What method is used for characterizing publics according to their interest in an issue?

The correct answer, stakeholder analysis, is particularly relevant for understanding how different groups or individuals, known as stakeholders, perceive and are affected by a specific issue. This method involves identifying all relevant stakeholders and assessing their interests, attitudes, and influence concerning the issue at hand.

Through stakeholder analysis, communicators can categorize publics based on their level of interest and potential impact on the situation. This approach allows organizations to tailor their communication strategies effectively, ensuring that messages resonate with the different interests and concerns of each identified group.

While public engagement metrics, audience segmentation, and market research are related to understanding various publics, they do not specifically focus on analyzing the interests and needs of stakeholders as comprehensively as stakeholder analysis does. Public engagement metrics often measure the level of interaction or participation, audience segmentation divides the audience into distinct groups but may not delve deeply into their specific interests regarding certain issues, and market research primarily focuses on consumer behavior and preferences in marketing contexts, rather than the nuanced relationships between stakeholders and issues. Thus, stakeholder analysis stands out as the most relevant method for characterizing publics by their interest in an issue.