For purposes of this training, we will define and make a distinction among the following terms:
Public Information: Information collected, assembled or maintained by an organization in connection with the transaction of official business and available for dissemination to the public.
Emergency Public Information: Information developed and disseminated in anticipation of, during, or after an emergency to provide specific life- and health-saving information.
External Affairs: Coordinates the release of accurate, coordinated, timely and accessible public information to affected audiences, including the government, media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector. External Affairs works closely with state and local officials to ensure outreach to the whole community. Functions include, but are not limited to:
- Public affairs and the Joint Information Center
- Intergovernmental (local, state, tribal and territorial) affairs
- Congressional affairs
- Private sector outreach