Public Information Office

The Public Information Office for the City-Parish Government was established by ordinance of the City-Parish Councils in April 1975.  The function of this office is to provide, plan and organize programs and services designed to inform the public and to generate support from the public for local government.  The office works with each City department to plan and promote special events and coordinate the release of daily news.

The function of this office is to provide, plan and organize programs and services designed to inform the public and to generate support from the public for local government. The office is available to respond to all Council members, the Mayor, and all Departments of Government; this is required so that procedures, programs, scheduling, events, etc. within Government can properly be reported to the public. Consequently, the local media is in constant contact for news and information on a daily basis. Additionally, the Public Information Officer serves as the Official Spokesperson for the parish in cases of natural emergencies and therefore has a close working relationship with the Parish Emergency Operations Center.

Metro 21, the cities governmental cable TV channel is operated by the Office of Public Information. This 24 hour cable channel broadcasts to 150,000 homes in East Baton Rouge Parish, providing programming that showcases the accomplishments of City Government, driving the messages of the Mayor, City Council, and the respective East Baton Rouge Parish City agencies to all residents. To preserve Louisiana’s rich, French culture, the Office of Public Information began airing French educational programming on Metro 21 in the fall of 2008. This programming airs from the camera-operational booth, located in the Metropolitan Council Chambers, two days a week from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. This programming is in addition to our popular Arts Showcase, featured weekly on Metro 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., further promoting arts and humanities in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Mission Statement 

Our mission  is to nourish good citizenship by promoting and earning public trust; to provide leadership and high quality service by consistently communicating with citizens helping them with their needs and aspirations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who uses the PIO?
The role of PIO during emergencies or disasters
Does the PIO give tours?
What type of photography is done by the PIO?
What type of public records are on hand at the PIO?
Is this where I can get a copy of a councilmember's biography?
Can I find out who my councilmember is?
Does the PIO handle citizen complaints regarding Cox Cablevision?
What is Metro 21?
Can I place a Public Service Announcement under the bulletins on Metro 21?
Does your department handle special events?

Who uses the office of Public Information?

The office is available to respond to all Council members, the Mayor and all Departments of Government; this is required so that procedures, programs, scheduling, events, etc within Government can properly be reported to the public.  Consequently, the local media is in constant contact for news and information on a daily basis.

What is the role of the Public Information Office during emergencies or disasters?

The Public Information Officer serves as the Official Spokesperson for the parish in case of natural emergencies and therefore has a close working relationship with the Parish Emergency Operations Center. The Office of Public Information coordinates all news releases and press conferences during emergencies. Cable fiber, provided by Cox Communications at the Office of Emergency Preparedness enables the City-Parish Government to inform citizens constantly on a 24 hour basis.

Does this department give tours? 

Yes, schools. boy scouts, girl scouts, summer camps and other interested parties may schedule a tour of City Hall and meet with the Mayor or a representative from City-Parish Government through this department. Mock council meetings are popular with school groups who are studying government, giving them hands-on experience.

What type of photography work is done through the PIO Office? 

Photography work is performed daily for the Mayor, Council members and City-Parish Departments, maintaining an up-to-date photo file for individuals and events.

What kind of public records are on hand in the Public Information Office?

The office has an extensive newspaper clipping file on any City-Parish Department or topic of interest. These files are kept in house from 1970 to the present. Also, this office maintains and posts all clippings, which are kept as official permanent records, dating back to 1960.

Is this where I can get a copy of my councilmember’s biography?

Yes

Can I find out who my councilmember is?

Yes, we have a list of addresses and will inform you who your councilmember is and how to contact them. Also, on the cities web site, you can input your street name to find your council district.

Does the office of Public Information handle citizens complaints regarding Cox Cablevision?  

The Public Information Office serves as the Franchise Authority of East Baton Rouge Parish, enforcing the provisions of Baton Rouge’s Cable Franchise agreements and ensuring that the City of Baton Rouge is fairly compensated for private use by the telecommunications providers of public rights of way.

What is Metro 21?

The East Baton Rouge Parish Office of Public Information operates Government Access Channel Metro 21 on cable. Metro 21 is a 24 hour cable channel that broadcasts to 150,000 households in East Baton Rouge Parish. The channel started with a $50,000 donation from TCI Cable (now Cox Communications) in September of 1999. Cox Communications continues to supply the city with a channel and contributes an operational donation annually. The channel provides information to the public about city services and activities including weekly Metropolitan Council Meetings, Planning and Zoning Commission Meetings, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Meetings. and BREC (Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission) meetings. In addition, local events such as community meetings, "How to Adopt Pets", tax seminars, road work updates, recycling, police, fire and EMS information, job opportunities, commodity listings, housing and energy assistance programs by the Parish, State and Federal Government can be found on this channel. On a daily basis, the Arts Showcase can be seen, offering viewers video samplings of art, music, ballet, theatrical performances and classic film. This is broadcast by satellite and made available free to Metro 21. In an effort to preserve Louisiana’s rich, French culture, the Office of Public Information began airing French educational programming two days a week in the summer of 2008. In case of an emergency, Metro 21 will broadcast valuable information to the public 24 hours a day, throughout the event. Information will be crawled across the bottom of the screen with live updates at designated times, during emergencies such as hurricanes, flooding, chemical spills, etc. The Public Information Office and Metro 21 are committed to working with the community to provide opportunities for the two-way flow of information between the City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge.

How can I place a Public Service Announcement under the bulletins on Metro 21? 

By calling the Public Information Office at 389-3121or faxing information at 389-5450. Any non-profit agency can post their upcoming events and happenings and information on Metro 21.  This station is here for the Citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish.  The information posted is screened by the office and then ran weekly on this station.

Does your department handle special events?

The Public Information Office cooperates in planning many special events, including ribbon cuttings and ground breakings, legislative functions and community outreaches.  The PIO assists City Departments in planning special events, as well as in coordinating their promotions. The intent is for neighborhoods, civic organizations, and private individuals to have access to all the opportunities available from the City.