In a frequently changing information environment, where bloggers and journalists are often viewed as more credible, useful or accessible sources than researchers, what does validtity mean?

The latest IDS Bulletin entitled New Roles for Communication in Development?, explores the significant shift in this landscape for researchers and research communicators. It represents a move away from a top-down dissemination model to a more nuanced understanding of how research can influence and support international development.  

The emergence of new technologies has been accompanied by other shifts in the politics and business of development knowledge, for example:

• around what constitutes 'expert knowledge'
• in a growing emphasis on process over product in research
• in new understandings of what drives social change and policy influence

For editors Tessa Lewin, Blane Harvey, and Susie Page, New Roles for Communication in Development? aimed to explore these interesting changes by drawing on the experiences of practitioners, theorists and community intermediaries from a wide range of disciplines.

Articles reflect the overlaps and disconnects within different fields (particularly on how new technologies, approaches and configurations of research communication are influencing the practice of development) and sit, at various points, in tension or consensus with one another. They reflect the unresolved nature of the politics and practice of research communication – and begin to map a complex picture of this arena.

Over the next few months we will be inviting the contributors to this Bulletin to write a series of blog pieces for the Impact and Learning blog, outlining and reflecting on their articles in the Bulletin.