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Join us for Episode 31 where we hear from CAPIO members Sarah Kreig (Town of Apple Valley) and Tom Christensen (County of San Diego) as they talk about what makes a good presentation for the CAPIO Annual Conference. Learn how to capture the crowd's attention and provide insightful take-aways for your fellow PIOs. WATCH EPISODE ON YOUTUBE HERE

In this episode, Emily Popek, APR, VP of Strategic Communications for Nichols Strategies, discusses the importance of web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) for government agencies, the deadlines for compliance, and practical steps for implementation. As accessibility becomes a priority, it’s time for public information professionals to embrace these changes and lead the way in creating inclusive digital environments. For a deeper dive into these insights and more, listen to the full episode of the CAPIO Chirp. Links: Nichols Strategies’ Digital Accessibility Professional Learning Community (PLC) - A virtual learning community for school communications professionals looking to enhance the accessibility of their communications. Section508.gov - Provides technical assistance to help federal agencies comply with Section 508 requirements, and ensure that covered ICT is accessible to, and usable by, individuals with disabilities. WebAIM.org – WebAIM (Web Accessibility In Mind) has provided comprehensive web accessibility solutions since 1999. These years of experience have made WebAIM one of the leading providers of web accessibility expertise internationally. WebAIM is a non-profit service center at Utah State University. View episode on YouTube

Ready to transform your LinkedIn game? In our latest CHIRP episode, we dive into how public communicators are shifting their strategies on LinkedIn from an afterthought to a strategic asset. Listen as Chris Gray Garcia and Eric Palmer share their insights on creating valuable content that resonates with different audiences—from employees to community influencers. Why does this matter? It’s time to rethink how we engage on platforms where professional growth and collaboration thrive! #LinkedInStrategies #PublicCommunications #ProfessionalNetworking #CapioChirp #ContentCreation

The countdown is on! ⏳ The annual CAPIO Conference returns the week of May 11 in San Diego! Are you ready to make some waves? In this episode of the CAPIO Chirp, we preview what’s ahead in conversation with CAPIO President-Elect Sonja Dosti, APR. Conference highlights include sessions on AI, social media, emergency response, media relations, and building public trust. Plus networking opportunities, tips for first-time attendees, and updates to this year’s EPIC Awards celebration. Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and be inspired. We also have some bonus material for you. At the conference, be sure to connect with our sponsors/vendors. We had an opportunity to talk with a couple of them at last year’s conference in Napa. 📅 Register by April 27 at capio.org

In the latest segment, we're diving into what it’s REALLY like to be a government PIO in the fire service. 🚒💬 Learn how a former TV reporter and social media influencer use their backgrounds to help create award winning fire communications content. Every day is different: from posting alerts on working fires to educating the public about illegal fireworks, highlighting “What’s for Lunch” at the firehouse and even showing crews rescuing cats from trees!   Takeways: How to make viral, eye-catching reels from popular trends (and do them even better) How to convince staff to become "actors" in video content creation. 🎥Tips for encouraging firefighters to capture video on the scene. 🚨📱Which social platforms will get your messages to the right people? 🌍And YES, bloopers. Because even firefighters have their moments! 😂👉 Listen now

AI is evolving fast and it’s changing how PIO’s communicate every day. In this episode, we chat with Chris Shepard, Communications Officer for the City of Folsom, about how best to harness the power of advanced AI tools. Chris explains how to use platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude to save time, spark ideas, and strengthen your messaging. Whether you’re experimenting with AI or ready to level up your strategy, this conversation is packed with practical tips you can start using right away. 🎧 Give it a listen and join us on CAPIO Chirp! Staying Ahead: Continuous AI Learning AI Newsletters TLDR Newsletter: Get daily digests of top tech, AI, and programming news.Podcasts & YouTube The AI Daily Brief: Comprehensive daily updates on AI, available on all major podcast platforms and YouTube.@JeffSu on YouTubeInfluential AI Voices on X, LinkedIn Andrej Karpathy (@karpathy)Sam Altman (@sama)Allie Miller (@alliekmiller)Andrew Ng (@AndrewYNg)

Award season is here and it’s time to celebrate excellence in public communication! In this special episode, we dive into CAPIO’s prestigious Special Awards, recognizing the individuals shaping the future of public communication, through leadership, innovation, and service. We sit down with last year’s honorees, including the Communicator of the Year, Crisis Communications Leader, Rising Star, and the distinguished Paul B. Clark Award recipient. Hear what inspires them and get an inside look at what it takes to achieve award-winning excellence. This episode features interviews with CAPIO's 2025 Communicator of the Year, Melody Hendrickson and 2025 Rising Star, Jayli Barkley.

Award season is here and it’s time to celebrate excellence in public communication! In this special episode, we dive into CAPIO’s prestigious Special Awards, recognizing the individuals shaping the future of public communication, through leadership, innovation, and service. We sit down with last year’s honorees, including the Communicator of the Year, Crisis Communications Leader, Rising Star, and the distinguished Paul B. Clark Award recipient. Hear what inspires them and get an inside look at what it takes to achieve award-winning excellence. This episode features 2025 Paul B. Clark Award recipient John Pope and 2025 Crisis Comms recipient Jennifer Nance.

Did you know that more than half of today’s Public Information Officers started their careers as journalists? In this episode, we sit down with three CAPIO members who made the leap from reporting the news to shaping it in the PIO world. They share candid stories about their transition, the skills they carried over, and how this growing trend could pave the way for future PIOs.

When the unthinkable happens, leadership and preparation are everything. Join our conversation with Dustin Sternbeck, current Chief Communications Officer for the City of Denton, Texas, as he reflects on directing communications for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department during the January 6 Capitol riot. Hear powerful lessons on documentation, teamwork, and staying composed when every decision counts.

Are you being authentic — or just playing the part? This week on the CAPIO Chirp, we dive deep into what it really means to be authentic as a public information officer. Join us as we chat with Dr. Chris Hopwood, personality psychology expert from the University of Zurich, to explore: ✅ What authenticity actually is (and isn’t) ✅ How it shows up — and why it matters — in public communication ✅ When “being real” helps… and when it might hurt ✅ Comedy, irony, and sharks in rivers (yes, really) ✅ How to stay true to yourself while still doing your job Whether you're managing public messaging, facing online trolls, or navigating policies you don't agree with — this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and discover how to lead with honesty, empathy, and resilience.

As government communicators, we spend a lot of our time making sure residents in our cities, counties, and districts are informed about important information, especially in times of emergency. This public messaging is key, and we’re often the first ones to know and are responsible for getting word out the right way. But what do you do when it happens to you? In this episode, Chino Hills Community Relations Manager Valarie McClung and Public Information Officer Nicole Freeman discuss how they responded to a fire at their City Hall and continued to provide services to their community.

Holding a meeting is more than logistics, it's about how you prepare. There is much to consider, whether you are having a town hall to discuss a significant capital project or a planning session with a half-dozen stakeholders. How have you prepared yourself and your team mentally and emotionally? What are your goals? What are the needs and goals of your community? On this episode of The Chirp, we speak with Davenport Institute Executive Director Maureen Tobin about how to prepare yourself and your team, set clear agendas with defined goals, and encourage participation.

AI is here to stay. How can government communicators optimize the use of this new tool in their toolbelt? Listen in on this conversation between AI expert Josh Hirsch, CAPIO 2025 Conference Keynote speaker and CAPIO podcast hosts Paul Hosley and Lael Wageneck, APR about how AI can be used in the government comms sector. How can you maximize your use of this tool for sentiment analysis or as a baseline for your strategic communications plan? How do you communicate with AI to get the results you want? This fun and insightful podcast will remove some of the mystery about using AI in a tangible way to support your community. AI Usage Policy template

Enjoy learning more about three women’s professional journeys from PIO to entrepreneur during this CAPIO Chirp.  CAPIO's podcast hosts interview Rachel Dickman, MBA, APR, CEO and Founder of RMG Communications; Jenny Windle, President and Founder of JPW Communications; and Sheri Benninghoven, APR, Principal, SAE Communications.  Hear about their adventures and tips for success in business from these three Paul B. Clark recipients and longtime CAPIO members.