Virtual Summit 2021 - Media Mayday: A Volunteer Fire Department's Guide to Dealing with the Media

An intro to media relations for the fire service - with battle-tested tips on dealing with the press on the fireground, back at the fire hall, and in a crisis - will be shared. Roles and duties of the media will be reviewed, including news gathering techniques. A recipe for good media relations that can be applied by any fire department to any type of event or other positive press opportunity will be presented, including how to deal with the negative side of media relations: crises and scandals.

Robert Leonard

With 30 years as a firefighter/officer and EMT, Robert has led communications for large and small emergency agencies, including serving as the FDNY’s Deputy Director of Public Information and Deputy Press Secretary for Uniformed and Emergency Services for Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. He is a senior executive at a national public relations firm, leading the public safety and local government practice, and chairs the Public Relations committee for the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.