1.0: Why Public Speaking Matters Today
Tiffany Petricini
Communication is how we make meaning, form relationships, and shape the world around us (Carey, 1989). It is not just something we do. It is how we exist together. Whether we are telling a story, asking a question, presenting an idea, or sitting in silence beside someone we care about, communication allows us to connect, understand, and be understood.
This book begins not only with public speaking as a skill, but with communication as a human practice. From interpersonal conversations to civic speeches, from face-to-face dialogue to AI-mediated interaction, our ability to communicate with care and clarity has never been more important or more complex.
We live in a time when communication is everywhere, and yet meaning is easily lost. Algorithms sort our messages. Generative AI tools assist—and sometimes mislead—our voices (see Gillespie, 2014). Digital platforms alter how and when we are heard. Amid all this, the ability to speak thoughtfully, listen actively, and build shared understanding remains essential.
This book focuses on one powerful form of communication: public speaking. But it does so within a broader goal. You will work toward becoming a more competent communicator overall. Competent communicators know how to adapt across contexts. They understand audience, purpose, ethics, and effect. They know when to speak, when to listen, and how to respond. They also reflect on how their communication is shaped not just by personal choices but also by technologies, cultures, and power structures.
Public speaking provides a vital space to practice and apply those skills. Whether you are addressing a classroom, leading a community meeting, or sharing a message online, public speaking invites you to be intentional. It asks you to clarify your message, reflect on your audience, and consider the lasting effects of your words.
And yes, public speaking still matters. Despite the rise of texts, tweets, and short-form videos, people continue to gather—online and in person—to listen. TED Talks, town halls, graduation speeches, campaign rallies, startup pitches, Zoom meetings, advocacy campaigns, and digital storytelling events all rely on the enduring power of one person speaking to others with purpose.
Today, those speeches may be written with the help of AI, delivered to hybrid audiences, or reshaped through algorithmic filters. Learning to speak beyond the podium means learning not only how to organize your ideas and deliver them clearly, but also how to navigate the media environments that shape your message and influence its reach.
This book will help you build both practical skills and critical awareness. You will learn how to prepare and deliver speeches. More importantly, you will develop tools to think carefully about your role as a communicator in a networked and postdigital world. Together, we will explore what it means to construct meaning—and to do so with responsibility, creativity, and care.
