Crisis Communication Planning in a Social Media World: Real-World Ideas from Media, Government, Law Enforcement and Business

Citizens, media, and public relations professionals continue to turn to social media messaging as a means to not only provide information to help people through the crisis, but also to find out what is happening as a crisis unfolds. This year’s annual Public Relations Council of Lake County workshop will provide insights into how social media is being used on the national and local levels to communicate information quickly in a crisis situation.

Public Relations Council is fortunate to have keynote speaker Dr. Barbara J. Reynolds, Crisis Communication Senior Advisor in the Office of the Director at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.  At the CDC since 1991, Dr. Reynolds’ communication expertise has been used in the planning or response to pandemic influenza, vaccine safety, emerging disease outbreaks and bioterrorism. Internationally, she has acted as a crisis communication consultant on health issues for France, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, former Soviet Union nations, NATO and the World Health Organization.

 

Speaking from a local perspective will be Sergeant Sara Balmes, Public Information Officer for the Lake County Sheriff’s office. She is in her 10^th year at the sheriff’s office and among her duties are managing social media messages for the office. She has previously worked in Court Security, Highway Patrol, and the Criminal Investigations Divisions for the sheriff’s office. She also was in the Selective

Selective Traffic Enforcement Unit, Evidence Technician Units and she was an Evidence Technician Coordinator.

 

A social media panel featuring businesses and media members explaining how they use social media is also part of the workshop. On the panel will be Brandon Bruce, Public Relations Specialist for Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor in Gurnee; Tom Keefe, Communications Specialist for Enterprise Support Group in Libertyville; Rob Elder, Editor for the Lake County News-Sun; and Teresa Schmedding, Deputy Managing Editor/Digital for the Daily Herald.

 

Lake County PR Council strives to enrich public relations and communication professionals by sharing experiences, discussing trends and issues, and fostering mutually beneficial relationships.

Free Admission!

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