Persepsi Mahasiswa Ilmu Komunikasi terhadap Gaya Retorika PejabatPublik Saat Menjawab Pertanyaan Wartawan melalui TikTok (pada Akun@cnnindonesia)

Abstract

This study examines Communication Studies students' perceptions of public officials' rhetorical styles
when responding to journalists' questions on TikTok, specifically through the @cnnindonesia account.
Grounded in rhetorical theory and audience perception frameworks within digital political
communication, this research adopts a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through
in-depth interviews with two purposively selected informants: one Communication Studies lecturer with
expertise in political communication and one undergraduate student who actively consumes political
content on TikTok. Informants were selected based on specific criteria, including academic expertise
and consistent media consumption habits. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and triangulated
through cross-referencing of interview responses and documentary evidence. The findings reveal that
students perceive the rhetorical styles of many public officials as ineffective, characterized by unclear
messaging, weak command of data, and defensive or illogical statements. These communication failures
diminish student trust in public officials and highlight a disconnect between the demands of digital
public communication and the rhetorical competencies of officials. This study contributes to the
understanding of how rhetorical quality shapes political credibility in the TikTok era and offers
practical implications for public communication training.