Basic Public Information Officer (PIO)

Call for Availability

Topics Covered:

  • Learn how to write a media release and manage interviews
  • Participate in video conferences and on-camera briefings
  • Identify public relations opportunities in your community
  • Practice skills in real-life scenarios
  • Evaluate success of public information campaigns

Who Should Attend:

  • Potential, recently assigned, or existing PIO's
  • Administrative Executives involved in public information duties
  • All public safety personnel tasked with the collection, dissemination, and/or oversight of public information for their department and/or organization

Course Hours:

Participants will receive TCOLE credit.

Program Links:

[ Program Page ]

Date/Time:

Jun 04 - 06, 2018

Course Cost:

$395 per person for Texas governmental agencies
$495 per person for out of state personnel


Payment is required by the Wednesday prior to the start of the class.

Location Information:

Sam Houston State University-The Woodlands Center
3380 College Park Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77384

Hotel Information: *

Candlewood Suites
17525 St. Luke's Way
The Woodlands, TX 77384
936-271-2100
Reference Code: BPIO
Rate: $99.00 plus tax

* Unless otherwise noted, hotel arrangements are the responsibility of the participant.

The Public Information Officer (PIO) course is designed for public safety personnel responsible for managing, disseminating, and overseeing information on behalf of their departments or organizations. Open to potential, newly assigned, and experienced PIOs—as well as administrative executives involved in public communication—the program equips participants with the essential skills and “tools of the trade” needed to handle both routine operations and community crises effectively. Through interactive, hands-on exercises, participants learn to write media releases, conduct interviews and on-camera briefings, and engage with social media and other communication platforms. The course emphasizes situational awareness, public relations strategies, and evaluation of public information campaigns, preparing attendees to serve as confident, credible, and effective voices for their agencies in any circumstance. (****Course mandated to meet requirements of SB33; the Uvalde Strong Act.)

For more information, contact:

Scott McCollum, LEMIT Associate Director
Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas
George J. Beto Criminal Justice Building
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341-2417
Fax: (936) 294-3926
Phone: (936) 294-3193
Phone: 800-477-9248
scott.mccollum@shsu.edu

Cancellation Policy:

If the participant has already paid, he/she will be refunded half the cost of the registration fee if written notice of cancellation is received by the Program Coordinator no later than fourteen (14) business days prior to the program. No refunds are available after this date, but substitutions of attendees are permitted.

If no written cancellation is received and the participant does not attend the program, the participant or their agency will be required to pay 100% of the registration fee if the registration fee was not previously paid.