Episode Summary: In this conversation, Sam Toles from Civic Social discusses the innovative approach of empowering Public Information Officers (PIOs) in local governments to effectively engage with their communities through social media. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, strategic planning, and the need for a modern approach to communication that resonates with younger audiences. Toles shares insights on navigating social media algorithms, the significance of platforms like TikTok, and the pitfalls of relying on traditional marketing strategies and style guides. The discussion highlights the transformative potential of social media in public relations and the necessity for government agencies to adapt to the evolving digital landscape. In this conversation, Sam Toles and Robert Tornabene discuss the importance of social media in government communication, emphasizing the need for a culture of content creation within local government. They explore real-world case studies that demonstrate the positive impact of effective social media strategies, highlighting the role of public information officers (PIOs) in fostering community engagement and trust. Toles shares personal insights and anecdotes that illustrate the challenges and successes of implementing these strategies, ultimately advocating for a proactive approach to government communication.
Sam's BIO: Sam Toles is a former local elected official and one of the world’s top experts in digital media and communications.
Leveraging over two decades of experience at the intersection of content strategy, technology, and public service, Sam launched CiviSocial, a first-of-its-kind approach designed exclusively for local government communicators who want to cut through the noise, reduce the negativity, and reach their communities effectively.
Before founding CiviSocial, Sam served as Chief Content Officer at Bleacher Report and led digital media strategies at major brands including MGM Studios. He’s also run a social media platform as the General Manager of Vimeo. His expertise in content creation, digital storytelling, and audience engagement has driven billions of interactions across the medium.
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.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com