As DevCom students, everything that we write should be development-oriented. But what does development-oriented mean? Whenever we read a news story, how can one know if it is development-oriented? Are all news stories development-oriented?
Development Communication, as defined by Nora Quebral, is the art and science of human communication applied to the speedy transformation of a country and the mass of its people from poverty to a dynamic state of economic growth that makes possible greater social equality and the larger fulfillment of the human potential.
Thus, not every news is development-oriented. Here are 3 characteristics of a development-oriented topic/output:
Centered on DEVELOPMENT. As the word suggests, development-oriented topics are centered on development. This means that in communicating information, there must be a goal to be achieved. A development-oriented news serves as a catalyst for social change. There should be a call to action elicited from the writing.
Based on research. When writing a development-oriented news, one must base it on research. Writing something that is development-oriented undergoes a thorough research for data. It should also follow a scientific method in gathering data and in putting the information in words.
For the PEOPLE. Development communicators write for the people, especially those who are marginalized. Since the goal is to elicit social change, development communicators must be inclusive in communicating information. One should be able to reach the marginalized sector so that there would be an intervention and progress will be attained.
References: UP Open University. (1998). Quebral Definition. In Introduction to Development Communication (p. 130).
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