The Context of

Development
Writing

Development writing
purposeful sharing of
information to bring
about desirable change.

Desirable change
Greatest good of the
greatest number in a
society.
For the individual, the
fulfillment of the human
potential.

Tools of a
development writer

Print and
electronic
media

Characteristics of Development Writing

Purposive
Decide on a goal based
on what the people need
(not trickle down but
participatory)

Characteristics of Development Writing

Honest
writing
Neither propaganda nor
sugar-coating

Characteristics of Development Writing

Covers
relevant
topics
Information with a consequence to development.
Any new or interesting fact that is timely and useful
to the peoples development effort.

A little bit of history

Development writing in
Los Baos grew from the
concept of agricultural
journalism.

Who are the

development
writers?

Any communication
practitioner in various
organizations and offices
engaged in development

They serve as
middlemen who
communicate, translate,
and popularize technical
knowledge into useful
information.

Name calling.
The titles they
carry.

information officer
editor
media specialist
communication and
documentation staff
training officer

Where can you

find them?

government departments and

agencies
universities and colleges
research and development
agencies
banks/commercial firms
non-governmental
organizations

Who really has the

claim to be called
development
journalist?

Mainstream or
not, its what you
do which matters
most.

Development
journalism is not
intended to supplant
conventional or
traditional
journalism.

Whats the difference

between development
writing and development
journalism?

Development
journalism is
specialized
reporting.

Development writing includes

information disseminated by
government departments and
agencies, research and
development agencies,
banks, industrial corporations
and other non-governmental
organizations (NGOs).

The meaning of
information in
development
writing

Development writing
is scientific in nature.

The idea is simply that we are

looking at these problems (of
development or underdevelopment)
objectively, distinguishing between
human failings and physical, social,
and economic conditions that may
provide a more convincing
explanation.
Eduardo Lachica

Its like going to the

doctor to give you the
right prescription.

The new
communication
technology

Anybody can be an
instant media
practitioner.

Disadvantage:
Unregulated which may
lead to irresponsible
reporting and abuse
Example: Unconfirmed
reports, black propaganda
and humors

Advantage:
People can participate
and make their voices be
heard (empowerment).
Example: Blogs
(at the height of the GMA
scandal)

The Context of
Development
writing

Development writing digs

deeper into the peoples
psyche, the problems reflect
the peoples values such their
responsibilities for justice,
power, honesty and other
moral attributes.

Development writing should

prod inquiry into these
dimensions of the national
condition, ferret out the causes
and effects, and seek
solutions. The people should
hear about the success stories
as well as the failures.

Although development writing often

refers to reportage of specific events
and issues, the big story is that which
touches the dynamics of the different
parts of the larger system. Thus, the
end goal of development writing is no
less than that of social, economic,
political and cultural development.

In short

Small things, when put

together,
make up GREATER
THINGS.

Problems are all

related.

The cycle of
poverty.

Purposive

Pragmatic

Relevant

Characteristics
of
Development
Journalism

Scientific in
outlook

Technical subject-matter
oriented

Face off: Conventional

and Development
Journalist

How do we compare
with them?

Information
gathering

Depend on a lot of sources

Try development topics
a.k.a unfamiliar beats
See the community as a
reservoir of topics/information

Information
processing
(analysis and
organization)

Same rules on objectivity,

accuracy, and truth
Focus on development topics
Practice process reporting/followup stories
Prescriptive
Present options

Process reporting/ Follow-up

stories

Development doesnt
happen in a day, so why
would your story be just
one time?

Information
distribution

Same means as mass

media (print and electronic)
Stories abound in
community/local media
Value feedback (remember
that communication theory
which ends in mutual
understanding?)

You have a
tough job but a
fulfilling one.

That would be
all for now.

The Context of

Development
Writing