Objectives
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
- Describe the five areas of development communication practice; and
- Discuss the traits of a development communication practitioner.
Activities
ACTIVITY 11: Read Chapter 11 of your text.
Read “The Role of Education in Rural Development” by Philip Coombs in your Additional Readings (p.53).
Which area of development communication practice would you like to specialize in? Why? Note down your answers in your DEVC 202 Journal.
Answer
Development Journalism is where I am most grounded and most effective. It reflects my training, my instincts, and the direction I want to take as a development communicator.
I would specialize in Development Journalism because it is the closest to my background and the work I already do. Journalism shaped me long before graduate school. In college, I served as the DevCom Editor of our campus paper, where I first learned to write about public issues, social concerns, and community stories. That experience pushed me to pursue the Master’s in Development Communication at UPOU.
My training covered straight news, features, editorials, and sports writing, but one thing was always constant: I looked for the human story. I write to show change, empowerment, and real-life experiences. This fits the purpose of Development Journalism, which focuses on marginalized communities, provides context for issues, and highlights how policies affect people’s lives.
Working in public healthcare further strengthened this path. I often translate medical terms and scientific information into simple, clear language for the public. Creating IEC materials is a regular part of my job, and it requires accuracy, compassion, and responsibility. It also sits between journalism and science communication — exactly where Dev Journalism thrives.
I am also drawn to long-form storytelling and documentary-style writing. I enjoy working on issues about religion, science, health, and community behavior. These require research and interpretation, which is what development journalists are expected to do: explain topics in a way people can understand and act on.
My previous role in a state university also exposed me to participatory work. I visited communities, listened to residents, and documented their stories. This aligns with Quebral’s idea that DevCom should empower communities rather than dictate to them.
My background in community newspaper work also helps me contextualize significant issues for local audiences. This is something I naturally do — connecting national problems to everyday life and showing why they matter.
While I am also interested in Science Communication, Development Broadcasting, and Educational Communication, these feel like extensions of who I am — not my core. Development Journalism ties everything together. It matches how I think, how I write, and how I approach issues: by uncovering stories, giving context, and amplifying authentic voices.
In short, Development Journalism is where I am most grounded and most effective. It reflects my training, my instincts, and the direction I want to take as a development communicator.
This photo takes me back to my senior year competing at the 13th Luzonwide Higher Education Press Conference. I joined Editorial Writing and Photojournalism (Filipino Category), and earned 4th Place in Photojournalism.
At the time, I had little knowledge of what DevCom is. I just knew I loved telling stories that mattered — stories grounded in real people, real issues, real communities. What I felt behind that camera lens was the same instinct that drives Development Journalism today:
to look deeper, ask better questions, and tell stories that create awareness, participation, and change.
Now, as I pursue my Master of Development Communication and specialize in Development Journalism, moments like this remind me that the path wasn’t accidental. The seeds were planted years ago. I’m simply returning to the work that first taught me the power of communication for social change.