Telling the public

Often it is necessary to give the participants some information about an issue, or a proposed policy, before starting a consultation. This has two aspects.

1. Awareness raising (publicity to engage consultees)
2. Disseminating information on the consultation topic (one-way communication)

Publicity to engage consultees

• Advertising (e.g. radio, newspapers, Google Adwords)
• E-mailed newsletters
  • Activelink keeps civil society up-to-date in Ireland.
  • NSEC uses PHP List to keep consultees informed.
• Social network sites (e.g. Bebo, MySpace).

Information on the consultation topic

• Post out 100-page consultation documents,
  • and be surprised if many people read and understand the document and have the time to reply.
• Set up a website
  • Consultation NI website
  • Bristol City Council consultation finder
  • Is it usable? See how much easier it is to navigate and use the second, which is organised around readers' needs, rather than administrative structures.
• Tell your stories on blogs
  • Mary Reid, the Mayor of Kingston-upon-Thames. This is one of a number of councillor blogs set up under the UK Local E-democracy programme, now run by ICELE
• Use rich media
  • Videos (e.g. YouTube)
  • Podcasts
  • Games
    • Demgames
    • Amsterdam City Council has used on-line games to introduce a topic before people got to the e-consultation site.