ABSTRACT
Theories and praxis pertaining to development communication keep on changing and warrant critical interventions. Development journalism, a part of development communication, for social change and development is undergoing transformations with the advent of information and communication technologies including artificial intelligence (AI). Development journalism has started understanding the participatory approach to development. With the changing times and technological innovations, development journalism through AI tools can be a meaningful stakeholder in the quest to attain sustainable development goals. AI acts as a new tool of emancipatory journalism and can be a potential form of alternative journalism in the ecology of contemporary movement for social change and development. Powered by AI tools, such form of journalism is endorsing an oppositional journalistic practice which is able to create and cultivate alternative public sphere. AI-driven journalism has evolved the space of emancipatory journalism which is into contesting social cyphers, legitimized identities and institutionalized social relations. Such nature of journalism is able to pose alternative revelation to hegemonic politics, priorities and perspectives. Media activism empowered by technologies is being embraced by activists and nongovernmental organizations. The current chapter attempts to deliberate on AI-driven development journalism which brings structural reforms at the grassroots over policy advocacy works and institutional reforms. However, the use of AI technologies in the narratives of development journalism in the Global North and Global South has created fissures in the mediascape. It needs communication policies, good governance and newsroom management in proper place.
