Robert Tornabene hosts podcast for public information officers
Aug 10, 2023
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Robert Tornabene, Senior public communications supervisor for the Colorado Springs Police Department, discusses transforming PIO responsibilities, challenges in podcasting, and finding guests for his show. They also explore the role of PIOs, emphasizing the importance of prompt response and building trust with journalists.
Effective communication between reporters and public information officers is crucial for efficient information sharing.
Maintaining trust and privacy is essential to prevent victims from being re-victimized through invasive reporting.
Deep dives
Evolution of Public Information Officers
Robert Tornabene, a senior public communications supervisor, shares his journey as a public information officer (PIO). He highlights the need for effective communication between reporters and PIOs. Tornabene discusses how he transformed the information-sharing process with social media platforms, making it faster and more efficient. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining trust and privacy when dealing with sensitive cases, ensuring that victims are not re-victimized through invasive reporting.
Challenges and Successes of PIOs
Tornabene explains the challenges faced by PIOs, such as the pressure to release information before it has filtered up to their level or during ongoing investigations. He also discusses the symbiotic relationship between PIOs and journalists, emphasizing the need for open communication and understanding. Tornabene shares insights from other PIOs interviewed on his podcast, highlighting the importance of timely information dissemination, providing useful visuals to media outlets, and ethical considerations in reporting sensitive cases.
Improving Communication between Journalists and PIOs
Tornabene suggests ways for journalists to improve their communication with PIOs. Building relationships with PIOs and understanding their workflow and limitations can lead to more efficient information sharing. He also encourages journalists to have a clear ethical framework and respect victims' privacy, avoiding sensationalism in reporting. Tornabene concludes by inviting journalists to be guests on his podcast, the PIO podcast, as a platform for sharing experiences and insights.
Robert Tornabene, senior public communications supervisor for the Colorado Springs Police Department, discusses The PIO Podcast, where he interviews public information officers about how they do their jobs.
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