Development Journalism
and New Media
1.
Introduction
Media
has immense powers, primarily it is a watch dog. They shoulder the
responsibility of spreading awareness among people and thereby developing the
nation. Political leaders like M.K Gandhi have used media extensively to
promote development. Gandhi has been termed as the most influential writer and
journalist that India has produced, Gandhi knew the power of the word, spoken
and written, in inspiring people to action.[1] Gandhi
realized that he can bring development only when people are informed about a
particular issue or event. Development journalism and New Media play vital role
in creating, moulding and reflecting the public opinion. They contribute to
shaping political, economic and social development in the country.
2.
Understanding
the concepts
2.1
Development
The
systematic process of economic, social, political, environmental and scientific
transformation due to the continuing or constant working on a particular issue
or event is known as development. It is the process of adding improvements to
land, village, town, health sectors, transport and others. The process of
developing, progress or growth of or in particular thing or area is known as
development. The word ‘development’ is derived from the old French word ‘desveloper’, which means ‘unroll,
unfold, unwrap, unfurl, unveil or reveal’, in 1590s.
2.2
Journalism
Journalism
is the process of collecting, analysing, interpreting and disseminating of
information to public through medium like print, broadcast, internet or new
media. Journalism refers to the news or feature stories (light, entertainment
stories) that are expressed either in a descriptive way or concise pattern
through different types of media.[2] Journalism
comes from Acta diurna, which
appeared in the Roman era, where news and announcements affixed to or installed
in the city centre at a time when it was called the Forum Romanum. The origin
of the word Journalism is ‘Journal’ or ‘du
jour’ which means day, where all the day’s news or the news contained in
the printed sheet.[3]
2.3
Development
Journalism
Jo
Ellen Fair, Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication, conceptualises
‘development journalism’ as reporting that relates to the primary, secondary
and tertiary needs of a country’s population. She describes it as news that
satisfies the needs of a country’s population and enhances self-reliance, i.e.
news that relates to development or to social, economic or political problems.[4] It
concentrates on giving voice or courage to under privileged individuals,
family, or groups of people and helps them to have dignity and status in
society. The main characteristics of development journalism are the deliberate
and active role in pressing for change. It is geared towards mobilising the
people for national development. The notion of development journalism was
introduced in 1960s at the Press Foundation of Asia and it became popular in
the Third World countries.
Development
Journalism is synonymous with a ‘grass roots approach’[5] or
‘local journalism[6],’
that is, it is decentralised and participatory. It does not restrict itself to
mass media alone but also use the traditional communication media. Development
Journalists travel to under developed areas, collect information through interaction
with citizens and report it in different media. The work of travel journalists
invites government officials or authority concern to take active role or steps
to improve the living conditions of those people in remote places.
The
most important component of development journalism is credibility, which most
readily won by the media’s adequately advocating the interests of the affected
people, which means interalia articulating criticism of the government.
Probably only a free media system is able to contribute to rooting out
corruption, this fundamental evil in developing countries, by revealing and
pillorying it. The most important task of development journalism can be seen in
removing the acquiescent basic attitude towards one’s own destiny which is so
closely tied up with poverty.
2.4
New
Media
New
media refers to on-demand access to content anytime, anywhere, on any digital
device, as well as interactive user feedback, and creative participation
through CD-ROM, HTML, streaming media,
DV editing, web applications and DVD-video, chat rooms, e-mail, online
communities, Web advertising, virtual reality environments, Internet telephony,
digital cameras, mobile computing. Wikipedia,
an online encyclopedia, is an example, combining Internet accessible digital
text, images and video with web-links, creative participation of contributors,
interactive feedback of users and formation of a participant community of
editors and donors for the benefit of non-community readers. Facebook is an example of the social
media model, in which most users are also participants.[7]
3.
Goals
of Development Journalism
Development
journalism identifies under developed places and exposes them to government and
public through medium like print, broadcast, internet or new media. It aims to
reach rural areas with timely, relevant, and clear information. It addresses
the negative news and spot news bias and try to report more news concerning the
development process and get people involved to act on information people
received. “The goals of development journalism are promoting grassroots,
non-violent, socially responsible, ecologically sensitive, personally
empowering, democratic, dialogical and humanistic forms of communication”. Development
journalism emphasis on stability, partnership, harmony, and consensus
therefore, there is no distinction between ordinary people and officials. Developmental
journalism promotes mass rights over those of the individual. It is rooted in
the notion of doing what is right for the common good.
4.
How
new media brings development?
New
media helps in better education facilities, facilitates interactive learning
and make learning less boring. It makes
people to think creatively at very early age. Digital media technologies and
their so-called killer apps, and the popular adoption and acceptance of these
computer applications, are revolutionising our sensory perceptions and
cognitive experiences of being in the
world.[8] New
media brings attention to issues that are overlooked or under-represented by
other media and by the international political community. As investigative
reporters, they uncover the stories within the stories, revealing the
multi-faceted nature of poverty. Neuman argues that new media will alter the
meaning of geographic distance, allow for a huge increase in the volume of
communication, provide the possibility of increasing the speed of
communication, provide opportunities for interactive communication, allow forms
of communication that were previously separate to overlap and interconnect.
New
media educates the people on social problems like Aids, dowry, sati, female
foeticide, polio and other areas. New media bring attention to issues that are
overlooked or under-represented by other media and by the international
political community. As investigative reporters, they uncover the stories
within the stories, revealing the multi-faceted nature of poverty.[9] Digital
media also known as new media have revolutionised the exchange of information.
News travels at a very high speed to public. Websites, mobile applications,
blogs, and social media have become standard additions to the way people stay
connected to and interact with news and events, and today’s media professionals
require a robust skill set in order to stay current in their field.
5.
How
new media journalist use media for development?
One
definition of the duty of a journalist reporting on development is to:
“critically examine, evaluate and report the relevance of a development project
to national and local needs, the difference between a planned scheme and its
actual implementation, and the difference between its impact on people as
claimed by government officials, and as it actually is.”[10] New media journalists can provide interactive
discussions about various political, social and economic issues and try to form
a solution. For example Video Volunteers provide a platform for people to raise
questions about corruption, infrastructure, education, health, gender, forced
evictions, caste and identity, art and culture, environment, development,
conflict and technology and make government to take actions.
6.
Impact
of Media in Development
6.1
Print
Print
is the oldest media forms that include books, newspapers, magazines, journals,
newsletters, and other printed material. Print media can address the issues
like economic development, agriculture and food security, health, sanitation
and medicine, employment, education and literacy, informational technologies
development, housing conditions, environmental sustainability, urban and rural
development, gender equality and many other areas.
6.2
Radio
Radio
is the wireless transmission of signals through free space by electromagnetic
radiation of a frequency. It is a powerful mass medium used in education for
disseminating information, imparting instruction and giving entertainment. To
reach the unreached areas, radio has immense power. Its waves can reach remote
corners of the country. It is a fast, inexpensive and sows the seeds for
development through communicating development messages. Different programmes
pertaining agriculture, environment, health, women safety, child welfare,
science & technology, national spirit and others are being aired so that
people learn and are informed.
6.3
Television
Television
can be a powerful tool for development. Initially television programmes were
kept tight under control of the government, which embarked on a self conscious
effort to construct and propagate a cultural idea of the Indian nation. A
radical transformation of television in Indian has brought in 1990s. Doordarshan
and other private own television channels began to focus on socially relevant
problems such as AIDS, alcoholism, cancer, child abuse, drugs addiction and
rape. Some public television programs stimulate visits to the zoo, libraries,
bookstores, museums and other active recreational settings, and educational
videos can certainly serve as powerful development devices.
6.4
Internet
The
impact of Internet on education can be felt in homes, schools, colleges,
universities, with information available at lightning speed. Today a vast
amount of information is available at just a click of the mouse. Sharing of
information or ideas through internet will foster development. For example when
a person wants to learn how to edit a movie, photo, song etc they can just
visit YouTube and they will get the tutorials. People who want to do research
on various topics cannot but depend on internet.
6.5
Mobile
The
advent of mobile devices like smart-phones, games consoles, digital cameras,
media players, net books and handheld computers have been rapid and the impact
on development is becoming an area of significant research interest. Mobile
devices are the best friends of people. For example engineers, doctors,
builders, architects, mechanics and other people irrespective of their
professions need mobile to communicate with their colleague or clients. Farmers
needs mobile so that they get information about the different types of seeds,
fertilizers and schemes available for them.
7.
Advantages
of Developmental Journalism
Development
journalism has a lot of attraction for developing countries. First, in
countries where poverty is the norm, the government of the day wants and needs
as much support as it can get. A press that reports government inefficiencies
is therefore not welcome. The government will probably have to take decisions
which are based on the common good but which harm individual liberties. These
decisions may be highly unpopular but they have to be taken, and a hostile
press can hold back government’s progress while a supportive press can help the
government push these policies ahead.
8.
Disadvantages
of Development Journalism
The
press becomes far less critical and eventually is forced to give up its
‘watchdog’ role in society. Developmental press has come to be equated with one
in which the government exercises tight control and prevents freedom of
expression, all in the name of noble ends.
9.
Conclusion
Media
has a very significant role in the development of a nation. Development
journalism and new media have impact on different sectors like agricultural,
education, science, economic, political, cultural, religious, medical, and other
sectors that affect humanity. They can transform the thinking pattern,
behaviour and action of a person or of society.
Creative and proper use of development journalism and new media will
enhance faster growth in society and in a country.
10.
Bibliography
Books
1. Everett,
Anna and Caldwell, John T. (2003) New
Media: Theories and practices of Digitextuality. New York. Routledge.
2. Sharma,
Seema (2005) Development of Journalism.
New Delhi Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. Pg 32-33.
Internet
1. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-journalism.html
accessed on 14/8/2014.
2. http://fjrbudiman.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/the-origin-of-journalism-in-the-world/
accessed on 21/8/2014.
3. http://archives.dailynews.lk/2012/05/03/fea01.asp
accessed on 17/8/2014.
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media
accessed on 21/8/2014.
5. http://www.east4south.eu/index.php/media_and_development/2._development_journalism/
accessed on 21/8/2014.
6. http://mecs.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/311/Lecture_Notes_-_Development_Journalism.sflb.ashx
accessed on 21/8/2014.
Footnotes
[1] The works of Gandhi could be seen in The Indian Opinion, Navjivan, Young India, Vegetarian and others.
Seema, Sharma (2005) Development of
Journalism. New Delhi Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. Pg 32-33.
[2] A journalist reports news, which can be through print, television,
radio, or even the Internet. The main purpose of a journalist is to report news
with accurate facts in an unbiased manner. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-journalism.html
accessed on 14/8/2014.
[3] http://fjrbudiman.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/the-origin-of-journalism-in-the-world/
accessed on 21/8/2014.
[5] Grass roots approach is an approach which deals with basic issues,
basic fact, basic ingredient, basic public opinion that might affect people at
large.
[6] Local journalism deals with news or information from local areas or
rural areas and brings effect or changes in that particular area. Journalists
are rooted in the local culture concerned. Example of local journalism could be
town hall meetings, fire side chats and so forth.
[8] Anna Everett and John T. Caldwell (2003) New Media: Theories and practices of Digitextuality. New York.
Routledge. Pg. Xi.
[9] http://www.east4south.eu/index.php/media_and_development/2._development_journalism/
accessed on 21/8/2014.
[10] http://mecs.ukzn.ac.za/Libraries/311/Lecture_Notes_-_Development_Journalism.sflb.ashx
accessed on 21/8/2014.
