From public safety emergencies and civil unrest to severe weather events or pandemics; local governments don’t get to choose their crises—but they can choose how they communicate when it matters most. In moments of uncertainty, clear, timely information can save lives, protect credibility, and determine whether leaders shape the narrative or chase it.

This dynamic two-hour skill building workshop introduces the “Run It Like a Newsroom” approach to crisis communication, a practical, field-tested framework that helps local government leaders become the definitive source of information for their communities. Co-facilitated by the Civic Learning Lab at ICMA and crisis communication experts from Julie Parker Communications, the session challenges the myth that silence protects and shows how timely transparency strengthens both operations and public trust.

The session includes an abbreviated, crisis communications-focused tabletop exercise where participants apply what they’ve learned through a fictional crisis scenario.