Upcoming In The Public Eye – A Fire Department’s Guide To News And Social Media

Target Audience – Applicable to all members of the fire service.

IN THE PUBLIC EYE – A FIRE DEPARTMENT’s GUIDE TO NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Does your department have plans and procedures to positively deal with the news media – whether it be at a fire scene or back at the firehouse?  Is your department prepared to use social media platforms to their maximum ability to deliver important community risk reduction, recruitment, administration and other messages?  Are you ready to play defense on social media, if need be?  Do your members understand their responsibilities on social media and the consequences – both personally and to your department – of them behaving badly on digital platforms?

This class will provide attendees with an understanding of traditional news media and contemporary social media, including how both interact with the fire service on a daily basis.  The presenter will share battle-tested strategies and techniques for leveraging news media outlets and social media platforms to help fire departments communicate effectively with the communities they serve.

Attendees will participate in a review of the rights granted to journalists under the First Amendment and other pertinent state and local laws. The presenter will also review the rights and responsibilities of fire departments when dealing with the news media while providing strategies and tactics that can be used with reporters in the field or back at the station.  There will also be a review of social media best practices and policies for the fire service for both management and the troops in the field.  From Probies, firefighters and company Officers on up to Chief Officers, Fire Commissioners, Trustees and corporate officers, attendees will be provided with guidance and specific actionable tips to use when dealing with the news media or on social media.

Presenter Bio:

Robert Leonard

Executive Vice President, DKC Public Relations

2nd Deputy Chief Instructor, Nassau County Fire Service Academy

With over 38 years as a firefighter, officer and EMT, Robert Leonard has led communications for large and small emergency service agencies, including serving as the FDNY’s Deputy Director of Public Information and Deputy Press Secretary for Uniformed and Emergency Services to the Mayor of the City of New York.  He has spent the last 25 years as a senior executive at a New York City-based national public relations firm, leading the public safety and local government practice, including managing media relations for the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.  Leonard is a nationally recognized author and lecturer on media relations and crisis communications for the emergency services.

Robert began his fire service career with the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department, where he spent 13 years, and has been a member of the Syosset Fire Department for the last 22 years.  In 2019, he was appointed as a Second Deputy Chief Instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy.  After almost four decades in emergency services, he remains a devoted student of the fire service.