Embedded Files
Working with your PIO
During and immediately following a mass violence event, it is imperative to provide official information to various media sources that is accurate, timely, multilingual and multicultural. A communication gatekeeper will be responsible for overseeing the communication team and working with the victim/family law enforcement advocate and public information officer (PIO) for effective communication. The role of the victim advocate in communication is discussed in this section.
Coordination
By the time a Family Assistance Center (FAC) is established, there is likely a recognized Public Information Officer (PIO) for the overall mass violence incident from the law enforcement agency leading the response. It is critical that the victim advocate coordinate with the PIO on information being released, and whether or not victims would like to speak to the media. The best-case scenario is that every victim or victims’ family have their own PIO or access to their own PIO.
Considerations
Some items that should be considered in working with the media:
Are there resources available so that a designated PIO can be assigned to every victim or victims’ family?
How to prepare victims for the media onslaught
How a victim advocate can ask for help in working with the media
How to work with many PIO’s
Working with the PIO on funeral management
What to do if the victim initiates the contact with the media
Report abuse