Development journalism

Media has played very important role in development but the agenda of development hasn’t been understood. There is misunderstanding that development means construction and infrastructure. At very basic level, there is the problem of illiteracy. Development is such agenda that is bringing people together.
Development journalism should focus on the needs of the poor, the deprived, the marginalized and emphasis their effective participation in development planning. Development is about ‘highlighting what people are doing to help transform their lives. It is seen as humanity’s common objective and a means to eradicate poverty and protect the environment.
Development can be seen in two ways; Infrastructural development like constructions of road, health post, electricity, etc and Freedom, which is related with human rights protection, human development, economic development, etc. Development must be talked of in concrete and measurable terms.
There are three reasons of poverty- because of conflict, due to natural disasters and due to recklessness of government. Media has done reporting in these three causes. Besides these, development projects and plans should be reported in critical way. There are many global issues but we are not being able to criticize these issues.
Western media says development journalism is outdated practice. Nepal has signed ‘Millennium development goals’ which was introduced to reduce poverty and impacts of HIV/AIDS, malaria, to empower women, to reduce mortality rate, death rate, etc. But media is not able to do critical analysis. We hardly find the issues related to development. News analyses are there but they are guided by political analysis. There is no specialization in development journalism. There can be reporter who can do entertainment reporting in morning and in evening, reporting related with development.
Media access in Nepali life is very low because of development. Government has promised to provide TV in every household but there is no electricity in houses. Radios in rural areas are used to know time. There are no people to invest their money in development. People seek for profit only.
Government should help journalists to get information throughout the nation. Governments can help to educate their citizens and enlist cooperation on major development projects. However, a government can also use the idea of development to restrict freedom of speech for journalists. Journalists are told not to report on certain issues because it will impact the developmental activities of the nation in question, and therefore citizens are not actually being given access to the whole picture.
Development journalism should have become applied subject. But it has just become an intellectual subject. Journalists committed to development should look at the situation beyond just reporting it. Reporters have not been able to bring glamour in part of development. News brings change through persuasion and pressure. Newstory doesn’t serve the both interest. There is no access. Even if they write, they use jargons which can be understood by many people. There needs to be followup then only development journalism can flourish in Nepal.
Lecture by Laxman Datt Pant in Martin Chautari,28th May 2009