Summary: In this conversation, Doug Levy discusses his extensive background in journalism and emergency communications, leading to the writing of his book, 'The Golden Hour.' He emphasizes the critical importance of timely and accurate communication during crises, outlining common mistakes made by Public Information Officers (PIOs) and the evolving role of social media in disseminating information. Levy shares insights on effectively balancing rapid responses with the need for accuracy and understanding community dynamics in communication strategies. Doug Levy shares insights on effective crisis communication strategies in this conversation, emphasizing the importance of quick and credible information dissemination during emergencies. He discusses the necessity of preparation for unexpected crises, the value of building relationships with the media, and the critical role of practice in ensuring effective communication. Levy highlights real-world examples, including the Boston Marathon bombing, to illustrate the importance of having a solid plan and adaptability. He concludes with key takeaways for Public Information Officers (PIOs) to enhance their effectiveness in crises.
Doug's BIO: Doug Levy is a communications strategist, media and presentation coach and freelance writer. He was a reporter for USA Today and other national media for 20 years, covering front-page stories such as crimes, wildfires and other disasters, medical and scientific research, policy debates, and scientific or other misconduct. His first experience as a PIO was leading a volunteer fire department in Maryland in the 1990s. Since then, he led communications at two major universities and served on the emergency management teams. He has helped police and other government officials, medical center leaders, scientists, and universities prepare for, navigate, and respond to crises and adapt in the era of nonstop social media communication, partisan news outlets, and divided communities. His book, The Communications Golden Hour: The Essential Guide to Public Information When Every Minute Counts, has been an acclaimed handbook for public information officers since it was first released in 2018. Find out more at douglevy.com.
Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!