Course Description – Crisis, Risk, Emergency, and Disaster (CRED) Communications are distinct yet intrinsically related fields. This course will introduce all of this and examine them as distinct areas that should be viewed and handled differently. It is the aim of this course to explore them as different fields and build appropriate skillsets. The course will provide, not just theoretical arguments, but practical solutions for practitioners charged with public communications in emergencies and disasters.
The Fundamentals Course is targeted at non-communications professionals who may be responsible for emergency communications on behalf of an agency or organization. Typically, these people may be responsible for warnings and updates for a situation their agency has no operational responsibility for, such as a fire at a school where the school needs to reach students and families but has no responsibility to provide commentary on the fire.
Topics include:
- Introduction
- Crisis, Risk, Emergency and Disaster Communications Fundamentals
- Public Communications Fundamentals
- Audiences and Reactions
- Messaging
- Short Messages
Outcomes:
- Build knowledge and understanding of the fields of crisis, risk, emergency, and disaster communication.
- Understand emotional, cultural, and community context in a disaster that affects disaster communication.
- Understanding of the need for strategy and how to develop and deliver a strategic plan in a disaster situation.
- Build an appreciation of the need for a sound approach to message development and delivery.
- Understand and develop strategies for coping with high-pressure work environments.
Start Date: 1/18/2021
End Date: 2/22/2021
Course Fee $495.00
Register for Winter quarter 2021 at https://my.pierce.ctc.edu/…/CEOLReg/registerclasses.aspx
Go to Find Classes
Quarter: Winter2021
Search By: Course
Title Keyword: CRED
Class Number: 23124
Contact Kellie Hale for more information at khale@pierce.ctc.edu.
Instructor Bio: Based in Brisbane, Australia, Peter Rekers brings a wealth of experiences to the Institute for this course. He has been in a variety of public information roles including as the Media Director for Coalition Forces in Iraq in 2003. This involved managing all media relations both face to face and via phone to the world’s media. He was also responsible for the management of daily media briefings for both military and Coalition Provisional Authority spokespeople and leadership. These briefings would be attended by up to 450 media and included media conferences for Colin Powell and Don Rumsfeld.
In Australia, he has been in senior Public Information roles during wildfires, floods, cyclones, and severe weather events. He has often been the primary spokesperson for the agencies he represented in these events.
As a consultant, he has worked in a variety of industries including aviation, corrections, education, construction, and infrastructure delivery.
Peter co-founded Emergency Media and Public Affairs (EMPA) in 2007 as a platform to share lessons identified in disaster public communications through conferences in Australia, New Zealand, and in 2019, Portland OR.
He has presented training and conference presentations throughout Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and the USA including to FEMA in DC.