From Assignment to Message
Completion requirements
This resource provides strategies to ensure that your message will be delivered clearly and in the most effective format.
Message Purpose
Another important consideration when clarifying a message task is to determine the ultimate purpose of the message. Messages fulfill seven functions:
- they provide information about the availability of products and services: advertising and publicity
- they entertain: special features, advertising
- they inform: basic news, advertising, publicity
- they provide a forum for ideas: editorials, interpretive stories, documentaries, commentaries
- they educate: depth stories, self-help stories and columns, informative pieces, advertising with product features and characteristics
- they serve as a watchdog on government: investigative pieces and straight coverage of trials and other public events
- they persuade: advertising, publicity, editorials and commentaries (ftnt 2)
Communicators pay attention to these expectations as they seek information for messages. In order for a message to have audience appeal, it must meet the audience's expectations in purpose and form. Analyzing the context for a message includes the task of clearly understanding the purpose of the message. All of the subsequent information-gathering steps are affected by this basic requirement.