LSU Eunice offers training to first responders on who to work with the media

LSU Eunice will hold a short course for rural first responders on working with the news media on Aug. 20.  The seven-hour tuition-free course will be held on the LSU Eunice campus.  The deadline for registration is Aug. 6.
AWR 209 Working with the Media will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room 116 of the LSU Eunice Continuing Education Building on the southwest side of the LSU Eunice campus. Sign-in that morning begins at 7:30 a.m.  To register for the course, a FEMA ID# is needed. To receive a FEMA ID#, please visit: https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid/.  Once a FEMA ID is obtained, visit register.gohsep.la.gov/form/PRForm.php to register for the short course.  Seating is limited to 40.
The course is designed to provide rural first responders with the skills and knowledge to quickly adopt the role of the public information officer when needed and to communicate with the public through the media. First responders thrust into the role of PIO, whether it be roadside at the scene of an emergency or detailing directions to the public in a crisis situation, need to understand how the media works and how best to work with the available media outlets. 
Participants will learn to utilize the media in emergency and public awareness situations, work with the media at the scene of an emergency, Learn to anticipate what news agencies want from the responders at the scene of an emergency, best practices when giving interviews and learning to write effective press releases.
The entire training is free and is certified by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security.  The course is hosted by LSU Eunice Criminal Justice and is presented by the Rural Development Preparedness Consortium
For additional information, contact Steven Gontz at 337-550-1267 or at sgontz@lsue.edu.  Registration questions should be directed to Barrett Nugent at 225-358-5690 or at barrett.nugent@la.gov.