As someone who speaks with the news media about residential fires in your community, you play a major role in communicating important fire safety and prevention information to the public.

This pocket media guide shows you how to make the most of these “teachable moments” —media interviews following a fire, when the public’s interest and attention are at a peak. In addition to providing the facts about the fire, you also can share one or more messages that encourage the viewer/reader to take action that could save a life.

Download Pre-Press Files for the Fire Spokesperson’s Pocket Media Guide (ZIP, 19 Mb)

This archive contains the press formatted PDF files and Adobe InDesign CS3 pre-press files needed to commercially print the guide in a 3¼” x 5″ format. (To access the content of this file, use a compression utility application, such as WinZip. Mac users should not require additional software to work with this archive file.)

Bridge to Prevention

Media stories can save lives! A news story about a residential fire provides a valuable opportunity to give your community a safety message during a teachable moment. Dropping prevention tips and facts into your interview just might save a life!

The goal of talking with the news media is not just to answer a reporter’s questions effectively. It is also to communicate a few key messages that are accurate, clear, and concise. Keep answers to 27 words or less when conducting taped TV interviews.

“Bridging” allows you to answer a reporter’s question while also highlighting prevention tips related to the particular fire event. For instance, if there were no smoke alarms in the home, you could talk about the importance of smoke alarms. If a family survived the fire unharmed because they had practiced their escape plan, you could talk about the need for all families to make and practice a fire escape plan. Keep prevention messages closely linked to the current fire story; the more tailored the message, the more likely the media will be interested.

To read more about the pocket media guide and to get more helpful spokesman advice, please visit FireSafety.gov.