Establishing Accountability in Today’s Hybrid Public Engagement

The COVID-19 pandemic has permanently shifted expectations for public engagement in transportation. According to Pew Research Center, just 20% of Americans trust the federal government to “do the right thing” as the U.S. heads into post-pandemic infrastructure projects. The shift to virtual communication during the pandemic has solidified virtual as an accepted mechanism for engagement; now agencies are faced with transitioning to hybrid engagement that combines both virtual and in-person. How can we do this effectively, ensure people feel safe and considered, meet compliance requirements for accessibility and inclusiveness, entice people to participate—and stay within budget?

In this presentation, Arch Street Communications CEO and Founder Nora Madonick and Deputy Director of Digital Vinson Sanders will share how integrated use of digital tools can increase accessibility, restore and build public trust, and ensure public engagement effectiveness does not diminish during the shift to hybrid. In this interactive presentation, Nora and Vinson will guide conference attendees through building a complementary hybrid strategy and choosing the right tools. We’ll review how to understand audience needs, collecting meaningful feedback in a hybrid structure, and how to leverage social platforms to expand reach.

Takeaways:

Participants will leave this session with an understanding of how:

• Today’s digital tools can help boost transparency—if you establish a careful plan for their use from the start;
• Thorough research and information gathering on your audience is essential for ensuring smooth campaigns and successful gathering of feedback;
• The shift to hybrid events and multichannel communications can greatly strengthen public engagement and reach more groups than ever before.