Is Wikipedia the New Town Hall?

Public broadcasting has been a protected media zone that provides some higher-quality opportunities for people to learn about each other and their problems, and to share a common cultural experience of consuming the same media. But public broadcasting is still a stand-in for public communication, because it is a mass medium. The broadcasters speak to the many, who then talk to each other.

Can digital media change this? Can new technologies bring media made by, with and for the public? Could pubcasters be part of it?

That's the question I asked in an essay for IN THESE TIMES, where I'm a proud member of the editorial staff. The essay is here:
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3067/is_wikipedia_the_new_town_hall/
and I'd love to know what people think.