It would take someone from Hollywood to think of this training concept of having the Public Information Officer (PIO) get out from behind the desk and to go live out and about doing their job.  David Furtado, Executive Producer, of theBattalion.tv is just the person to come up with this concept that has gone from under 100 or so viewers the first week to numbers into the thousands.

Looking forward to another exciting adventures in my life as Prince Georges Coutny Fire/EMS PIO as I travel across the County discussing the life of a PIO and possible catching an incident, and sometimes I bring on a special guest.  Working with Tule Fog Productions through the years as they have produced our series has been great and now beding a part of this new LIVE series is just another exciting step for our series and our Department either from inside the buggy, on the fireground or training groun

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930

MEBrady@co.pg.md.us     @PGFDPIO

Mark E. Brady - Chief Spokesperson/PIO - Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department - 9201 Basil Court #452 - Largo, MD 20774 - 240-508-7930

PIO Training Opportunity

By: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson/Public Information Officer

Friends and new acquaintances often ask me after they hear what I do for a living, “I bet you have seen everything?”  My response is always, “I may think so until the next incident occurs.”

On Wednesday, Aug. 26 two journalists were shot and killed by a disgruntled ex-employee of the television station they worked for, a CBS affiliate, WDBJ, in Roanoke, Virginia. 

It seems too easy.  You have a smartphone and you capture a few images of your Department at work.  You post the image and caption to the many social media networks available for everyone in the world to see.  Does this make you the Department's Public Information Officer (PIO)??  No, you are doing what any person with a smartphone can do and sometimes they get it right and sometimes wrong.  If you are a member of a Fire or EMS Department, do you have permission from your Chief and/or your Department to operate as the PIO??

It seems too easy.  You have a smartphone and you capture a few images of your Department at work.  You post the image and caption to the many social media networks available for everyone in the world to see.  Does this make you the Department's Public Information Officer (PIO)??  No, you are doing what any person with a smartphone can do and sometimes they get it right and sometimes wrong.