Progress within the Roundtable negotiations and the fear of litigation helped motivate constituent support. As noted above, it is important to include representatives of all interest groups in the negotiation process itself. Members of the public may be brought in as official observers, or may be appointed to subcommittees. Public meeting are informative, and offer opportunities for interested individuals to offer comments and suggestions to the participants. The negotiation organizers may also hold briefing sessions with interested groups.
Direct mailings can also be effective.
The authors suggest three basic principles which should guide any dealings with the public. First, acknowledge the public's right to know, and the importance of their concerns. Second, work with existing situations and institutions to disseminate information, for example, by scheduling meetings to accommodate local publishing deadlines. Third, expect public skepticism and opposition. These are reasonable responses to being excluded from negotiations.