The Public Agenda, Tallahassee, FL 1996
Partners:
Tallahassee Democrat
WCTV6 (CBS)
Florida State University
Florida A&M Universities
The third year of the “Public Agenda” project ended with a hand-off to the community. Over its three-year span, the project involved more than 1,000 people in 15 discussion groups. A final poll of 353 adults in the Tallahassee area showed the project appeared to have contributed to positive changes in community attitudes and behavior. The poll found that about one third of area residents had heard of the project. Participation in some aspect of the project – whether joining a discussion group or attending a public meeting – registered at seven percent but that represented a doubling over the three years of the project, from three percent in 1995.
More than half the respondents said the project was effective in getting people to discuss community concerns, making people feel they have a voice and identifying solutions for community problems. Respondents in 1997 were more likely than respondents in 1994 and 1995 to see the community pulling together and less likely to be at odds. They were more willing to listen and work toward compromise and strongly agreed that people could make a difference by taking an active role on important issues in their community. For more details, see Year One projects, 1994.
Contacts:
Mimi Jones
Project Manager
The Public Agenda
1713 Silverwood Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 942-7199
Michael W. Smith
News Director
WCTV-TV (CBS)
4000 County Rd. 12
Tallahassee, FL 32312
TEL: (850) 893-6666
FAX: (850) 668-3851
EMAIL: mike.smith@wctv6.com