"This report reviews and highlights some key issues in the current debate on development communication. To do so it draws on experiences and inputs from members of the Informal Network of Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Development Communicators (DevCom) [...] The report starts by looking at one of the fundamental elements regarding development communication: the monitoring of public support [...] the report then looks at communications strategies. Whereas only a few years ago they were somewhat rare among development ministries and agencies, they are now becoming common currency. Some are on their third or fourth generation and others have developed specific strategies (e.g. for the use of new media). This professionalisation of development communication is also seen in the next section, which covers the question of the measurement of the impact of these communications strategies and activities. Evaluation in this type of area is always challenging, and often ends up being built on the measurement of activities and output (and less on impact and effect)." (Executive summary)