Power of Communications #3: Rural Communication & Media Relations - Building Trust Before the Crisis (On Demand-No CE)

PLEASE NOTE: No CE or certificate are available in this free version of the course.

If you are seeking CE or a certificate of completion, you will need to enroll in the paid CE version: https://phprepared.catalog.instructure.com/courses/poc3a0426ce

This is part 3 of a 4-part series on rural health communications. The third and fourth sessions will focus on communications engagement with the media. This recorded session #3 provides an introduction to key strategies, and session #4 will provide an opportunity for participants to put strategies into practice. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend both sessions, but may earn credit for each one individually.

This training was originally held on April 9, 2026.

Note on Accessibility: This training includes closed captions, a written transcript, and a copy of the slides. 

Audience

Rural health professionals, public health workers, health officers, communications staff, or anyone engaging with media working in rural settings

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the role of media as a partner within the rural public health ecosystem
• Outline the essential components of a media response process, even in organizations without a formal Public Information Officer (PIO)
• Differentiate between appropriate spokesperson roles and subject matter expert contributions
• Evaluate potential risks associated with informal or “off the record” communications
• Describe how to apply rural-specific messaging principles to a public health communication scenario
• Develop one documented action step to strengthen media preparedness in their organization

Instructors

• Lisa Peacock, MPH, MSN, RN, WHNP-BC, Lisa Peacock Professional Services

Sponsors

Public Health Prepared is the workforce development and public health practice branch of the broader Michigan Center for Infectious Disease Threats & Pandemic Preparedness (MCIDT) initiative, funded by the University of Michigan. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Public Health Prepared, MCIDT, or the University of Michigan.

This event is co-sponsored by the Region V Public Health Training Center.

The Region V Public Health Training Center is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB6HP31684 Public Health Training Centers ($940,000). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by Region V PHTC, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Technical Information

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Contact us at PHPrepared@umich.edu with questions.