Who has a direct role in responding to your document?

The primary audiences are individuals or groups who directly interact with and respond to the document. They are the intended recipients of the information conveyed and usually possess a vested interest in its content. This audience plays a crucial role because their feedback, reactions, or decisions are often significant outcomes of the communication. For instance, if a technical document is aimed at engineers, their understanding and application of that information directly influence the success of the document’s purpose.

In contrast, secondary audiences may have an interest in the document but are not the primary focus of its communication. Editors contribute by reviewing the document for clarity, coherence, and adherence to style guidelines, but they don’t typically interact with the document's content in the same way that the primary audience does. Researchers might use the document as a reference or source of information, but they do not play a direct role in responding to or acting upon its contents in the same manner as the primary audiences.