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Participation level:

  • High (Stakeholders participate in decision)

Innovation level:

  • Low (Traditional)

Facilitator skill level, and other support required:

  • Low (No special skills)

Can be used for:

  • Engage community
  • Discover community issues
  • Develop community capacity
  • Communicate an issue
Number of people required to help organize:
  • Medium (2-12 people)
  • Individual

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Speakouts aim to provide people with specific information on an issue with a venue in which to share their expertise. In this way, speakouts determine issues and gain insight into various perspectives in relation to a community issue or proposal.


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Speakouts allow participants to express their views to a wide audience, and result in a wider airing of views, and greater awareness of other people's contributions to a particular process or issue. Speakouts open up possibilities of collegiate action when participants are experts working in similar fields.


 

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  • Useful when conflicting viewpoints exist.
  • Useful when debate is required to refine understanding of issues.
  • Useful when a particular group or individuals are affected by a project.
  • Can educate.
  • Allows organizers to meet people and develop networks.

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  • Can be difficult to direct (often speakouts occur because groups feel their voices are not being heard).
  • Popular with activists, and may not have a balance of opinions.
  • The discussion may be difficult to incorporate into a formalized consultation program.

 

Organizing Speakouts

How many people to organize?

Time required:

  • Medium (6 weeks-6 months)

Cost:

  • Medium (AUD$1,000-AUD$10,000)
  • Low (< AUD$1,000)

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  • Identify the issue of interest.
  • Book venue and invite experts.
  • Publicise 'speak out' / 'Soapbox'.
  • Take care of legal and other responsibilities.
  • Hire facilitator.
  • Organise recorders.
  • Explain time limits to each speaker (five minutes maximum).
  • After the event, prepare statement/report for media and authorities.

 

References

 

Description

A speakout is an event where a group of people give testimony about a particular issue. The people speaking can be 'experts' giving factual information to educate the audience and media, or they can be lay people who are personally affected by the issue talking about their lives, or a combination of both. (Source: http://www.actupny.org/YELL/zine/speakout.html)


Speakouts/Soapboxes can be organized events or events that are arranged by participants. They are a venue for public comment and debate and are usually informal with a limited agenda. Formally organized Speakouts/Soapboxes should be relaxed and should not attempt to steer a discussion and hence set an agenda.


Case study:

  • Click here to view a case study

This page originally copied with permission from the Citizens Science Toolbox


Category Practice