YouTube videos are the new press release. A chief, mayor, secretary, governor, or president can speak directly to its community or stakeholder with a YouTube video. Videos can be recorded with not much more than a simple camera (we like the Flip UltraHD Camcorder
), a tripod, a clean backdrop, and some standard props like a lectern and/or American flag.

In this short video Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asks emergency officials, responders, and leaders to provide input to the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR). You can and should record videos for your organization’s social media hub. Follow these tips:

1) Outline or script what you plan to say.
2) Speak in a natural and conversational tone.
3) Focus on just a couple of key points.
4) Start and finish with a call to action.
5) Invite stakeholders to participate at a deeper level.

About the author

Greg Friese wrote 58 articles on this blog.

Greg Friese, MS, NREMT-P is an author, podcaster, blogger, and advocate for emergency response agencies to use social media before, during, and after any incident. Greg is the Director of Education for CentreLearn Solutions, LLC. He is also the co-host of the EMSEduCast podcast and is a paramedic for a 911 agency in northeast Wisconsin

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