“It’s a struggle to find a development-oriented topic around your school’s area and a specific angle to write on.”
Karen Terese Rojas
Her statement on her 10 Things Only a Development Communication Major Will Understand is really true and I had a hard time finding one. We were given a task in DEVC 11 to find 3 development-oriented topics based on our news beat to be submitted next meeting and I was still asking myself, “Ano ‘yun?”.
So, I browsed the internet and read some articles and journals written by DevCom students. Based on their works, a development-oriented topic is:
GOAL-ORIENTED. The topic should have goals and clear objectives. Why do we need to address this kind of topic? What’s the purpose of this?
CONCERNED WITH MDG’s or SDG’s. As a development communication student, the topic should be related to development issues.
COMMUNITY-CENTERED. It should concern the community – our audience. We are serving the people so our topic should be on how to help them especially the marginalized sector.
It’s difficult to find a development-oriented topic in a specific area but as a DevCom student, we should know what is a development-oriented topic. Well, it should answer the question – what is the purpose and for whom?
It is easy to choose a topic and write out of it, but it is not worth it if done without a purpose.
Writing comes naturally, unfortunately, not all writers have the initiative to use their talent or skills in making something useful. Therefore, most of their written works focus only on their field of interest, overlooking numerous issues or problems concerning our well-being and our country’s as well. As such, in writing, we should consider its orientation and its focus to make our written work ‘development-oriented’ in nature.
According to Nur Lemuel Castillo who is part of the upper-class development communication students, the top three characteristics that make a topic development-oriented are:
It promotes any of the 4E’s of Development Communication.
It deals with stories of marginalized communities.
It tackles open ended issue.
Through these conditions, we can assimilate that a development-oriented topic commits to bring awareness, solution, and most of all to influence the people to move for the betterment of our lives. Also, to give meaning and knowledge to the continuous cycle of problems faced by our world. As such, it embarks upon issues which concern not just one, but the whole nation for the greater good.
Indeed, through writing development-oriented topics, we can end these problems and fulfill our ambitions and dreams of having a developed country. That is why having a development-oriented nature is important to create change and bring peace and enjoyment in our lives.
“There are only two powers in the world; the sword & the pen; and in the end the former is always conquered by the latter.” – Napoleon I
In the past week, we were given a task of clipping development-oriented news articles for our next exercise. At first, I had a hard time knowing what to look for because I didn’t know what makes a topic development-oriented. After doing some research and observations, I came up with these three guidelines in searching for a development-oriented topic:
RELEVANT TO POSITIVE CHANGE Since development means growth, in development-oriented topic there should be a relevance to positive change. Development-oriented stories or articles must focus on the improvement of economic trends, population, government services, agriculture, industry, science and technology, and the environment.
ADDRESS ANY FORM OF POVERTY Last September 11, 2019, I attended the Research Colloquium of Ms. Rikki Lee Mendiola in College of Development Communication. There, she mentioned that Development Communication addresses all forms of poverty. Based on this, I realized that a development-oriented topic addresses any form of poverty.
ADHERES TO UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS When the topic tackles any of the 17 SDGs then it is development-oriented. SDGs serve as universal call to action to end poverty, to protect the planet, and to ensure that all people live in peace and prosperity by 2030. Being comprised by integrated goals, development-oriented topics are directed towards social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Keeping these three things in mind while looking for development-oriented topics helped me finish my task faster and with ease.
—’Tis but thy name that is my enemy! Picture this,
you’re in your first Development Communications class; the freshest of men,
nothing but a sweet summer child still unaware of what your class has in store
for you, and then you hear your professor say “development-oriented topic”
and if life were a movie it would have freeze-framed right there. When that
fated moment came upon me, I remembered pausing and staring at my professor
very hard hoping she would elaborate. Thankfully she did, using a very
eye-opening example with bogeys and pollution. It’s still quite daunting to
hear the words ‘development-oriented topic’, looking for one definitely takes
some skill, and writing one takes even more. That’s why it’s important to be
familiar with them as early as now.
A development-oriented topic needs to be mindful of who it’s
oriented to. A devcom article is meant to serve as a medium of
information for the local community, that’s why it’s good to be mindful of that
fact and keep every single one of your five (5) senses peeled for a topic within
your local community or something that would matter to it. For
example: if your community has decided to set up a blood donation drive or a brand-new
rice hybrid that’s cheaper but better if you live in a farming community.
Your audience is the very lifeblood as a writer, without
them you’d have no reason to be writing. That’s why one of your goals should be
to get them to read your work, and for them to do so your work should be interesting
and relevant. Picking a topic that would affect your locality is one
way to do it, but another is to be able to use the information you’ve gathered
and write your article in a way that makes it easy for everyone to read it.
This means that it can’t be so technical that a person off the street would
only end up confused, but not so dumbed down that they’d just get bored and not
even bother with reading it anymore. There’s a sweet spot every writer must
find, depending on the topic you’re writing for, there’s no one way to write a
devcom article. No matter how interesting your writing may be though, it likely
won’t matter if you’re writing about old news. If people already know about it
or have heard about it, chances are they’ll no longer be interested. There are
some exceptions of course, but there’s no harm in picking a topic that’s yet to
be tackled or written about by other articles.
This might be kind of obvious, but if you’re looking for a
development-oriented article it has to be focused on development. How
can this topic help your community? Is a good question to ask, and even some of
the most unlikely topics can have an answer for it. Say you live in a pretty
windy place, and in your community, you’ve been having issues with not having
enough electricity for every household. Suddenly a group of engineers come out
and say that they have plans of building a wind farm to make up for the energy
deficiencies, making an article on this topic and doing so in a way that makes
it accessible to the everyday-man is one way to get the community interested
and in support of this brand new project.
Finally, a development-oriented topic needs to be factual.
Facts are the staple of every news article, but especially so in a devcom
article. You’re writing an article that needs to be focused on development
relevant to your community, because of this you need to use information that can
be trusted by your readers. Embellishing your article to the point that it’s
just become lies only affects your credibility, and if you have a history of
being less than credible, it’s likely that you won’t have as many readers
anymore since you’ll no longer be a reliable source of information.
As a development communicator, it is our duty to serve the
people. We are literally communicators, the bridge between the advances and
developments of our community to the community; the masses, basically. This is
one of the reasons why devcom can be such a challenging program to be in, but
it’s also the reason why it can be so rewarding.
As development communicators-in-training, we are bound to encounter the words “development-oriented.” Devcom revolves around such – news stories, topics, thesis, etc. So to have a further understanding of what makes something development-oriented, here are the top 3 characteristics of a development-oriented topic I summed up with the help of an upperclassman and an alumna of CDC:
It is Purpose-driven
Development-oriented topics exist because of developmental issues within the community. Therefore, such topics should be able to help communities or individuals by providing alternative solutions to problems. Its existence is linked to its purpose.
“Tipong may pinaglalaban that goes beyond what is seen on mainstream media.”
Nica Zarate, CDC Alumna Batch 2016
It is Empowering
It must empower the marginalized – those who are treated as insignificant. Development-oriented topics can either give those people a voice through participation or educate and guide them through communication. However…
“It should still be highly aware of the opposing sides but tipped towards the grassroots.”
Faye Marie Sueño, Batch 2017
It should aim for empowerment and progress without stepping on the rights and welfare of communities and people in the process.
It is Catalytic
“Development-oriented topics are driven by the needs and concerns of communities/individuals.”
Faye Marie Sueño, Batch 2017
The topic should be geared towards the betterment of currently neglected situations – those deemed unimportant. However, one must identify the specific audience that he/she wants to bring about change.
Special thanks to these people who didn’t hesitate to share their knowledge despite their hectic schedules:
“Ano nga ba ang Devcom?” ̶ a question usually received by development communication students. The validation each student has to gain by explaining thoroughly what is this course really about.
The goal of
development communication is to make progress and reach out to the marginalized
sectors, mainly through effective communication. It is about knowing your
audience; to know, to identify, and to address the community’s needs. More than
just studying the societal issues, it is communicating effectively onto one
central goal: development of each individual’s well-being, in order for a
collective and aggregate betterment of the society.
What does it take for a topic to be considered as a development oriented? Here are three characteristics I’ve observed and learned from the courses I’ve been currently taking:
Goal – oriented
A development – oriented topic must have a certain goal to achieve. As communicators, it’s a must to have a vision of the society we are trying to build.
Dynamic and Progressive
It must be able to have progress. In this dynamic world we live in, a development – oriented topic has multi-dimensional angles wherein the progress may fluctuate depending on the current state of the society and how the problems are addressed.
Focuses in the community.
It should revolve around the people’s problems that needs to be
addressed. It concerns their benefits and rights that should be given action by
the society in terms of different sectors such as health, agriculture,
education, and many more.
Moreover, I was fortunate enough to interview a BS Development Communication alumna, Chelsea Del Rosario Inton – Class of 2018, on what are the characteristics of a development – oriented topic:
Lastly, she put emphasis on how important is the role of people in these development – oriented topics. She stated, ” People should be at the heart of development – oriented topics.”, with that, it will always lead to the goal of the betterment of the well-beings of the people – ika nga ay mass communication with a heart!
As a development communicator in-training, finding a development-oriented topic is such a difficult task for me. Not only is it hard to find but also it is very confusing to differentiate it from other types of news. Fortunately, as I gathered information, I’ve come to realize the differences and characteristics that make a topic a development-oriented. Here’s what I got:
Purposive.By this, it only means that a development-oriented topic isn’t just something that provides information to the readers. Instead, it seeks to achieve larger objectives, such as social justice, improving health, education and lastly, bringing people together. It also serves as the voice of those people who are in need of telling their own stories. (George, 2009) Additionally, it should also be aligned to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and the 4 E’s of Development Communication: Empowerment, Environment, Entrepreneurship, and Equity.
Promotive. Sharing and interpreting the facts to the readers shouldn’t be the only task a development journalist should accomplish in his news topic. He/she should also know how to promote it and bring them home to the readers. It must bring realization to them how serious the development problem is. With that, it would help them think about the problem, help them to be open about the possible solutions and lastly, could bring them together in putting action towards the problem. (Chalkley, 1968)
Participative. In connection with the second characteristic, a development-oriented topic involves the people. It gives focuses on the totality of real-life situations. To put it more simply, it allows the people to talk. After all, the community is the most important thing when it comes to development.
All things considered, a development-oriented topic highlights what the people are trying to do to transform and improve their lives. Obviously, with the help of communication.
Having a hard time thinking of a development- oriented topic? Worry no more because here are some characteristics of a development- oriented topic that may help you in crafting one!
1.It is goal- driven.
Every topic, whether in the academe or not, is purposive in nature. But what’s special about a development- oriented topic is it’s beyond purposive. A development- oriented topic transforms facts and informations to something significant which can make people understand how serious a development problem is, and make them open their eyes and minds for its possible solutions. (Chalkey, 1968) It is an eye- opening, and truth- slapping instrument combined, and that’s what makes a development- oriented topic different from the others.
2.It is mass- oriented.
Just like what they say, we are communicators with a heart. And our hearts are for the people of the nation. As development communicators in progress, we are tasked to design concepts and ideas which are for the benefit of the people. After all, we are iskolars ng bayan para sa bayan.
3.It is relevant.
A development- oriented topic should be relevant in a way that it is inclusive for all. It should have an impact to the community where all people can relate to it. Aside from being inclusive, a topic is said to be relevant if it is timely. Remember that a development-oriented topic should be an up-to-date one.
As a former campus writer in high school, these terms are not new to me — gathering facts, arranging the information, describing the events and people, expressing an opinion subtly, and put a number sign (#) after the last period to end the article. They are all part of my growing life who’s continually searching for the purpose of why I keep on pursuing communication-related programs even if I am not that articulate and spontaneous. But it all changed because of an exam result, I passed UPCAT with Development Communication as the degree program which I am not well- oriented about but still I considered for the reasons: I am desperately eager to learn and grow as a good communicator and; hopefully apply it for development.
After knowing the essential qualities, skills and tools that a media writer must have, a common objective every DevCom professor has reminded us that struck my supposed to be ready self— “Everything you will be doing must be DEVELOPMENT- ORIENTED”. How can I/ we identify the characteristics of that kind of orientation?
Considering myself as a “makulit” and an always excited freshman, I followed many upper classmen in CDC including some alumni which I actually befriended through social media chats. I asked for tips for survival and some backgrounds about the course including a fresh Magna Cum Laude graduate who topped the college’s Class of 2019 with an inspirational personal story and passion to reach out people who needs the voice of development
— Ms. Samantha Johanna T. Timbreza.
Luckily, Ate Sam willingly shared her knowledge on what characteristics an issue should have in order to be called as development-oriented. According to her there are a lot of points to consider in determining the kind of topic but these are her top three:
An issue is development-oriented if it tackles inclusivity among the people.
All the members of the community or society
are affected, be it positively or negatively. There could people be gaining or
losing, but one way or another, a development-oriented issue always has
implications on the lives of the collective, regardless of their social status,
heritage, upbringing, education, etc.
An issue is development-oriented if it tackles the living conditions of all the members of the community.
Besides the people, an issue affecting how
people live is development-oriented. So issues regarding the ecology and the
economy are all development-oriented issues because they deal with how people
co-exist and deal with one another, the nature, and with technology.
An issue is development-oriented if it affects the individual’s potential.
Any issue— be it a hindrance or a help to a person’s holistic growth (meaning not just physical but also psychological, emotional, spiritual, financial, etc.)—is development-oriented.
At the time I read her answers I have thought and recalled some of our lessons last month and personally made my own version, that an issue to become development- oriented it must have:
PURPOSE
It must have a good intention which
benefits everyone.
CONCERN ON PEOPLE
It must concern the people in all levels but
most especially the uneducated and deprived in all means.
SUSTAINABILITY
In the verge of working for the progress of a certain community through empowerment of individuals, we should also consider the sustainability of the programs that we will be featuring, since our works are also intended for the use of the next generation.
On the other hand, I asked Ate Sam what pushes her to pursue DevCom and she said:
“Early ko na-assess na ang strength and interest ko ay communication skills ko. Pero ayokong gamitin yun for private companies to put more money in the pockets of the already rich. I wanted communication with a deeper purpose. And DevCom is the one aligned with my goal. 🙂”
Truly, in becoming a Development Communicator it requires the passion to serve the people, because it is not only a merely chosen career path but like the things we will be working on, it must have a purpose.
Having a hard time thinking of a development- oriented topic? Worry no more because here are some characteristics of a development- oriented topic that may help you in crafting one!
1.It is goal- driven.
2.It is mass- oriented.
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