Five Basic Categories of Public Communication
- Informative
- Persuasive
- Entertaining
- Ceremonial
- Motivational
Public communication is an important avenue through which connections are made between people. Public communication oftentimes comes in the form of an individual making some type of speech or presentation. There are five basic categories of communication of a public nature commonly utilized in this day and age.
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1. Informative
Informative communication is intended to dispense knowledge. Informative communication is designed to convey facts and data in an accurate manner. Informative communication occurs in a variety of settings, including schools of all types. Reports in business settings and similar presentations can also be examples of informative communication. Underpinning informative communication must be accurate and reliable facts or data.
2. Persuasive
In basic terms, persuasive communication is designed to entice an intended audience to accept a particular perspective at the heart of a speech or other type of presentation. Political speeches and commercials are prime examples of persuasive communication. In reality, persuasive communication devices are utilized when it comes to marketing products and services as well. Rather than just an uncritical presentation of facts, persuasive speech presents an analysis of those facts.
3. Entertaining
Entertaining communication is intended for the enjoyment of the intended audience. There are occasions when public presentations in the form of speeches are designed to entertain. On a public scale, entertaining communication arguably can also include television programs, films, stage plays, and the like. Entertaining communication is also oftentimes incorporated into other types of presentations when the primary focus is the presentation of facts, persuasion, or some other type of communication.
4. Ceremonial
Ceremonial communication is a formalized type of presentation. Ceremonial communication occurs in a variety of settings and in a number of forums. For example, presentations made in religious services can take a ceremonial form. Certain governmental occasions can involve ceremonial communication. In addition, ceremonial pubic speech oftentimes is a part of certain types of holiday celebrations. Governmental officials and clergy oftentimes are individuals who make presentations involving ceremonial communication.
5. Motivational
Motivational communication, particularly that delivered by motivational speakers, is in high demand, according to Forbes. Motivational communication is designed to inspire listeners and spur them into action. This could be actions to benefit the individual or actions to benefit a greater cause. Motivational communication can occur in a number of settings, including conferences or conventions, podcasts, churches, seminars, and other gatherings.
While there can be communications that fit into one category exclusively, that is not always the case. In fact, oftentimes a particular communication combines different basic categories of communication. For example, a particular communication of a public nature can be both informative and entertaining. Indeed, entertaining communication concepts oftentimes are incorporated into different types of communication structures designed for public consumption. There is similar crossover between these various types of communication structures.