Upcoming Webinar: The Science of Asking: AI Prompt Engineering for Communicators

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | 1:00-2:00 PM ET

AI is changing how government communicators approach content creation, messaging, and time management. But knowing where to start—and how to use these tools responsibly—can feel overwhelming. This focused one-hour virtual session will equip public information officers, social media managers, communications directors, and other local government professionals with the foundational skill they need most: how to write effective prompts. You’ll learn how to turn a simple idea into a well-crafted prompt that helps AI platforms like ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude to produce useful, accurate, and on-brand results.

What You’ll Learn:

• What generative AI is and what government communicators need to know before using it
• How to write strong prompts that save time, reduce stress, and enhance content quality
• Examples of everyday government use cases: FAQs, posts, summaries, and more
• Guardrails for protecting privacy, tone, and public trust while using AI

Why It Matters:

You don’t need to become a tech expert to use AI effectively. This session gives you the language and structure to confidently use AI in your workflow while staying aligned with your mission, audience, and public duty.

During the Webinar:

Participants should have Chat GPT, Gemini or CoPilot open for use during the session. Attendees will create prompts and use the tool in real time.

Meet Your Speaker: 

Sabrina Merritt
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
October Social Media

Sabrina Merritt is the Founder and CEO of October Social Media (OSM), a digital communications agency specializing in social media strategy, governance, content creation, training, and staffing for government and regulated industries. She is widely recognized for her ability to blend creativity with compliance—developing future-ready digital programs that are accessible, strategic, and aligned with regulatory frameworks.

Under her leadership, OSM has become a trusted partner to agencies at the local, state, and federal levels, including the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, New Jersey Infrastructure Bank, Indiana Department of Health, Georgia Department of Transportation, City of Atlanta, and the Consulate General of Canada. The agency is known for translating complex, policy-driven topics into clear, engaging digital content that drives public understanding and trust.

Sabrina is a nationally sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator on digital strategy, entrepreneurship, and public-sector communications. Her insights have been featured by NPR and Black Enterprise, and she has spoken at major conferences including Government Social Media (GSMCON), 3CMA, SXSW, TAMIO, Texas Association of Counties, the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) Communications School, and Blacks in Government (BIG), among others.

She also leads October Learning Lab, OSM’s professional development division, which delivers accessible, action-oriented training for government communicators—helping agencies stay compliant, creative, and confident online. Outside of work, Sabrina enjoys life with her husband, Eric, and daughter, Erin. She's an avid reader who balances business, marketing, and the occasional murder mystery with the same curiosity and clarity she brings to her client work.