Public Communications Department

Phone: 757-382-6241	Fax: 757-382-8538	Email: pubcomm@cityofchesapeake.net
Address: 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322

The Public Communications Department seeks to inform and educate Chesapeake citizens, businesses, and all interested citizens about the services, programs, operations, and initiatives of the City. The department facilitates communication between the City and citizens to foster a more productive, mutually beneficial relationship, increasing citizen involvement and input in all areas of the City's operations. These goals are accomplished in many ways using various forms of mass communications tools and techniques.

Departmental Responsibilities:

Primary point of contact for media covering City government
- Media contact via telephone: 757-382-6241
- Media contact via email: pubcomm@cityofchesapeake.net
- Online news room
Enhance Citizen Awareness and Education
- Communicate City events, services, and opportunities
- Provide easy and equitable access to City information
- Inform citizens about governmental actions and decisions which may affect their daily lives
- Provide diverse, accessible opportunities for citizens to learn more about, and be part of, their local government
City Image
- Develop and monitor the use of the Chesapeake brand
- Build a sense of community by actively communicating with Chesapeake neighborhoods, groups, organizations, and individuals in a 2-way manner
Emergency and Crisis Communications
- Promote emergency preparedness in the community
- Maintain and administer the City’s emergency communications plan
- Serve as the official source of City information during emergencies
Communications Supervision, Training, and Oversight
- Work with all City departments to provide for their communication needs
- Provided training for designated communicators within departments, and to department heads and staff, to ensure that accurate, coordinated, and timely communications are maintained
- Oversee the work of social media and traditional communicators from City departments, managing content and ensuring adherence to set standards

Public Relations Tools:

Chesapeake Television on the local cable TV system and online
- Provide live coverage of City Council, Planning Commission, and School Board meetings
- Produce in-studio and on-location news, information, educational, cultural, public affairs, sports and human interest shows.
Social Media
Publications
Other
- For messages of general interest, utilize all available communication tools, paid and unpaid, to reach the widest market possible
- For targeted messages, evaluate and utilize the best possible mix of delivery vehicles to achieve the communication's goal