How can public agencies incorporate community feedback and sentiment into their messaging and better shape their communications strategy? Discover how government agencies across California are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to understand discourse trends, identify community pain points and measure the effectiveness of community outreach efforts.

This session will include a brief overview of Zencity and the applications of AI in local government followed by a public-sector panel conversation covering the challenges of messaging misalignment, crisis communications and outreach to constituents, social media management and community negativity and how these innovative public-sector agencies tackled them using AI in the age of COVID.

Key take-a-ways: 

• Using AI to develop a holistic data-picture of community feedback
• Learning how AI can help identify the most effective channels for customized messaging and track the footprint of communications to help your community become a more data-driven organization
• Sharing of case studies and lessons learned

Recorded: Thursday, October 8, 2020

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Speakers:

Bios

Allison Paisner is a Customer Success Manager at Zencity, working with cities across the U.S. to incorporate resident feedback data into their decision-making and communications process. Prior to joining the Zencity team, Allison worked for the city of Washington, DC as a program analyst. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Policy degree from The George Washington University.

Paul Hosley is the Communications and Media Officer for the City of West Sacramento. His responsibilities include public outreach, media relations, social media, website content, video production, events and emergency communications. Paul previously operated his own social media marketing company, helping businesses and organizations engage with and reach their target audiences. In addition, Paul spent 25 years as a news director and editor for KCBS all-news radio and KGO news talk radio stations in San Francisco.

John Mlynar has served as the City of Palmdale’s Communications Manager/PIO since  January 2007.  He and his communications team oversee public relations, marketing, City publications, design, crisis communications, social media outlets, and the City’s television station. Prior to coming to Palmdale, he worked for 23 years at Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries in Glendale, CA as a public relations coordinator, copywriter, graphic designer, advertising coordinator and interim department manager. John also spent two years at KK&M Advertising in Boston, MA.

Whitney Skillman has been with the City of Fairfield for 17 years and currently serves as the Marketing & Outreach Division Supervisor where she is in charge of numerous communications functions, including creating and scheduling content for the city’s social platforms and website, assisting departments with the creation and dissemination of marketing materials, and producing video content for the city’s TV station. Just this year Whitney and her team were the proud recipients of the city’s first Gold Telly award. In her spare time Whitney teaches Film & TV production at a community college and is half way to obtaining her Master’s degree.