Development Communication Process and Theories: An Overview

Authors

  • Mayen-Julia Paul Inyang General Studies Department, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
  • Johnson Chinasa Alegu General Studies Department, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
  • Babatunde Stephen Maku Department of General Studies, Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu, Ebonyi state, Nigeria.

Keywords:

development, communication, Development communication, dependency theory, modernization theory.

Abstract

This work examines the process involved in development communication and reviews some related theories as propounded by various scholars. The quest for effective means of implementing development programmes and the need to address the challenges of avoidance and rejection by the target recipients prompted the adoption of some communication strategies to create awareness and elicit acceptance to facilitate the development process to attain appreciable success. This approach was successfully applied by some countries before it was adopted by the United Nations Organisation (UNO) after World War II in 1945 to address the devastating effects in the war-ravaged areas and also carry out development programmes across the globe. Though known by various related names, the concept of development communication became more popular in the 1950s and eventually gained recognition as an academic discipline leading to the postulation of various theories with the Participatory theory regarded as the most preferred by developing countries. The proponents of the concept argue that target audience participation in the process of development can be better enhanced by employing effective communication techniques and appropriate channels including mass media broadcasts.

Published

2020-06-07

How to Cite

Inyang, M.-J. P., Alegu, J. C., & Maku, B. S. (2020). Development Communication Process and Theories: An Overview. GNOSI: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Human Theory and Praxis, 3(1), 61-75. Retrieved from http://gnosijournal.com/index.php/gnosi/article/view/45

Issue

Section

Articles