CAPIO Chirp

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!

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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.