Pre-Summit Workshop
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PT
Harnessing Social Media Effectively During An Emergency
First Responders Summit — Day One
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
7:55 a.m.–8:00 a.m. PT
Welcome Remarks by Summit Emcee
8:00 a.m.–8:45 a.m. PT
Organizational Buy-In and Support: Building a Culture of Social Media Advocacy
8:45 a.m.– 9:30 a.m. PT
Navigating Negative Comments and First Amendment Laws on Social Media
This session will equip Public Information Officers with the tools and insights to manage negative comments, trolls, and misinformation on social media platforms effectively and legally. Key topics include:
- Explore the psychology behind negative commenters, including trolls, upset individuals, and persistent haters, to inform strategic and balanced responses.
- Learn practical approaches for handling different types of commenters and when to engage, ignore, or report.
- Discuss why facts alone often fail to change minds, how this contributes to the spread of misinformation, and what you can do about it.
- Delve into the legal landscape of social media, focusing on First Amendment rights, the limits of content moderation, and best practices for working closely with legal teams to ensure compliance with archiving and deletion protocols.
9:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m. PT
Break
9:45 a.m.–10:30 a.m. PT
Panel
Leveraging Social Media During a Critical Incident
During a crisis or critical incident, social media is a valuable tool for quickly getting critical information to the right people. This panel will walk through best practices to ensure your team is equipped with the right protocols to help you support your community during a critical incident through coordinated, collaborative communications on your social channels.
Discussion topics include:
- What your agency can do now to prepare for a critical incident
- What can be done with little resources and manpower to prepare and manage a critical incident
- When to resume normal messaging after a critical incident
- Deciding who will manage communications, where and when they will happen, and how they will be monitored
- Understanding what your community expects from you during an event
- Examples of what NOT to do
10:30 a.m.–11:15 a.m. PT
Facebook Best Practices: Creating Content That Will Perform Its Best
Rise above the noise - that's the name of the game for the public sector on Facebook. Learn how content can be your best storytelling advocate and what type of content works best to elevate your voice on one of the most popular social media platforms in the world.
Takeaways include:
- Easily create content that will capture attention and get audience members conversing with your agency
- Elevate your Facebook profile by learning about best posting times, two-way engagement, and other tips and tricks
- Find ways to breathe new life into routine posts through fun, alternative informational post ideas
11:15 a.m.–11:45 a.m. PT
Break
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. PT
Telling Your Agency's Story in Non-Traditional Ways
12:45 p.m.–1:30 p.m. PT
Post with Purpose: Inspire Action with Social Media Campaigns
This session will guide participants from planning a social media campaign to measuring its success. Special attention will be given to identifying what success looks like, assessing the best approach for reaching your target audience and choosing the right analytics. Participants will walk away with a road map for planning, running and evaluating campaigns designed to move people to action.
1:30 p.m. PT
Day One Concludes
First Responders Summit — Day Two
Thursday, April 24, 2025
7:55 a.m.–8:00 a.m. PT
Welcome Remarks by Summit Emcee
8:00 a.m.–8:45 a.m. PT
Balancing Fun and Professional Social Media Messaging
In today’s digital landscape, social media offers a unique opportunity for government agencies, particularly in the fire and law enforcement sectors, to engage with their communities in a relatable and educational way. This session will explore strategies for crafting social media posts that are both fun and professional, demonstrating how to effectively leverage current trends while maintaining the integrity of your agency. The best part? No lip-syncing or dancing will be required!
Attendees will learn how to create content that resonates with a diverse audience, fosters community connection, and enhances the public’s perception of their departments.
Key Takeaways:
- Creative Engagement: Learn how to incorporate fun elements into messaging without compromising professionalism and that match your agency’s tone.
- Trend Utilization: Discover strategies for leveraging social media trends to broaden reach and appeal to diverse audiences.
- Trend Participation Guide: Not every trend will work for your audience. Learn when to engage or when to pass on a social media trend.
- Content Strategy: Develop a content plan that balances educational value with engaging storytelling to foster community connection.
8:45 a.m.– 9:30 a.m. PT
Panel
"Ask Us Anything" Panel: How to Make the Most of Social Media With No Budget
This panel of marketers is here to answer any and all of your questions in real time. This session will be "Ask Me Anything" style, so come prepared with anything you want them to answer related to the topic of "How to Make the Most of Social Media With No Budget!"
9:30 a.m.– 9:45 a.m. PT
Panel
What You Need to Know About Nextdoor
9:45 a.m.–10:00 a.m. PT
Break
10:00 a.m.–10:45 a.m. PT
Panel
Video Best Practices: Content Creation for Instagram Stories & Reels
With Instagram Stories and Reels driving some of the highest engagement on social media, mastering these formats is key to building a strong online presence. This session brings together experienced creators and marketers to share actionable tips for producing eye-catching, authentic, and impactful content.
Learn how to optimize your storytelling for short-form videos, make the most of trending audio and effects, and maintain brand consistency while appealing to your audience. Panelists will also discuss the latest Instagram algorithm updates, the effective use of hashtags, and strategies for turning views into meaningful engagement. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting to explore the power of Instagram, this session will equip you with practical tools and creative ideas to elevate your content strategy.
10:45 a.m.–11:30 a.m. PT
Elevate Your Agency's Brand on X (Twitter)
Key takeaways from this session:
- Integrate specialty content that will help boost following.
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Produce information concisely and effectively in real-time to engage national and local media outlets.
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Enhance engagement and following by interacting with the audience.
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Using the platform to its full potential, allowing you to engage the correct target audience.
11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PT
Break
12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m. PT
Case Study
How to Maintain Trust & Recover From a Negative Incident
12:45 p.m.–1:30 p.m. PT
Leveraging Social Media to Humanize Your Staff
1:30 p.m. PT
Day Two Concludes