If you’re interested in the communications field, becoming a public information officer is a noble career goal. Public information officers (PIOs) are upper-level administrators who oversee their organization’s contact with the media and general public. Unlike public relations managers who work for private corporations, PIOs are employed by the government. Instead of marketing, PIOs focus on keeping citizens well-informed on new developments or concerns. In emergency crisis situations, public information officers will calmly relay important instructions that keep the public safe. Today’s PIOs must also maintain their agency’s social media feeds and Internet news articles for good community outreach. Demand for public information officers is expected to grow by 7 percent from 2014 to 2024, thus creating new job opportunities. Skilled communicators considering becoming a PIO should review the following brief job profile.
What Public Information Officers Do
Public information officers primarily act as spokespeople to announce major news coming from their employing government department. PIOs regularly plan and hold press conferences to convey critical information that the public must know. PIOs typically supervise communications staff members to coordinate every conversation that the agency has with news media. They’ll decide exactly which information to release and what’s too sensitive for airtime. In addition to preparing speeches and press releases, public information officers must answer on-the-spot questions from journalists. PIOs evaluate all media channels to make certain the public only receives accurate, timely information. It’s the public information officer’s job to form solid relationships with the media to relay messages in the right light.
Where Public Information Officers Work
A public information officer is typically appointed in every governmental organization. The highest job available for PIOs is the White House Press Secretary for the President. PIOs can be employed by city, county, state, regional, or federal government agencies. Certain divisions like school districts, fire departments, and police stations may hire their own public information officers. Some are hired by public, state-funded universities to spread positive media. PIOs could work for the U.S. Army, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), American Red Cross, and much more. Working as a public information officer requires working longer than 40 hours per week and holding conferences whenever news breaks.
How to Become a Public Information Officer
Government agencies require that PIOs achieve at least a bachelor’s degree from a four-year, accredited college or university. Most public information officers have majored in public relations, communications (please see: Top 10 Best Online Communications Degree Programs), English, political science, or government. Internships are important for gaining experience in news media. Employers usually require PIOs to have at least five to seven years of experience before promotion. Many first work as television reporters, journalists, marketers, or public relations specialists. Although it’s voluntary, becoming certified is suggested for advancement. You can pursue certification with the Public Relations Society of America. Being a member of the National Information Officers Association (NIOA) can also help.
Public information officers are messengers hired by government agencies to facilitate ample communication between officials and the media. PIOs take the spotlight by hosting press conferences to convey information in a manner that aligns with executive direction. PIOs are thrust into the public eye whenever good or bad news must be reported. The work can be stressful, but the average yearly salary is high at $119,390. Having a public information officer is vital for the government to properly keep citizens informed.