Media and virtual rhetoric

ONLINE COURSE IN RHETORIC

Output 2

Media rhetoric, civil rhetoric, virtual rhetoric

Glossary

Monological rhetorical genres

Dialogical rhetorical genres

Arguments and argumentation

Rhetorical figures, tropes and techniques

Presentation: types, features

Media rhetoric, civil rhetoric, virtual rhetoric

Media Rhetoric, Civil Rhetoric, Virtual Rhetoric

Media rhetoric

The term “media rhetoric” is mainly associated with journalism, TV and radio presenters, online editors, programme directors and actors in TV programmes. Media rhetoric relates not only to the behaviour of members of the journalistic professional environment, but also to those who are in the role of respondents.

  • Kassabova, I. (2015). A new rhetorical view of media environment – from televisions to social media. Rhetoric and Communications, issue 18. http://rhetoric.bg/iglika-kassabova-a-new-rhetorical-view-of-media-environment-from-televisions-to-social-media. Retrieved on 12.09.2021.

Political media rhetoric

Political media rhetoric includes statements by politicians, party leaders, statesmen, heads of national and international institutions and organisations in traditional and digital media, as well as the participation of these persons in media programmes and election campaigns broadcast and disseminated by these media.

  • Kassabova, I. (2015). A new rhetorical view of media environment – from televisions to social media. Rhetoric and Communications, issue 18. http://rhetoric.bg/iglika-kassabova-a-new-rhetorical-view-of-media-environment-from-televisions-to-social-media. Retrieved on 12.09.2021.

Television rhetoric

Television rhetoric is seen as a manifestation and variety of media rhetoric. It includes verbal and non-verbal manifestations of journalists and participants in various television formats in a wide range of television programmes (news, TV programmes, etc.). It is possible to distinguish political television rhetoric as a separate subdivision, as it refers more to the media appearances of politicians, presidential candidates, deputies, mayors and municipal councillors during election campaigns. The scope of this rhetorical subdivision includes speeches, sermons, statements and debates during the performance of politicians’ duties, as well as their participation in various crisis situations, using rhetorical genres, rhetorical techniques, rhetorical figures, tropes and arguments.

  • Kassabova, I. (2015). A new rhetorical view of media environment – from televisions to social media. Rhetoric and Communications, issue 18. http://rhetoric.bg/iglika-kassabova-a-new-rhetorical-view-of-media-environment-from-televisions-to-social-media. Retrieved on 12.09.2021.

Civil / civic rhetoric/Rhetoric of protests

Civic rhetoric, civic political speech, or more precisely civic performances during events, demonstrations, protests are a specific way of expressing the demands of citizens in defense of their rights and freedoms. However, citizens and protest leaders do not always have the opportunity to participate in negotiations with the government in order to solve problems in a timely and effective manner. Over the past two decades, citizens have used social media to mobilize, as well as to disseminate their statements, speeches, presentations, appeals, and media appearances. Civic political discourse also finds opportunities for expression in virtual forums and blogs. It can be concluded that oral and virtual civic political discourse is a tool for organizing protests and mobilizing citizens, but not always for effectively engaging in political negotiations with those who set the agenda of society or are in state institutions.

  • Mavrodieva, I. (2013). The function of rhetoric in Bulgarian public sphere”, JCCSEC, Volume 2, Issue 86- 98. https://crossculturenvironment.wordpress.com/ivanka-mavrodieva-the-functions-of-rhetoric-in-the-bulgarian-public-sphere/. Retrieved on 12.09.2021.

Civic Rhetoric

Civic rhetoric or the rhetoric of citizens covers their participation in dialogical formats, monological statements on behalf of civil associations and NGOs. But civic rhetoric also covers citizens’ participation in protests, demonstrations, parades, during which civic platforms and demands are made known through slogans, images, cartoons and appeals. Civic rhetoric in the virtual environment can be realised in dialogical forms, as happens, for example, in internet forums. Dialogues in such forums are much more dynamic, opinion leaders emerge very naturally, participants become legitimate through combinations of verbal and visual means.

  • Kassabova, I. (2018). The rhetoric of protests (Visual and verbal messages of the protests). Rhetoric and Communications, issue, 33, https://rhetoric.bg/iglika-kassabova-the-rhetoric-of-protests-visual-and-verbal-messages-of-the-protests. Retrieved on 12.09.2021.

Virtual rhetoric

Vlogger

A vlogger is a blogger who posts videos on websites/blogs. A vlogger can also be described as a speaker, presenter or communicator in a virtual environment. He or she presents information in videos posted online and presents their positions, shares experiences, presents advice and expert opinions and advice, new information, etc. The vlogger creates content and shares it, and may be an influencer or prosumer in the virtual environment.

  • Мавродиева, И. (2010). Виртуална реторика: от дневниците до социалните мрежи. София: СемаРШ, 2010.

  • Mavrodieva, I. (2010). Virtual Rhetoric: from Diaries to Social Networks. Sofia: SemaRh.

Virtual Forum

Virtual forums are a place or space in an online environment where communication does not fall into one of the classic types – political speaker – speech – audience. Participants discuss topics of public interest.

  • Mavrodieva, I. (2014). Virtual Political Communication in Bulgaria, Journalism and Mass Communication, December 2014, Vol. 4, No. 12, 477-485.

Virtual mediator

We use the term “virtual mediator” conventionally. It can be a member of a party or activists of so-called “digital parties”.

  • Mavrodieva, I. (2014). Virtual Political Communication in Bulgaria, Journalism and Mass Communication, December 2014, Vol. 4, No. 12, 477-485.

Virtual rhetoric

“Virtual rhetoric is a discipline with an applied nature, dealing with effective, argumentative communication, using software tools and digital media channels, incorporating and adapting traditional rhetorical methods to contemporary reality and user practices for the creation and dissemination of verbal and visual content in the conditions of the Internet virtual space in order to influence a global virtual audience” (Dobreva 2016).

  • Добрева, Д. (2016). Теоретичен и терминологичен обзор на понятията във виртуалната реторика. Реторика и комуникации, бр. 25, https://rhetoric.bg/. последно посещение на 12.09.2021.

  • Dobreva, D. (2016). Theoretical and terminomogical observation of the notions in virtual rhetoric, Rhetoric and Communcations, issue 25, Retrieved on 12.09.2021.

Virtual political rhetoric

Virtual political rhetoric includes different types of oratory, i.e. speeches of politicians and statesmen delivered in virtual environments such as synchronous and asynchronous computer-mediated communication, as well as the use of the affordances of the Internet (in particular Web 2.0, 3.0), where the political speaker posts online video recordings of speeches, lectures, reports, presentations or participations in dialogical formats, e.g. conferences, debates, discussions, round tables, press conferences. Virtual political rhetoric also includes the willingness of speakers to participate in interactive communications, including virtual forums, webinars, virtual conferences, using verbal, visual and non-verbal means.

  • Мавродиева, И. (2012). Политическата реторика в България: от митингите до Web 2.0 (1989-2012). София: Парадигма, 282.

  • Mavrodieva, I. (2012). Political rhetoric in Bulgaria: from meetings to Web 2.0 (1989-2012). Sofia: Paradigma, 282.

Virtual Agora

The term is used metaphorically to refer to a space on the internet that is used as a place for discussion of issues of importance to society. These can be social networks, virtual forums, blogs, podcasts, etc. Freedom of speech and new technologies determe a new pattern of behaviour in virtual environments, and this figuratively speaking also applies to the virtual agora.

  • Mavrodieva, I. (2013). The functions of rhetoric in the Bulgarian public sphere”. International Journal of Cross-Cultural Studies and Environmental Communication 2.2 (2013): 86-98. https://crossculturenvironment.wordpress.com/ivanka-mavrodieva-the-functions-of-rhetoric-in-the-bulgarian-public-sphere/. Retrieved on 12.09.2021.

Virtual Tribune

The term is used metaphorically to mean the use of blogs, websites, social networks, virtual forums to present opinions and positions by speakers who create, distribute and manage digital content and who have rhetorical, media, digital literacy/competence and understand the importance of communicating important issues and expert opinions.

  • Mavrodieva, I. (2013). The functions of rhetoric in the Bulgarian public sphere”. International Journal of Cross-Cultural Studies and Environmental Communication 2.2 (2013): 86-98. https://crossculturenvironment.wordpress.com/ivanka-mavrodieva-the-functions-of-rhetoric-in-the-bulgarian-public-sphere/. Retrieved on 12.09.2021.

The terms are part of the glossary from Ivanka Mavrodieva’s books:

– Virtual Rhetoric. From diaries to social networks. Sofia: SemaRh, 2010.

– Rhetoric and Public Relations. Sofia. Sofia University Press “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 2013.

Some terms are published in the Online Guide into Rhetoric, under the heading “Genres and Formats”. http://www.online.rhetoric.bg/

Citation and reference to this part of the Online Guide into Rhetoric or the books or the Online Coiurse in Rhetoric is mandatory.

Project – RHEFINE – Rhetoric for Innovative Education, Number 2020-1-PL01-KA203-082274, Erasmus+ Programme, Key Action 2, Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices – Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education.

Partners

University of Warsaw – Poland – coordinator

Institute of Rhetoric and Communication – Bulgaria

University of Zagreb – Croatia