PRELIMINARY PAGES

Abstract

The International Journal of Development Communication Research (IJDCR) is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal published by the Development Communication Research Association of Nigeria (DECRAN) with the primary aim of advancing knowledge, theory, and practice in the field of development communication. The journal provides a rigorous intellectual platform for academics, researchers, practitioners, and policy actors to examine how communication processes, media systems, and participatory approaches contribute to social, economic, political, health, and environmental development, particularly within developing and transitional societies. This maiden volume presents empirically grounded and theoretically informed studies that interrogate contemporary development challenges such as public health communication, environmental sustainability, political reporting, media ethics, social media engagement, grassroots development, gender and youth participation, climate change communication, and the application of emerging digital and artificial intelligence technologies. Contributions in this issue employ diverse methodological approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of development communication research. Collectively, the articles underscore the centrality of effective, ethical, and inclusive communication strategies in fostering behavioural change, social empowerment, and sustainable development outcomes. By publishing high-quality research and critical reflections, IJDCR seeks to strengthen scholarly discourse, inform practice, and support evidence-based interventions that enhance development communication scholarship and application in Nigeria, Africa, and the global South.