Category: Week 06

Writers made up sentences not because words exist. It is the very essence of words that drives them to put thoughts into letters. This essence relays a purpose to make something big of a change not just for the society but also for the world as a whole. Sometimes as readers, we don’t see the changes words can make, we only perceived these words as existence of language. We seldom expect these words as a communication tool to development. The truth is, most of us don’t read words beyond its content which makes us less of a communicator. On my quest to finding the perfect characteristics of development oriented topic, some people told me,

 “A development – oriented topic should be TIMELY and RELEVANT.” The topic has to be happening at the moment or happened just yesterday or the day before that. It caters current events and activities that’s still appealing to people. It’s timeliness that makes the readers want to know something because they can actually be updated from time to time. A timely topic draw a connection to the audience. In connection, a timely topic must also be relevant. To be relevant, you have to think about your audience’s current needs, wants, and opinions. You have to stay up to date and figure out what your customers want and like right now. Relevancy means catering to your customers in as many ways as you can. These two are crucial in writing a development oriented topics.

 “A development- oriented topic should render service to the community.” I believe it is the duty of a development communicator to convey such messages that depicts positive developmental strategies and techniques in order to serve the community. A community made up of marginalized group of people. The topic must extend help to these communities and must gave them the services they all deserve. It is also important that these topics are versatile enough to bow down to poor people in order for them to understand what should be done to develop. Also I guess this is the purpose of being a development communicator, to serve the people.

“A development-oriented topic must promote cultural and social distinction” We live in a world of diver culture and social status. Some people don’t understand the culture of others, some are of different social status than that of others. It is important to know the distinction of cultures and the difference of socio- economic factors that affect these people’s lives. The topic must promote these unique characteristics of communities to be able to render service with less complications along the way.

Furthermore, always know the target audience first before doing anything developmental at all. These characteristics I’ve gathered are just a tiny portion of a lot of characteristics out there. These only connote that a development communicator must always cater the needs of the readers/ audiences. It is the purpose that’ll make a topic be development- oriented.

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There are certain characteristics for topics to be considered as development-oriented. As development communicators-in-training, it is important for us to know if a topic or output is development-oriented so that not only could we produce good quality outputs, but also be able to help in the development of certain sectors through our outputs no matter how big or small they are.

So, what are the characteristics of development-oriented topics or outputs? Here are three characteristics coming from two upperclassmen and one alumni of CDC.

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According to Linje Manyozo’s Manifesto for Development Communication, Development Communication is used as propaganda to achieve its development objectives and to bring about its desired change for diminishing poverty, unemployment, inequality and emerging issues of development, like human rights and culture. It wants communities to take an active part in planning, implementing and evaluating interventions that allow them to see the problem more clearly, therefore, providing practical solutions fit for its whole community. For this to be achieved, communication through all forms of media should be development-oriented.

What then makes a development-oriented topic or output?

Development journalists should know their audience. They should utilize print and electronic media to bring about desirable change in communities. They should focus on up-to-date issues that beset the community such as economic trends, population, government services, agriculture, industry, science and technology, and the environment. According to Elijah Espiritu of batch ’18, a development-oriented topic or output is one that has social relevance to a certain community and one that brings change or impact to a certain group of people through meaningful collaborations with the target community. Topics could also adhere to issues and advancements on Sustainable Development Goals and cover progresses associated with the 4 E’s of Development Communication namely, environmentalism, equity, empowerment, and entrepreneurship.

            Ayel Pascua of batch ’14 said, we as development communicators, value the process of meeting the community or stakeholders, listening to their stories, collaborating with them, and facilitating “development” to them. Development journalists should be spokespersons for the marginalized and the oppressed, they should know how to hear and amplify the voices of these people. They should attract the readers, go down the level of the community, speak their language, and tackle something that they will care about. Andrea Downer, a Jamaican journalist said, “Development journalism gives soul to media, it gives it a human face.”

           According to Juan Jamias, a pioneer in agricultural journalism in the country, development journalism should be scientific in outlook. A writer must have a wider knowledge of the different topics so that when he/she writes an article, his/her coverage is in-depth. Ricel Banayos of batch ’18 also said that a scientific or researched-based topic is ideal in writing articles especially if you want it to be development-oriented. It must feature an event or whatnot that involves scientific or research progress that will produce further development in its field, better if it provides sustainable development for the people.

Overall, development journalism has one goal, it should advocate the use of media to promote social change and development. Unfortunately, this is exactly where our system collapses, the common person in our country is unaware of the opportunities available to him/her. As a result, the vicious cycle of poverty and illiteracy is continuing. The media should then do its job to provide information to create awareness and solutions to advocate change.

References:

https://www.theguardian.com/journalismcompetition/professional-what-is-development-journalism

http://filmsforliberation.com/Fillfullarticle.aspx?Article=240

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01292980500467632

https://www.panaynews.net/what-is-development-journalism/

Development, as we all give it a simple meaning, is the process where something grows and become more advanced. We can easily define it as it is, but the question is, what are the top three characteristics of a development-oriented topic?

Attends the needs of the marginalized sectors.

A development-oriented topic must focus on helping those in the marginalized sector. Why? because they are the ones who needs it more obviously. For example, the development of a country is not about just progressing and creating new buildings and facilities. The company owners must consider their workers because they are the ones that completes the company as a whole. Development will not work if there are people who are left behind.

Its purpose is sustainable and achievable.

Knowing that you are not 100% sure about something, and still you started it then regret it halfway, is sometimes painful right? A development-oriented topic must be realistic because it will determine if it will be successful. Development is never about progressing then regressing afterwards. It is about transforming into a new version then sustaining it to develop more in the future.

Inclusivity of the people.

Of course, a development-oriented topic must seek the participation of the people. Its aim is primarily for the development of the people so they must be included in the topic. Knowing people will help in getting what are the areas that needs to develop.

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I asked two of the upper-class men close to me about development-oriented topics and what makes them one. Interestingly, they had similar responses . They told me about poverty, community building, the SDGs, and even as far as the 4 E’s of DevCom. After hearing from them, I came up with these three characteristics to describe a development-oriented topic:

1. poverty

They told me that a development-oriented topic must tackle all forms of poverty, may it be about the marginalized sectors or the minorities and oppression that these groups of people face daily, up to economic scarcity. As my prof in DevCom 10 said, poverty, in all its form, will always be present in our lives. It is our goal as future development communicators to eradicate if not lessen the rate of poverty in the Philippines.

2. small

The concern of a development-oriented topic are the small stories that mass media doesn’t cover. One of the upper-class man that I asked said, “innovative tapos di usually tinututukan ng mga media“. This means that we, as future development communicators, must focus on the stories of stakeholders in the baranggay or small communities, those who weren’t given spotlight by mass media.

3. the SDGs

Both of them told that a development-oriented topics answers or deals with the SDGs or the Sustainable Development Goals. Today, there are 17 SDGs set by the United Nations. They defined SDG as, “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs“. Additionally, NEDA who led the “AmBisyon Natin: 2040” campaign connects and relates the SDGs with what our Filipinos hope for for themselves and for the country.

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From the name of the course itself which is Development Communication, we as development communicators in training are expected to be able to, one day, write papers pertaining to development-oriented topics. But the question is, what are ‘development-oriented’ topics? What are the certain attributes that makes it one?

Ano nga ba?

As a freshman who is taking up BS Development Communication, what I think makes a topic ‘development-oriented’ are the following:

A development-oriented topic needs to be realistic. It should not only be focused on being beneficial, but also considering the fact that it has to be attainable for it to succeed.

A development-oriented topic must always have a purpose that, in relation to the first, it wants to achieve. With this, the golden rule of devcom must be kept in mind, which is to know your audience. For one of the purposes of a development-oriented topic, is to be of service to the people.

A development-oriented topic is focused on the people – especially those who are in the marginalized sector. Its focus is not to purely change people, but to help them change themselves for the better, by providing them the guidance that they need.