Training for Public Agency Communicators and Partners: Communications Policy and Practices

About

Training for Public Agency Communicators and Partners: Communications Policy and Practices

Your agency may not realize the importance of effective, clear, and meaningful communication, both internally and externally. This course will provide you with important information about the need for communication and how it can play an essential role in your agency's success.

Course Schedule

Elements of the course:

• Interactive practice activities
• Learn More opportunities
• Supplemental reference materials
• Information assessment quizzes
• Final assessment

• Unit 1 - Why Does Your Agency Need to Communicate?
• Unit 2 - Basic Tools and Terms
• Unit 3 - Applying Policies to Communication
• Unit 4 - Understanding Accessibility Laws and Policies
• Unit 5 - Obtaining Permissions for Information Use
• Unit 6 - Other Imperativces: Communicating Agency Priorities

Learn To

• Identify why your agency needs to communicate with the public or other agencies.
• Explain how well-executed communications advance the agency's mission and priorities.
• Give examples of different methods for communicating with the public.
• Explain the differences between law, ordinance, regulation, and policy, and how they govern communication by a public agency.
• Demonstrate knowledge by using the basic terms of communication in context.
• Identify and describe laws, ordinances, regulations, and policy and how they govern communication by a public agency.
• Demonstrate how work products conform to laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Summarize best practices and guidance concerning laws, ordinances, regulations, and policies applicable to communication and public affairs.
• Explain the main points, importance, and applicability of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for communications, especially in the digital space.
• Identify best practices for ensuring that digital communications are accessible to people of all abilities.
• Analyze a digital communication for Section 508 compliance.
• Define intellectual property.
• Explain "fair use" and its limits.
• Demonstrate how to request permission to use other's intellectual property.
• Give examples of intellectual property and how they are appropriately used.
• Explain the role of communications in advancing agency priorities.
• Identify roles and responsibilities for communications within the agency.
• Discuss appropriate ways to share information within the agency.

Recommended Background:

There are a wide range of public agency communicators, their partners, and members of the public who may qualify for and benefit from this training. The primary users have been identified as National Park Service employees who, at a minimum, have collateral duty responsibilities pertaining to communications, marketing, and/or public affairs. This training is also designed for and applicable to park professionals in state, county, and municipal agencies and non-profit organizations who are responsible for communicating with the public.