skaidrumu

Skaidrumu is a concept describing the quality of clarity and transparency in information, communication, and governance. It denotes how easily a message or dataset can be understood by its intended audience and how effectively relevant details are conveyed without distortion.

The term derives from Estonian skaidrus, meaning clarity, with the suffix -mu forming a noun that denotes a state or quality.

Skaidrumu applies across domains such as government communications, journalism, education, business reporting, and user interface design. It involves using plain language, logical organization, explicit definitions, and appropriate visual aids, as well as presenting data with sufficient context and supporting sources.

Key principles include audience awareness, conciseness, consistency, and verifiability. It emphasizes avoiding jargon, providing explanations for technical terms, and offering metadata or glossaries. Accessibility and inclusivity—such as support for assistive technologies and multilingual options—are often integral.

Measurement and evaluation of skaidrumu may involve readability assessments, user-testing, comprehension checks, and adherence to accessibility standards. Institutions may also track metrics like time to understand, error rates in interpretation, and user satisfaction. Limitations include the risk of oversimplification, loss of nuance, or tactical use as a rhetorical device.

Skaidrumu is a topic of interest in public administration reform, data storytelling, and ethical journalism, where clear presentation is expected to improve accountability and informed participation.