Development Communication is a planned and systematic application of communication processes, media, and technologies to promote social, economic, political, and cultural development. It aims to inform, educate, motivate, and empower people so that they can actively participate in improving their quality of life. Unlike conventional communication, which often focuses on entertainment or commercial objectives, development communication is people-centered and seeks to bring about positive social change. It emphasizes dialogue, participation, awareness generation, behavior change, and community empowerment. It recognizes communication as a catalyst that connects governments, institutions, civil society, and communities in achieving sustainable development goals. The concept of development communication emerged after the Second World War when newly independent countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America began focusing on nation-building and economic development. During this period, communication was viewed primarily as an instrument for transferring modern knowledge, technology, and innovations from developed nations to developing countries. The dominant belief was that mass media such as newspapers, radio, and television could accelerate modernization by spreading scientific ideas, agricultural practices, educational information, and democratic values. One of the earliest influences on development communication was the Modernization Theory, which became popular during the 1950s and 1960s. Scholars argued that communication and mass media were essential tools for transforming traditional societies into modern industrial societies. According to this perspective, exposure to media would change people's attitudes, encourage innovation, and support economic growth. Governments heavily invested in communication campaigns related to literacy, health, agriculture, family planning, and national integration. The work of Daniel Lerner significantly contributed to this approach. In his modernization model, Lerner suggested that media exposure promoted empathy, literacy, urbanization, and participation in economic development. Similarly, Wilbur Schramm emphasized that communication was central to national development because it could spread information, educate citizens, and facilitate decision-making. Everett Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory further strengthened development communication by explaining how new ideas and technologies spread through communication channels over time. His model became particularly influential in promoting agricultural innovations and rural development programs. However, the modernization approach faced criticism because it assumed that development followed a single path modeled on Western countries. Critics argued that it ignored local cultures, traditions, inequalities, and the structural causes of underdevelopment. The communication process was largely one-way, with experts transmitting information to passive audiences. As a result, many development programs failed because they did not consider the needs, knowledge, and participation of local communities. During the 1970s and 1980s, development communication underwent a major transformation with the emergence of participatory communication. This approach emphasized dialogue rather than one-way information transfer. It recognized that people are not merely recipients of information but active participants in identifying problems, making decisions, and implementing development initiatives. Development was increasingly understood