Editors at The Orange County Register offer these tips for organizing and moderating a community conversation:

Logistics

Invite up to 15 people; find a good cross section of age, gender, outlook and economic status.

Hold the event in the early evening. Provide food.

Plan on no longer than two hours, and keep to that schedule.

Consider hiring translators if it will make some people more apt to participate.

Keep it casual. People may want to come and go for food or the restroom during the discussion.

Make sure the room is set up so people are facing each other.

Moderating guide

Ask the participating editors and reporters in advance what they want to learn from the sessions, and make it clear they need to narrow it to one or two things.

Make sure everyone speaks. Let people make short speeches; it will make them more comfortable. But don’t let anyone dominate the discussion.

Be patient. The first hour may be slow; in the second hour, themes are likely to emerge.

Gently keep things on track, but don’t interrupt a good group conversation.

Don’t take notes. Concentrate on listening and eye contact.

Be clear about the goal for the session. If people have specific complaints about the newspaper, put them in contact with the appropriate staff member after the session.

Humor is important, but be gentle.