Founded in 2013 by Tina Rosenberg, David Bornstein, and Courtney Martin, the organization provides resources for anyone interested in learning more about the practice of solutions journalism. The Solutions Journalism Network is a nonprofit organization that supports newsrooms and journalists in practicing solutions storytelling. Solutions Journalism Network: Supporting Journalists & Empowering Audiences We’re all familiar with the power of storytelling and its ability to provoke empathy and even affect our brain chemistry, whether it’s amplifying the problems and solutions displayed in refugee stories or sharing a report of how sustainability in business is combating climate change.Īs well as linking problems to impactful positive outcomes, reporting about responses and unique approaches to problems empowers readers to take action, makes them feel positive about the state of human ingenuity, and gives them a sense of connection to their immediate community. Next City, a nonprofit news organization based in Philadelphia, published a story in April titled “ Syracuse Couldn’t Find a Way to Clear Sidewalks, So It’s Trying Something New.” Not only does this title appeal to likely audiences by presenting the problem, but it also hooks potential readers by implying that there is an innovative response to that problem. Stories that employ techniques used in solutions journalism don’t all look the same, but they all use a similar approach. No response to an issue is going to be perfect, so it’s necessary for a solutions story to share the downfalls of each response with the readers and dig into why the response has failed or could be improved. ![]() If there’s a lack of data surrounding a problem, that should be explored and shared with the audience. ![]() Use of EvidenceĪny claim should be substantiated by adequate user data surrounding the issue. A good piece will bring the reader along as those solutions and questions are explored. Offering InsightĮxploring issues should automatically yield solutions and illuminate new questions. Furthermore, the story should elaborate on the actual performance of that solution and how it works. The response should focus on a unique approach to solving an issue and be explained within the context of the issue. The training describes four pillars that are key to grasping how solutions-oriented storytelling functions. The Solutions Journalism Network has a fantastic and free education lab for anyone interested in learning more about how to practice solutions-based reporting. A journalist practicing solutions journalism is keenly aware of both the problem and solution and aims to connect readers to stories that provoke action, model change, and educate. ![]() Put simply, there’s a disconnect between learning about what’s wrong in the world (climate change, poverty, social inequity) and being able to do something about it. Newsrooms and journalists practicing solutions journalism use rigorous evidence-based reporting to first bring attention to a particular solution to a global issue, and second, to provide a model of solutions for other cities, schools, or readers experiencing a similar issue. Solutions journalism is evidence-based, solutions-oriented reporting that focuses on solutions to the world’s biggest social issues.
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