Purpose
The intent of the Advanced Public Information Officers Course (APIO)
is application of public information skills to a major emergency or disaster
situation. This is accomplished with a series of lecture presentations
and exercises over the four days of the course.
Prerequisite
Students must take FEMA’s Basic Public Information Officers course
at the State level before they can be accepted into APIO. Waivers from
the prerequisite can be obtained by students who are experienced PIO’s,
hold degrees in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or have taken
basic PIO training from another organization such as a police academy,
the military or the Red Cross. To obtain a waiver, attach a letter of
request describing your experience to your application (FEMA form 75-5).
Click
here to download an application form.
Units of Instruction:
Legal Issues in Public Information, Public Information
and Public Policy, Risk Communication*, Interpersonal Skills for Public
Information Officers,
Conflict Resolution, Communicating Effectively During and Emergency*,
Media Relations*, Emergency Information Systems, Stress Management for
PIO’s, Joint Information Center Exercise.
(Units marked with an * include practical exercises)
Course Dates, Fiscal Year 2005:
November 15-19, 2004; January 31-February 4, 2005; March 21-25, 2005;
April 25-29, 2005; July 11-15, 2005; September 12-16, 2005.
For More Information:
For admission and campus information call the NETC Admissions Office,
301-447-1653
For course content information call Pete Vogel, 301-447-1101 or pete.vogel@dhs.gov