The Dare County Public Relations Department is responsible for providing information that keeps citizens informed about Dare County’s policies, services, programs and initiatives in order to increase the public’s awareness of the county’s role within the community and to encourage individuals to engage and interact with local government. 

The five-person department is tasked with performing a wide array of communications that include creating and disseminating news and information about Dare County government, responding to inquiries made by citizens and members of the media, as well as collaborating with individual Dare County departments to help enhance their outreach efforts, among many other responsibilities.

This is primarily achieved through the development and distribution of news releases and e-notifications, social media posts, website updates, videos and public service announcements, brochures and newsletters, as well as an assortment of additional print and digital publications.  

In addition, the Public Relations Department organizes a variety of community outreach events, assists with the production of special projects for individual Dare County departments, and serves as a liaison between Dare County and the media. The Public Relations Department also handles requests for public records.  

During emergency situations or other times of crisis, the Public Relations Department serves as an integral component of the Emergency Operations Center and plays a pivotal role in creating and disseminating urgent information to thousands of Dare County residents, visitors and property owners. 

Crisis communications are overseen by the Public Information Officer, who serves as the Chief of the Joint Information Section during emergency situations. The various responsibilities performed by all five members of Dare County’s Public Relations Department during emergencies and other disasters—both natural and manmade—are crucial when it comes to keeping the public informed, protecting property and potentially even saving lives.      

Video production—as well as the livestreaming and recording of Dare County Board of Commissioners meetings—are also functions of the Public Relations Department, as the department oversees the operations of Current TV, which provides informational programming for the Government and Education Access Channels (Gov-Ed TV).

The Dare County Public Relations Department is composed of the following five staff members whose individual roles and responsibilities combine to create a well-rounded department whose mission is to increase citizens’ awareness and understanding of all Dare County departments, programs, services, events and initiatives through a robust series of quality communications. 

  • Public Information Director

  • Assistant Public Information Director

  • Public Relations Coordinator

  • Government Education TV Channels Manager (Current TV)

  • Government Education TV Video Producer (Current TV)