Briefings are often a way of providing information on a specific issue or initiative to a special audience. The presentation may be delivered by an industry, government or organisation's representative, and is typically followed by detailed discussions in a question and answer format. Briefings are useful as a public relations activity when an identified group is going to be affected by a proposal. The use of existing meetings of social and civic clubs and organizations as a forum for briefings to inform and educate is often used. (Ontario Public Consultation Guide 1994). Briefings may provide some preliminary ideas of community issues based on questions and feedback at the briefing. (See Case Study Community Consultation, where a participant observer briefed all relevant stakeholders on options as part of a long-term public consultation process.)

• Ministry of Environment and Energy. 1994. Public consultation guide. Toronto, Ontario.
• RCRA. 1996. Public Participation Manual. Ch 5: Public participation activities. http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/permit/pubpart/chp_5.pdf [accessed 3 Jan 2002].
• Wates, N. (1999) The community planning handbook. London, Earthscan.

This page originally copied with permission from the Citizens Science Toolbox

Category Practice