CAPIO Chirp

Latest Episodes:

Crisis Communications and the Office of Spill Prevention and Reponse Oct 31, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Kristina Werner from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife shares her experience with environmental incident response, crisis management, and effective communication during oil spills and other emergencies. Learn how agencies coordinate, respond quickly, and communicate complex information clearly to the public. View Episode on YouTube here

Creating Memorable Presentations Oct 02, 2026

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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

Navigating Web Accessibility: What Public Agencies Must Know Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

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

LinkedIn for Public Communicators Jul 31, 2026

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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

Make Waves at CAPIO 2026 in San Diego Apr 22, 2026

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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

What it’s REALLY like to be a government PIO in the fire service Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

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

Harnessing the power of AI Tools Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

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!

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Interviews with CAPIO's Special Award Winners - Part II Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

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.

Interviews with CAPIO's Special Award Winners - Part I Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

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.

Making the Leap: Moving from Reporter to PIO Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

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.

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