Delk Media Group

01/10/2024

Seats are still available for our "Media Relations for Public Safety Professionals" course taking place next week, October 7-11, 2024 at Cobb County Sheriff's Office! 🚨📢

Effective communication between public safety agencies and the community is vital. The rise of social media and the 24/7 news cycle have transformed the way information is shared, making the role of public safety professionals more challenging yet crucial.

Our 5-day comprehensive course is designed to empower public safety professionals with the skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of media relations effectively. Here’s what you can expect:

🔍 Insight into the transformative impact of the internet and social media on news media.
📝 Techniques to craft transparent and consistent messages.
🎥 Hands-on experience with on-camera presentations and creating video PSAs for social media.
👔 Guidance on professional branding, including posture, attire, and more.
💡 Strategies for managing press conferences and digital interactions.

Certified participants will receive 40 hours of GA POST credit and a training certificate upon completion.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your media relations skills. Register now via the Eventbrite link provided and feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 770-296-0759 for more information.

01/08/2024

Today, I’d like to reflect on the critical role communication plays in public safety. Your responsibilities as public safety leaders—whether police, fire, sheriffs department, 911, or emergency management—are vast and varied. But one truth remains universal: effective communication is the lifeblood of our efforts to protect and serve.

Consider the complexities of your operations: coordinating emergency responses, managing crises, and ensuring public safety. These tasks demand precise and timely dissemination of information. A well-informed public is a safer public. When accurate information flows seamlessly from our agencies to the community, we prevent misinformation, reduce panic, and enhance public trust. Clear communication can transform a potential disaster into a manageable situation.

Imagine a community gripped by fear in the wake of a natural disaster or a violent incident. In such moments, our words can offer solace, reassurance, and hope. The emotional connection we forge through our communications can strengthen community bonds and foster resilience. By sharing stories of heroism, unity, and recovery, we not only inform but also inspire. Our voices, when compassionate and understanding, can calm anxieties and restore a sense of normalcy.

Our integrity is paramount. The public looks to us for truthful, transparent, and consistent communication. Our credibility hinges on our ability to convey information honestly and accurately. In doing so, we build trust—not just in our words but in our institutions. This trust is the bedrock upon which effective public safety communication rests. It is our duty to ensure that every message we deliver upholds the highest standards of professionalism and reliability.

Effective communication empowers us to manage crises with clarity, connect with our communities emotionally, and uphold our responsibilities with integrity. As leaders in public safety, let’s embrace these principles to enhance our effectiveness and fortify the trust bestowed upon us by those we serve.

Together, through the power of communication, we can continue to protect, reassure, and lead our communities with distinction.

07/07/2024

For my Public Safety folks (PD, fire, EMS, EMA, and 911)-

Chuck McPhilamy and I are putting on another PIO school next month at Cartersville PD. There are plenty of seats available for this 3-day class. If you or anyone you know is interested, follow the link to the Eventbrite registration page or reach out to me here via direct message or email [email protected] and I'll provide more information.

We also have a 5-day class coming up in September in Cobb. I'll put out more information about that one in the coming days.

Pass along to any you know in need of some exceptional media relations training backed by years of real-world experience.

11/05/2024

Your chance to be part of "The Wendigo Heist" during the production phase is getting closer to ending. The campaign ends at noon on May 30th. The lowest incentive starts at $15 but you can pledge any amount below that. Every bit helps us get closer to our goal. We're currently at 11% but we need to get to 80% in order to keep the funds raised.

Whether you give $1 or $100, make sure to follow us on Seed&Spark dot com. Your support over the years has been great and we're going to keep growing and making great films for you. Jacob and I are extremely excited to bring this story of his to life. Join us early on this journey.

Follow "The Wendigo Heist" here on Facebook and especially on Seed&Spark dot com.

01/05/2024

Thanks to everyone who has supported me over the past few years in some of my creative endeavors. Your patronage has not gone unnoticed. But here I am asking you to support on the front end of this latest project. We're going bigger and better with THE WENDIGO HEIST, and we can use all the help we can get. It's been a good first day with over $1400 raised of our $20K goal, but we can use a big boost from all of you who have come out to the previous film premieres and have purchased the previous films (or rented them). There are some great incentives at different levels so be sure to take advantage.

01/05/2024

I just sent out an email to several folks about our upcoming film currently in pre-production. Apparently the video I posted earlier today is not getting much exposure (probably because there is a call to visit another site off this one involved...).

If you're interested in learning more about Jacob's newest film project and how you can help get it off the ground, please let me know.

Comment "interested" below and I'll send you a message.

Thanks, everyone!

04/04/2024

We still have seats available for next week’s class. $525 for 40 hours of GA POST credit. Register via the Eventbrite link, email [email protected], or call 770-296-0759 for more information.

Learn the subtle art of media relations mastery. Represent your agency in a professional manner in times of calm as well as during crises.

21/03/2024

Active Listening
+
Precise Language
=
Proper Communication

09/02/2024

"The Role of Leadership in Internal Communications

Leadership plays a pivotal role in internal crisis communication. Leaders must not only initiate and guide the communication efforts but also set the tone for how information is conveyed. They are responsible for ensuring that communication is timely, clear, and consistent, and they must be visible and accessible to employees. Leaders should also be receptive to feedback from employees, as this can provide valuable insights into the workforce's concerns and the effectiveness of the communication efforts. The way leaders communicate internally during a crisis can significantly impact the organization's ability to handle the situation effectively and maintain employee trust and engagement.

Internal communication during a crisis is a critical component of an organization's overall crisis management strategy. It requires a thoughtful approach that emphasizes transparency, consistency, and empathy, guided by strong and effective leadership. As we progress, we will explore in greater depth the strategies and practices that make internal communication during a crisis both effective and impactful, ensuring that the organization remains cohesive and resilient in the face of adversity."

30/01/2024

Don't forget those ratings/reviews on Amazon!

I appreciate everyone's support. Leave a rating/review if you've already bought one, or go buy one if you haven't done so yet. This is my retirement gig, folks. Show that support in more than just words.

26/01/2024

A little under four hours before this thing goes live on Amazon and it has hit #1 as a New Release in Business Communication Skills! Those early pre-orders have helped me so far. Let's keep the momentum going!

If you know me at all, you know that I'm fairly passionate about the work that I've been doing over the past several years in public information and crisis communication. This book embodies so much of that working knowledge that I have gathered over the course of my career and especially my time working as a lead communicator for my agency.

I'd like to thank those who have pre-ordered the ebook version to this point and thank the rest of you in advance for your upcoming orders (we need to keep it going once it goes live at midnight on January 26!). My little company needs the boost this little bit of online recognition can provide.

Please make sure to rate and leave a review once you've had a chance to read.

The paperback and hardback editions will be available once it goes live!

Thanks, everyone!

24/01/2024

Help me get to #1!

Sitting at #10 in New Releases in Business Management category!

Pre-order NOW for Amazon Kindle!

Paperback and Hardback editions go on sale Friday!

"Commanding Calm: Executive Strategies for Crisis Communication Mastery"

24/01/2024

Currently ranked at #29 in Communication in Management. Thanks to everyone who has pre-ordered so far. Let's keep it going!