And yet the transition from data to information would seem to require a mind to effect it, the outcome of which Shannon referred to as "the reduction of uncertainty in the receiver." How can one have a model of information without taking the receiver into account? Or the sender, for that matter?I think you need to re-read Shannon ...
Why?
Because I don't conclude that Shannon's "abstract mathematical model" obviates human observers/communicators? Or any other type of communicator, on the ground that Shannon's model itself is "indifferent" to the content of communications being sent/received?