Development-oriented is a broad term. To narrow it down, one must take one of multiple perspectives regarding it. Each perspective has its own characteristics on what a development-oriented topic or output should be. Take for example Batch 2013’s Renz Celeridad’s take on this:
For him, being development-oriented is to be: concerned about an immediate societal issue, localized, and critical.
1.Concerned about an immediate societal issue
Being development-oriented hinges on specific issues that influence the, what he says are, “disenfranchised”. These are marginalized sectors such as farmers, youth, and women, among others.
2.Localized
A development-oriented topic is something you can localize from a national-level issue. Be it from agriculture, health, or labor. Being development-oriented, these issues are explored on a local level.
3.Critical
Dominant structures in society are explored in how they shape the people within them. For example, the influence of mainstream media on people, the effect of business-backed laws on ordinary people. These kinds of questions are to be tackled by development-oriented topics.
These kinds of insights are a tremendous help in crafting the essence of being development oriented. Especially for me, as a development communicator in my early stages.
Hopefully, with enough time and experience, I can create my own perspective and provide my own set of characteristics of development-oriented topics or outputs. For now though, I’ll have to let my lectures and other insights hone my perspective on being development-oriented; developing my own sense development.
Big thanks to Ate Faye Sueño for referring me to Kuya Renz!
For starters, the term “development-oriented” may seem a little challenging to define. With that, I had a chat with Jordan Cabarles, an upper class student from Batch 13.
Here’s what he has to say.
First, it must raise social issues and should elicit solutions. Development-oriented topics must discuss both the problem and the solution. Today, social issues are prevalent. We see these problems everywhere. With that, it is important to raise awareness and understanding to these problems. However, it does not stop with just acknowledging the problem. We must also elicit and conduct these solutions.
Second, it must involve human development. Jordan describes human development as encouraging people to live up to their fullest potentials. Human development promotes growth of people. This means that everyone can progress and become the best versions of themselves.
Lastly, it must encourage community development and participation. Development-oriented topics involve community development which means members of the community work together to provide solution to existing problems. It also involves participation which means there must be a collaboration and teamwork with groups.
The Philippines is ranked among the third world countries, therefore, it is labeled a developing country. When we say developing country, it means that she is still a work in progress. Numerous problems in the different sectors are still in need of solutions and development. But what makes a problem development-oriented? As a development communication student, or even as a simple human-being, I have realized that a problem or a certain topic can be considered as development-oriented when its goal is to eliminate the harmful effects, when it requires positive change, and aims for the betterment of the society.
Eliminative goal
I have read multiple articles about different events that caused adversities in the society and its harmful effects were really disturbing, which took place in many aspects. It affected them physically, emotionally, mentally, intellectually, financially, even spiritually and when these aspects were broken down into more specific issues, they include people’s source of livelihood, health, education, and more. Therefore, it is considered a development-oriented topic if there is a goal of eliminating those harmful effects.
Must Lead to Positive Change
People in the marginalized sectors are the most vulnerable whenever social issues strike. Therefore, solutions must be implemented and intensified for them to endure the effects of these problems. In addition, quality education, healthcare, proper nutrition and more must also be given equally to improve their quality of living. But all these positive effects can only be achieved if we make them hear our voices.
Aims for the Betterment of the Society
Something is development-oriented when it is beneficial for the people. Its solutions must directly impact the people in the community or society to increase their growth, to elevate their status in life, especially the unfortunate.
With these three characteristics, I therefore conclude that a development-oriented topic focuses on the marginalized sector. It is that, I believe, the marginalized sector is the heart of development. It is the reason, the goal, and the driving force that make a topic development-oriented.
Sustainable. Centered on the marginalized sector. Relevant.
Bjanca Ysabelle Mendiola (CDC student)
Development is such a broad term
that can mean many different things as it is viewed by different eyes. As the
world catapults into a new era, the quest for development is more urgent than
ever. With the advancements of today’s technology, answers are just a click
away. However, there are answers that outweigh facts and the general truth, and
those are answers from within reared by learning and understanding. So, what
really makes a topic development-oriented?
I did not expect that this
question led me closer to home sooner than I thought. I manage to get some
answers from two people. The first one was from an upperclassman in her 2nd
year stay, and according to her, what really describes a development-oriented
topic is SUSTAINABILITY and RELEVANCE.
Taking into consideration the role of the audience as the writer’s well of
life, a topic must be relevant so that they can relate to it. Choosing a topic
that stems from the community is one thing, but one must also be able to make
the topic readable and easy to understand. Of course, it doesn’t end here. It is
never enough for the audience to be aware, they must be prompted to act. Allowing
your audience to be immersed and engaged in your work is the first step in ensuring
sustainability. The topic must not only be relevant today but has an impact in
the future. Remember that you aren’t just writing for the present but paving a
way for tomorrow.
The second person whom I was able to conversed with holds a special place in my heart as she also comes from the same place as me. She just graduated this June 22 as cum laude under the CDC roof. As I asked her, she immediately responded with the word HOLISTIC. For a topic to be development-oriented, it needs to widen its scope not only to a single group but as much as possible tug the lives of many. With development itself being a complex process with intertwining factors, one must be able to identify and target different problems. Imagine hitting two birds with one stone (however I do not suggest that as hitting birds would be illegal under the Animal Welfare Act).
Thirdly, what really struck me the most is both of their answers coincided. A topic can be deemed development-oriented if it CENTRALIZES THE MARGINALIZED SECTOR. Yes, it was mentioned before that it needs to be holistic however, there is a huge difference between equality and equity, the latter being the one most prioritized. As development communicators in training, we need to identify the need for development: where it is needed? How is it needed? And who needs it? With that, we are guided on the necessary course of actions to be taken. With that, we are reminded of our pledge for service.
To identify what is necessary is essential and what is essential, is necessary
Zawadi
To identify what is necessary is essential and what is essential, is necessary. That is what Bjanca Ysabelle Mendiola and Chantale Francisco shared to me. Development has come a long way and as future development communicators, we are tasked in ensuring its steady flow. Problems are problems and they appear along the way but all problems have answers. It all rests on your shoulders whether which direction you will look and where where you will lean your ears to listen.
As a new development communication student, I am still in the process of gathering and learning the necessary knowledge about the field that I am in. There are a lot of things that I have yet to know and understand. One of those things is the characteristics of a development-oriented topic. With my luck, I got to talk to Ate Precious regarding the question. She gave me a deeper understanding of what the subject is, and her knowledge about its characteristics. These are the things that she mentioned:
Precious Obnial, Batch 2018
A huge thanks to Ate Precious for having time to entertain my inquiries! ♡
In the photo are the 2018 CDC Alumni Awardees: Ms. Sylvia Katherine S. Lopez (Communication and Publishing Manager of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture); Dr. Serlie B. Jamias (Vice Chancellor for community affairs of Los Baños); Dr. Rogelio P. MAtalang (President of the Philippine Federation of Rural Broadcasters (PFRB); Atty. Vida Soraya S. Veroza (Foreign Service Officer); Prof. Sorhaila LAtip-Yusoph (Associate Professor, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mindanao State University) — from left to right.
With the rapid change the world is currently experiencing, comes
different emerging world problems that needs to be addressed. Some among these
are the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD’s) that covers 17 world issues which
different countries wanted to resolve by 2030.
This maybe is the greatest challenge a Development Communicator is
expected to solve. But the problem lies not just with how we (Development
communication practitioners) will inform other people about these circumstances
but also, on how we will be able to look into these dilemmas in a developmental
perspective and provide aid that will benefit the poor, the marginalized and
the unaware. As well as on how we will be able to easily concern ourselves with
development-oriented topics.
Looking at it there are questions that needs to be answered. What
makes something development-oriented? What characteristics does a current issue
have that associates it with the search and understanding of development?
To be able to provide other people the growth and the progress that they badly needed one practitioner must first immerse him/herself with topics which main idea is the focus to development. And so, here are the top three characteristics that I have found out that makes a topic development oriented.
Interviews are retrieved from the Episode of Dito sa Laguna, a developmented-oriented program aired in Laguna, Philippines.
Purposive
One among the top characteristic of a development-oriented topic is
its purposiveness. One topic must be mainstreamed because it has a higher goal
of serving those who needs it most. Just like how Atty. Vida Soraya S. Veroza,
a Development Communication graduate stated in her interview in the Los Baños
Laguna television show entitled “Dito sa Laguna.” During the discussion
she said that as a Human Rights Lawyer, she always believe that as a
development communicator she always has the capability to be the start of
change, since DevComm is always mass oriented and biased for the poor (those
who are left behind and disregarded by the majority) she believes that those
who have less in life should have more in law.
Everything that a man does under Development communication is a
search for a topic that has the purpose to lift and alleviate the burdens that
a certain individual carries up to now. The kind of purpose that will be able
to present the definition that Prof. Nora C. Quebral, professor emeritus stated
in her definition of Development Communication as: “the science of human
communication linked to the transitioning of communities from poverty in all
its forms to a dynamic, overall growth that fosters equity and the unfolding of
individual potential.”
Moreover, the purposiveness of the topic makes it relevant to the
people. This is because the topic itself seeks for attention to be addressed
and resolved for the betterment of the community it is situated.
This point out to the second characteristic a development-oriented topic must possess relevance.
Relevant
Despite the hindrances of being competed with Mass Communication,
Dr. Rogelio P. Matalang another Development Communication graduate and
practitioner pointed out in his interview with Dito sa Laguna the
importance of DevComm to the society today. This is because the course makes
sure of tackling relevant issues linked with a certain community or group of
people one practitioner involves him/herself into. This was supported by Sly
Custodio, a Development Communication student of the University of the Philippines
Los Baños who stated that one characteristic of a development-oriented topic is
its relevance to the context it is set, that is why if one writes for LB Times
(Published Newspaper of Los Baños Laguna) you must discuss issues that concerns
Los Baños.
Relevance makes anything produced within any media landscape or any developmental approach easier because topics are something the target audience can relate into. This further helps the communicators connect with the masses, this provides them the capability to catch the attention of their addressees.
Last of all is its characteristic to be centered to growth.
Centered to growth
“…this is the one that I would like (to do). To serve my community, see to it that I can be of use to my people.”
Prof. Sarhaila Latip-Yusoph
The last thing that I get from this activity is the characteristic
of a development – oriented topic to be centered to growth. Prof. Quebral, the
woman behind the term Development Communication discussed how she sees a
development-oriented topic to be purposive, pragmatic and value laden according
to her book Development Communication Primer. This all seeks progress, progress
that is achieved through logical, rational, realistic and acceptable process.
Indeed, it was hard to easily see these characteristics to just any
issue the world is facing today, and as a development communicator it was our
toughest job to see through this dilemmas and be able to know
development-oriented topics/issues that the ordinary Juan and Aling Maria of
the country faces every day.
Let me end this with a challenge from Professor Sarhaila Latip-yusoph on her interview in Dito sa Laguna.
“(my greatest goal is) to emancipate our people from the feeling of having all these frustrations in history to something that can really be used towards creating change in the society.”
Recit class, at the start, was a foreign concept for me. Looking at my schedule and seeing a subject that has a different schedule and room made me think of why it was like that. But then discovering why it was like that made it make sense. To have a separate class from the lecture one will make our professors’ lives and ours easier, as well as have a more effective layout of work. The first exercise for DEVC11 Recit brought about a huge talk and confusion among us freshmen. Being required to get a “development-oriented” topic when we don’t even know how to identify one is impossible. It was a huge relief that the upperclassmen of CDC helped us. And these are what they said, as to what makes a topic development-oriented:
For the people
If it concerns the public and not just the university or organization.
Dane Lopega
Topics included should help not just a group of people, but everyone else too. It should be beneficial to all, or in another word, for the greater good.
To address an existing problem
It should be answering or gearing towards the improvement of a currently neglected situation.
Nur Lemuel Castillo
You cannot give out a solution to something that is not a problem. And so, development-oriented topics should have the objective of solving a problem, to improve situations for everyone.
Is inclusive
Ang dapat yung improvement ay walang nasasagasaang rights/welfare ng mga communities or people. In the context of DevComm, it should be inclusive.
Nur Lemuel Castillo
This statement made me think of how every person has his/her own definition of “development”. It is an important idea to note that development in this context should not trample or step on someone else’s life. And so, the construction of homes in exchange for our fellow countrymen being homeless is not a development topic to consider.
These are the statements that guided me all throughout choosing the Development-oriented topic for my recit class. It made me understand more of what context of development we will be working on during our whole college life in CDC.
Many use the term “development” without really knowing what it means. Development is a term directly associated with the words growth and positive changes. It means utilizing our knowledge, abilities and capabilities to achieve an end goal. In our society, however, the zenith of power lies mainly from people who misinterpret the term “development” and thus, cannot come up with a development-oriented topic.
To be able to achieve development, we must formulate development-oriented topics. We can do this by understanding what constitutes a development-oriented topic.
Characteristics of a development-oriented topic.
What makes a topic development-oriented?
It has a significant IMPACT to everyone – A development-oriented topic goes beyond the boundaries of society. It must seek to bring change not only in a particular group or organization but to all people in general. Everyone should be able to benefit from it.
It is ACHIEVABLE – The topic should be realistic enough for it to be achievable. It should be attainable for it to be successful. It must not outstretch our capabilities and deliver us to further constraints.
It addresses RELEVANT issues in the society – To be able to make people care about the topic, its relevance is a must. A topic’s relevance will make it more prominent and it will increase the chance for people to remember your topic.
It adheres to the Sustainable Development Goals – A development-oriented topic adheres to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because the SDGs will offer a road map or a blueprint of what should be done in the future.
Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance.
Ban Ki-moon
Development should start on us and on the development-oriented topic that we chose. Today is not just any other day. This day, we should start the development. Today, we should get the ball rolling.
“Development” comes in different forms. The definition of development for one person can entirely different for another. In this context, recognizing and writing development-oriented topics can be challenging.
Where does one go when he/she finds himself in an unfamiliar place? Any sensible person would know that to get back on track, he/she ought to ask guidance from people who already took the same path. This action would not only let that person know where to go but would also allow him to know how to get there.
In order to write about a development-oriented topic or even just to identify one, we should be able to know what encompasses it and what are the conditions for a topic to be “development-oriented”. Accordingly, I asked 2 upperclass students of DevComm in UPLB to share their insights on the task at hand.
According to Rainielle Kyle Guison (Batch 2018), she considers something to be development-oriented already if it emanates the presence of development . She also gave emphasis that development-oriented things are those centered to help, especially the marginalized. This was also mentioned in our lecture class, that for something to be considered development-oriented, it should always start from bottom-up or coming from the field where development is primarily oriented for. Most commonly, this field comes in the form of the marginalized sectors.
In addition, Nur Lemuel Castillo shared his ideas about development-oriented topics which are as follows: 1. A topic is development-oriented if in promotes any of the 4 Es of Devcom 2. A topic is development-oriented if it deals with stories of marginalized communities 3. A topic is development-oriented is it tackles open ended issue.
The ideas mentioned above are just some of the many ways on how we can define what a development-oriented topic is. Throughout the course of DEVC 11 (or any other course that is), we shall continue to learn more and broaden our idea about what development is and more importantly, how it should materialize in the way that is favorable for people of all status.
When we are tasked by our professor to write a blog of the characteristics of development-oriented topics. I tried asking from the upper-class and alumni who encouraged me to take DevCom as my college course. I asked them, “For you, what characterizes a development-oriented topic? “ and these are the top 3 frequent answers I received from them.
A development-oriented topic shall be for the people for it should be for the improvement of the common welfare. The goal of these topics is to answer the questions “What do they need?” and “How are we going to cater that need to help them ?”, it always seeks to go closer to what people understand to inform them that would help them in their lives.
I believe these two should be hand in hand. A development-oriented topic must be packed with information that people needs to know to help them in the decisions that they will make. It is not to impose them but allowing them to process this information. Since these topics usually cater to information that is not that attractive, it should be also engaging and simply understandable by people that come from different age groups and classes.
Lastly, it should be goal-oriented wherein it needs to achieve something and it has to have a direction for development to be attained. Also, these topics shall manifest having the lens focused on what it is to come, which is to change for the betterment.
BLOG 6050 