(Writer, Author, Speaker, Rhetor)
Definition: The person, group, or entity that delivers a message to an audience. This concept is vital for grasping how persuasive communication works and the role of the messenger in transmitting information. The communicator is central to shaping and delivering messages within rhetorical situations. Recognizing the attributes, intentions, and ethical responsibilities of communicators is key to understanding the essence of persuasive communication.
Intentionality: Communicators deliberately send messages with specific aims or objectives in mind, such as to inform, persuade, entertain, or engage their audience.
Persuasive Agency: They exercise their influence through the use of rhetorical techniques, language, and various mediums to sway the audience's opinions, beliefs, or actions. This requires an understanding of the audience's characteristics and needs.
Within the rhetorical situation framework, the communicator is a crucial component, alongside exigence (the urgency that triggers the communication) and the audience. The communicator tailors the message to suit both the exigence and the audience, thus effectively addressing the rhetorical situation.
The range of communicators includes individuals, public figures, organizations, institutions, and media platforms, each with unique characteristics and varying levels of audience influence.
The communicator's role is closely linked with ethical considerations. They should be conscious of their message's impact, respect the audience's independence, and maintain honesty, transparency, and integrity.
The advent of digital communication and social media has broadened the definition of a communicator. Nowadays, anyone who has access to these platforms can assume the role of a communicator, effectively reaching diverse and wide-ranging audiences.