At the incident scene, media inquiries are handled by the Public Information Officer (PIO). The PIO is a designated and trained individual responsible for communicating with the media, providing official statements, managing information flow, and ensuring accurate and timely updates about the incident
. Key points about the role of the Public Information Officer at the incident scene include:
- The PIO works closely with the Incident Commander to approve and coordinate information released to the media to avoid misinformation or conflicting messages
- The PIO provides regular briefings and updates to the media, distributes press releases and information packets, and may be available on-call to answer questions throughout the incident
- Before the PIO arrives, basic information and a staging area for the media should be provided, with the PIO taking over media relations as soon as possible
- The PIO is trained to understand both the needs of emergency responders and the media, including media deadlines and the need for visual/audio materials
- Employees at the scene should defer media inquiries to the PIO to maintain consistent and authorized communication
In summary, the Public Information Officer is the official spokesperson designated to handle all media inquiries at an incident scene to ensure clear, accurate, and controlled communication with the public and press.
