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Making Public Presentations of the Group’s Output 379

■ Enriching the conversation: Neither free- for-alls at open microphones nor strictly
controlled events contribute to open discussion. Trained facilitators encourage
open dialogue and help participants achieve that end.
■ Deliberating the options: Agency leaders recognize and use the comments they
heard at the public meeting. They do not commit to solutions prior to meetings.
Public meeting comments are summarized and provided to decision makers so
that more informed decisions can occur.
■ Deciding and moving forward: A public whose opinions and insight are used by
decision makers tends to be more committed to those decisions than a public
whose members believe they have been ignored or dismissed.

Public meetings occur every day at all levels of government. As a future profes-
sional, you may attend one or more such meeting as an audience member or agency
official. The skills you develop as a group member and your insight into group
dynamics can help you organize and facilitate public presentations of all kinds.
Poor public meetings do not have to occur. Meetings can be some of the most
rewarding experiences of our lives and an integral part of public policy.

KEY TERMS

Test your knowledge of these key terms in this chapter. Definitions can be found in the Glossary.
Buzz group session Moderator Symposium
Forum discussion Panel discussion

NOTES

1. Dan O’Hair, Rob Stewart, and Hannah Rubenstein, 6. McComas, “Theory and Practice of Public
A Speaker’s Guidebook: Text and Reference (Boston, Meetings,” Communication Theory, 11 (February
MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004), Chapter 6. 2001): 36–55.
2. Ann L. Darling and Deanna P. Daniels, “Practicing 7. Stephenson Beck, Robert S. Littlefield, and Andrea
Engineers Talk About the Importance of Talk: J. Weber, “Public Meeting Facilitation: A Naive
A Report on the Role of Oral Communication in the Theory Analysis of Crisis Meeting Interaction,”
Workplace,” Communication Education, 52 (January Small Group Research, 43 (April 2012): 211–35.
2003): 1–16. 8. Katherine A. McComas, “Trivial Pursuits: Participant
3. George A. Kennedy (trans.), Aristotle, On Rhetoric: A Views of Public Meetings,” Journal of Public Relations
Theory of Civic Discourse (New York: Oxford, Research, 15 (2003): 91–115.
1991): 181. 9. Dillon and Galanes, “Public Dialogue:
4. Katherine A. McComas, “Theory and Practice of Communication Theory as Public Praxis,” The
Public Meetings,” Communication Theory, 11 Journal of Public Affairs, VI (1) (2002): 79–89.
(February 2001): 36–55.
5. Randy K. Dillon and Gloria J. Galanes, “Public
Dialogue: Communication Theory as Public Praxis,”
The Journal of Public Affairs, VI (1) (2002): 79–89.

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