SOLUTIONS

Journalism that Moves

by Yasmine Malone

It’s no coincidence that the New Media Age and the War on Truth would happen at the same time. For most people, information is readily available to be consumed, published and shared directly to globally linked platforms. Great! The downside is that sometimes that information is disinformation, misinformation, or all out falsehood and entertainment. If we’re going to compete for consumer attention, we have some reconfiguring to do. How can journalists rewire our approach to maximize our utility — How do we make ‘stories’ relevant in real life?

Solutions Journalism presents a path to overcoming this frenzy by restoring the legitimacy of news, acknowledging the urgency of solutions and taking real news that much further on the quest for universal truths and pathways to progress.

So what exactly is Solutions Journalism?

Quite frankly, if it openly presents a viable and morally sound fix for an issue, it’s solutions journalism. The issue then for both well meaning journalists and consumers is: How does this not give new freedom to bias and deception under the guise of ‘journalism’?

It’s important to mention that I did not always believe that this ‘fixer’ was the role of journalism. In my old construct of what a journalist does, they don’t advocate for one side or the other. Objectivity and impartiality have been practices that have subjected journalism and new media to the ‘most profitable’ practices. Not until my junior of college did I discover, not only is this limiting, but it’s for the most part not true about impactful journalism. Such an approach neglects the typical consumer who may feel jaded with the press, the fact that bias still exists in the field, and a critical component to consumer climate– the mistrust that has been sown in the field in the last decades.

As a journalist, what I appreciate most about this style of reporting is that it:

  1. Encourages journalists to be well informed, innovative and investigative in their approach.
  2. Connects the public to relevant and professional voices of solutions.
  3. Solutions journalism is good for democracy.

As a consumer, I appreciate solutions journalism because:

(1) It increases the utility of stories.

(2) Is open about motives and biases.

(3) Sets a foundation for progressive dialogue and action.

(4) The power of reimagining the current narrative makes journalists willful architects of a better society.

In the era of alternative facts, fake news and media manipulation, now is a crucial time for the resurgence of meaningful journalism that cuts through the chaos, focuses on the facts and is straightforward in its call to action and purpose.

Painting by Pawel Kuczynski

Of gravest importance is that Solutions Journalism is a way to make the field viable again as a gatekeeper to democracy. The legitimacy of the institution of media has taken some hard hits in the last decades as the result of political influence, disinformation campaigns, delocalization of news and wealthy private ownership/ influence of a crucial public good: information and truth. A well informed cognizant citizenry has been an important component of the formula for the health of American democracy and sustainable communities.

Farmers Markets Bring Together Communities in Mississippi Delta highlights The Good Food Revolution of Mound Bayou, Mississippi which encourages a more sustainable local food system for the Mississippi Delta, an area stricken by food insecurity. Nutrition and health are serious topics and it is not often that this discussion in a regional context would be encouraging an outsider to support the solution in a way that is non vindictive to a Delta citizen. One thing that this article makes crystal clear is that not only are Solutions journalism an all around good, but it is extremely necessary for sustained progress and positive narration.

The author of this article, Alexander Watts takes a simple but effective structure of writing using a solutions angle.

  1. Opening with a brief contextualization of the issue and area of focus.
  2. Majority of the discussion evokes a positive outlook.
  3. Waits til the end to reiterate the ‘negatives’ or the need for the solution.
  4. Acknowledges that there are alternative solutions.

Even if all these reasons do not satisfy the case for solutions journalism, a an indisputable fact is that solutions are a good change from the negativity that wins coverage over positivity, according to traditional journalism standards which tend to favor drama and conflict.

Photo courtesy of Google

Solutions Journalism also may be a healthier alternative to this. According to this survey published by the American Psychological Association, news is a frequent stress factor for most American adults. Imagine, at breakfast, instead of reading the above mentioned article, you read this article about child hunger in Mound Bayou. The article is well intentioned but it uses negative frames and emotion to discuss only the importance of the problem. As a consumer, the utility of this piece is one-dimensional (to inform) even thought the journalist put lots of effort into creating it? There are thousands of others just like it. Taking the piece to the next level would mean offering the average citizen an outlet to help fix the problem.

You’d leave the table with a more positive perspective and in a conversation about that topic that day, you’d be more likely to have a positive countenance of the discussion and applicable knowledge about how to fix it. Perhaps you might even pass the message along in the break room or share it on social media. You have caused a ripple effect of better thinking on the subject, equipping another to do the same thing. Overall bettering society.

Solutions journalism is the answer to producer and consumer problems in journalism and emergent media industry.

Lucky for consumers, there are ways to spot a phony solutions piece.

Journalists, take notes. How useful is your reporting?


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