“Xu Xiaoge’s chapter on development journalism is a valuable contribution in de-Westernising the research agenda and this message is reinforced by Thomas Hanitzsch’s call for internationalisation of journalism research in his chapter on comparative journalism studies.”

Rhonda Breit,  A Conceptual Map of Journalism, A review of Handbook of Journalism Studies, Australian Journalism Review.

More than eight years have passed since the adoption of resolution on media challenges and responses at the 2001 Regional Consultation on Poverty in Asia. The resolution covers advice and suggestions to the press on how to improve their coverage of poverty. Has the press been following the advice and suggestions since then? How has the press been faring in covering poverty? To address these two questions, this study is to compare poverty coverage in Bangladesh,India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines in light of what the press should do and what the press is actually doing in covering poverty as suggested by the Resolution.

List of Newspapers:

Development journalism has been advocated and practiced in Asia, Africa and Latin America for more than four decades since its debut in the late 1960s, resulting in diversified principles and practices. Previous studies have used different indicators to measure development journalism. And different typologies have also been employed to categorize development journalism. Those indicators and typologies, however, have their limitations in one way or another. To measure and map effectively and adequately development journalism principles and practices, I have proposed a three-prong measuring approach: (a) actor, (b) source, and (c) orientation. I have also suggested a three-pro mapping approach: (a) pro-process, (b) pro-participation, and (c) pro-government. To demonstrate how these two approaches work, I offered a case study of poverty coverage. Click ICA conference Chicago development journalism to view my presentation slides.