Abstract
Since the 1950's the role of information and communication in social development has
been increasingly recognised, and increasingly questioned. In the 1960s debate
centred upon the Global Information Flow; the unilateral flow of information from the
'developed' countries to the 'developing' countries. This primarily comprised of the
western concept of journalism, western mass media, western communication
technology, popular western culture and language, values and news. The dominant
role of western media in news definition was seen as distorting and excluding authentic
cultural values and expression from developing countries. This negative treatment of
developing countries being ultimately transferred back to them through their
dependence on western news agencies and technology. While the debate around the
Global Information Flow continued, simultaneously there began to emerge the practice
of development. In the aftermath of the Second World War, countries devastated by
conflict began to rebuild. Stronger, richer governments sought not only to rebuild
themselves internally, but to influence and control the development of poorer countries
through aid programmes. Western non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also
began to emerge to deliver poverty relief programmes; shifting their attention, a few
decades later, from Europe to the so called 'Third World'. Within these social
development programmes organisations like UNICEF advanced the role of
communication and today 'Development Communication' is a recognised discipline
both in academic circles with specialist journals and texts, and in practice. Attitudes
towards Development Communication have changed over the decades, mirroring the
way that attitudes to development theory and practice have changed. To understand
the role of Development Communication it is necessary to understand the paradigms of
development theory. Development theory can be broadly generalised under three
paradigms; Mainstream Development, Alternative Development and Post-
Development.
been increasingly recognised, and increasingly questioned. In the 1960s debate
centred upon the Global Information Flow; the unilateral flow of information from the
'developed' countries to the 'developing' countries. This primarily comprised of the
western concept of journalism, western mass media, western communication
technology, popular western culture and language, values and news. The dominant
role of western media in news definition was seen as distorting and excluding authentic
cultural values and expression from developing countries. This negative treatment of
developing countries being ultimately transferred back to them through their
dependence on western news agencies and technology. While the debate around the
Global Information Flow continued, simultaneously there began to emerge the practice
of development. In the aftermath of the Second World War, countries devastated by
conflict began to rebuild. Stronger, richer governments sought not only to rebuild
themselves internally, but to influence and control the development of poorer countries
through aid programmes. Western non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also
began to emerge to deliver poverty relief programmes; shifting their attention, a few
decades later, from Europe to the so called 'Third World'. Within these social
development programmes organisations like UNICEF advanced the role of
communication and today 'Development Communication' is a recognised discipline
both in academic circles with specialist journals and texts, and in practice. Attitudes
towards Development Communication have changed over the decades, mirroring the
way that attitudes to development theory and practice have changed. To understand
the role of Development Communication it is necessary to understand the paradigms of
development theory. Development theory can be broadly generalised under three
paradigms; Mainstream Development, Alternative Development and Post-
Development.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Source |
| Volume | Winter 2000 |
| Issue number | 25 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2000 |
