Development journalism in fisheries: A review from the extension lens

Abstract

A revolutionary strategy that connects scientific understanding, policy and real-life observations of fishing communities is development journalism in the field of fisheries. Through the integration of journalistic narrative with the concepts of fisheries extension, it fosters accountability, localized knowledge sharing and participatory communication. Development journalism's conceptual connections to development communication, its historical history and its increasing significance in fisheries and aquaculture are all covered in this review paper. It demonstrates how development journalism enhances awareness, adoption and co-management by converting technical information into stories that resonate with local cultures. The communication channels, such as conventional media, ICT tools and participatory community reporting and their implications for sustainable resource management using case studies from several countries, including India. Alongside new prospects for integrating digital platforms, participatory storytelling and advocacy for policies, major issues including government-centric narratives, institutional bottlenecks, literacy difficulties and digital divides are critically evaluated. Incorporating development journalism into fisheries extension frameworks may change top-down information distribution into a feedback-driven, inclusive communication ecosystem that empowers fishermen, improves governance and promotes sustainable fisheries development.