The Institute conducts a prestigious Diploma Course in Development Journalism for mid-career journalists from developing countries. The course is organized under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and Special Commonwealth African Assistant Plan (SCAAP) programmes of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Two such 16-week long courses are conducted every year (January to April and August to November every year).

The Development Journalism Course attracts not only mid-career journalists from news agencies, print and electronic media of various developing countries; but also Information Service Officers manning the government media of various developing countries as well as some media academics. The course is attended by mediapersons belonging to countries from Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe.

The course is designed to familiarize the participants with topical issues that are so characteristic of the developing world. It sketches out the linkages between development, communication and media and provides significant inputs in development theory, communication theory, international relations, economics, ethics, reporting and editing and current development issues.