Improving Citizen Participation and Feedback in Your Bagh: AManual on Town Halls
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gram, a possible public forum format is a media roundta-
ble. This would typically include two to four panelists who
bring different viewpoints to the issue. They have a moder-
ated discussion designed to highlight the issue and then take
questions from reporters. Reporters are the primary audi-
ence for a media roundtable. These media roundtables can
be held in a small setting such as an office conference room
or a classroom. Given the targeted audience, these public
forums need not be widely advertised to the public but the
event should be open to any who are interested.
Determining how questions will be asked
In addition to determining the format and flow of the
event, it is critical to determine how constituents will want
to provide their input. For some, asking a question or mak-
ing a comment in public, in front of their neighbors and
elected officials, may be too intimidating. Consider having
a few options that allow the widest range of constituents to
participate.
Depending on the topic, participation in the meeting can be
held in numerous ways, including:
• Participants are divided into groups where they summa-
rize the key issues they are facing
• Individuals each write their issues on pieces of paper. Here
you will need to prepare a small piece of paper for every-
one to write their concerns but very briefly as there will be
many comments to consolidate
This will require having a few volunteers at hand to sort
and categorize comments received. The mediator can
read them out or summarize a few at a time.
• Open floor discussions where the moderator introduces
and facilitate the meeting so that everyone who raises their
hands to speak gets equal time
