Development Journalsim

The term “development journalism” is used to refer to two different types of journalism. The first is a new school of journalism which began to appear in the 1960s. The idea behind this type of development journalism is similar to investigative reporting, but it focuses on conditions in developing nations and ways to improve them. The other type of development journalism involves heavy influence from the government of the nation involved. While this type of development journalism can be a powerful tool for local education and empowerment, it can also be a means of suppressing information and restricting journalists.

While Laxman Datt Pant, the speaker of the talk on Development journalism in Martin Chautari held on 28^th may,09, claimed Nepal doesn’t still have a proper development Journalism in Practice. E claimed that journalism it self wasn’t taken as a serious profession as people from other professions can easily change into journalism. While this have created problem among the journalism as they cant change their profession to others. It also questions the possibility of getting better job for the student of journalism.

The first type of development journalism attempts to document the conditions within a country so that the larger world can understand them. Journalists are encouraged to travel to remote areas, interact with the citizens of the country, and report back. This type of development journalism also looks at proposed government projects to improve conditions in the country, and analyzes whether or not they will be effective. Ultimately, the journalist may come up with proposed solutions and actions in the piece, suggesting ways in which they might be implemented. Often, this type of development journalism encourages a cooperative effort between citizens of the nation and the outside world.

As a tool for social justice, development journalism can be very valuable. By speaking for those who cannot, a development journalist can inform the rest of the world about important issues within developing nations. Looking at the strengths and weaknesses of a country may also help identify ways in which the nation can be helped. This style of development journalism is a tool for empowerment.

Though Development journalism is a very progressive and effective practice, it hasn’t been practiced properly in developing countries.

Lack of persuasion and fallow up has in fact caused the investment in Development in journalism go in vain. Journalists have become conscious, but the industries are not conscious about it which has made it unfavorable for the journalist to act accordingly.

The journalists aren’t able to reply or question back to the government when they question to the journalist. Journalism practice isn’t applied, because we can’t criticize. They can’t criticize in the next level of the issue because they aren’t prepared for that. The task of Journalism is to decrease issues by enforcing better solutions, but the same issues have been only reported and not investigated resulting to its repetition. Though we have a educated mass, they aren’t well informed. Press council doesn’t self check the violation of the rules and ethics by journalist or media, but prefer for the public to bring in complains to act.

Thus, the need of investigative development journalism for the development of nation was discussed that day.