10 North 2nd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 255-3040
Bureau of Communications
ABOUT US
The Bureau of Communications is responsible for external and internal communications and marketing for the City of Harrisburg. The Communications Director responds to media requests, as well as those from city residents and the general public. During emergencies, the Communications Director provides vital information on public safety while working with emergency management officials to keep the community informed. We works relentlessly to keep residents informed, engaged, and connected.
The Bureau of Communications uses a variety of tools and platforms to communicate with the public, holding press conferences, issuing press releases, as well as posting information on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and on the City’s official website — www.harrisburgpa.gov.
Our Communications reach includes the following divisions and personnel:
- The 311 Helpdesk System, which enables community services support to receive, forward, process, and respond to citizen service requests
- Both front desks in the MLK Government Center's atrium.
- WHBG-TV Channel 20, Comcast's government access station. If a resident does not have Comcast services, Channel 20 broadcasts can be viewed on our YouTube channel at City of Harrisburg - WHBG20
- The City of Harrisburg's studio on Walnut Street.
Bureau of Communications Staff:
Maryah Burney: Assistant Communications Manager
Asher Johnson: Studio Production Manager
Emily Speck: Multimedia and Drone Content Creator
Ayesha Hernandez: Bilingual Atrium Receptionist
Shaquan Williams: Atrium Receptionist
In the Summer of 2025, the City launched a brand new website that is maintained fully in-house. This eliminates outside contractor costs, and is saving the City and its residents approximately $45,000 annually. It gives us faster, more accurate control of City updates.
In addition, the Bureau of Communications translates many of our government documents into Spanish, and our staff frequently accompanies Code Officers offsite to ensure instructions, policy, and citations are clearly understood by our Spanish-speaking residents. We regularly expand our Spanish-language content and captioning to make information accessible to more residents.
The City's social media audiences grew by more than 10,000 followers since January of 2025—an increase of 367%. Our in-house studio produces approximately 78 WHBG Channel 20 videos annually, covering meetings, press conferences, events, ribbon cuttings, live streams, and special features.
Our social media efforts have made the City of Harrisburg a consistent presence in the daily lives of residents and visitors alike. The expansion of our platforms has created new opportunities for dialogue, allowing us to hear directly from the community. Through their comments, messages, and shared stories, we gain valuable insight into concerns that need attention, ideas that spark progress, and milestones that deserve celebration.
We also regularly host weddings, performing 23 weddings at City Hall in 2025. This proves that communication is not always about government policies and procedures. It is also about inviting the community in to experience lasting memories such as the joy of marriage.
We are proud to announce that in 2025, the City of Harrisburg’s Communications and WHBG Channel 20 Production Team earned regional acclaim, receiving an Emmy Award for editing and videography on the original documentary, Garry Gilliam: Building a Bridge in Harrisburg. The film chronicles an ambitious vision to restore a piece of our City through entrepreneurship and community investment. While that vision was never fully realized, the production itself stands as a testament to the power of storytelling—to illuminate both the promise and the challenges of rebuilding from within. This recognition celebrates the artistry, honesty, and technical excellence that continue to define our City’s Communications Team.
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CLICK BELOW FOR ANY OF OUR MEDIA CHANNELS
City of Harrisburg Facebook Page
City of Harrisburg Instagram Page
City of Harrisburg X Page
City of Harrisburg LinkedIn Page
WHBG Channel 20 YouTube Station