Room 124Severe weather, mass casualty events, civil unrest, transportation mishaps, pandemics, cyberattacks, and misconduct that erodes public trust—local governments face a wide range of potential crises. While challenges may differ, the principles of effective public messaging and internal communication remain constant. This presentation introduces the "Run It Like a Newsroom" philosophy, empowering local governments to become the source of their own news, telling their story, and delivering their messages directly to the communities they serve and those within their organization. It provides a foundational guide to navigating crises with strong public messaging through social media and media relations, alongside effective internal communication strategies to support leadership when it matters most.

Learning Objectives:

• incorporate the three essential elements of crisis messaging into any public message.
• describe the role the media plays in a philosophy where the local government is the source of their own news.
• place greater focus on internal communication during a crisis to increase response effectiveness.