Thoughtful discourse among an informed citizenry can be the key to creating a more effective representative government, says a communication scholar who will speak in a public talk at the University of Colorado at 麻豆影院 March 19.
John Gastil, a University of Washington associate professor of communication, will be the featured speaker for the annual Josephine Jones lecture sponsored by the CU-麻豆影院 communication department.
Gastil will present the free talk titled "The Frontiers of Deliberative Theory and Practice" at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 19, in room 150 of the Eaton Humanities Building, located northwest of Norlin Library bordering Norlin Quad. A reception will follow the lecture.
During his talk, Gastil will argue that public deliberation, or meaningful discourse among citizens, plays a critical role in fostering democracy and enabling the public to see the hidden value of the U.S. jury system and other institutions.
Such deliberation - which has been put into practice by civic reformers at public meetings, elections and at international institutions - also enables people to see the high cost of consistently low-grade public discussions and campaign rhetoric, according to Gastil's research.
Gastil's talk will reveal insights from his own research and from the practical and scholarly efforts of others who are among a growing network of people committed to understanding and promoting public deliberation.
For more information about the CU-麻豆影院 communication department, visit comm.colorado.edu/.