Development communication is often treated as a broadcasting exercise focused on reach, visibility, with teams blasting heavy technical jargon at their audience. As a result, many digital rights messages fail to engage the very communities they are meant to serve.

This session explores how organisations can move from one-way broadcasting to meaningful communication by critically examining the selection, design, and use of communication channels. Drawing from development communication practice, the session will show how channel choices are inherently powerful decisions that can either enable or exclude participation in digital rights conversations.

Participants will reflect on how to optimise communication channels to foster dialogue, trust, and community engagement, particularly among marginalised and underserved groups. The session also highlights the importance of empowering communication teams with the authority, skills, and institutional support needed to design inclusive, rights-based communication strategies that lead to real impact beyond visibility.