy the media’s needs during a crisis while focusing on a message
- Present accurate information without appearing misinformed
- Plan a crisis media presentation and build a statement for use with the media
- Maintain control under the most challenging situations
- Deal with the difficulties faced when a loss of life is involved
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