🤔 "Is anyone trying to fix this?" It's a fair question to ask when reading a dispiriting news story. That's where solutions journalism comes in.
🔍 Journalists report on how a problem is being addressed, not just the issue itself. They deeply investigate & also don't shy away from detailing a response's shortcomings, as @debofficially of the Medill Midwest Solutions Journalism Hub explains in our video.
📚 And teachers, @solutionsjournalism offers a really cool tool called the Solutions Story Tracker, a database of thousands of solutions stories. Students can search by things like topic & location. You can have students select a problem facing their community & use the story tracker to see what other people are doing to address local issues.
#SolutionsJournalism #Journalism #NewsLiteracy
Journalist Isaac AbdulAziz stopped us in our tracks.
A few weeks ago, he posted a heartfelt message on LinkedIn, one he's given us permission to share here.
Journalists sometimes see their role as challenging systems. And while we do need to do that, it can take many forms. Journalism doesn't only need to be focused on what's wrong, but instead can challenge systems to improve by covering what *works.*
And we also can't let that quest obscure the value we might bring to one person. Helping them feel heard, seen, understood... this is a type of impact journalists woefully underestimate. It might not topple a corrupt institution, but it can mean everything to the person you reach.
Thank you Isaac for sharing this and allowing us to share here. We think Isaac's words are powerful on their own, but if you want to read solutions journalism from Prime Progress — the Nigerian outlet for which he works — click the link in our bio.
#journalism #solutionsjournalism #betternews #mediastudies #journalist #journolife #jornalista #jurnalistik #nachrichten #berita #journaliste #haber #новости #periodismo #뉴스 #언론 #新聞
So ... should we use AI?
There's a big discussion among all journalists, but especially climate journos, about it. Maybe we shouldn't use it? But if we do, how and how much?
Sometimes it's even embedded in newsrooms. But, data centers already consume about 415 terawatt-hours globally, roughly 1.5 percent of world electricity, and the International Energy Agency projects that figure will double by 2030.
AI is both a tool transforming newsrooms and a story-shaping force in public life. How should journalists approach both with rigor?
We're teaming with Metcalf Institute once more for a session about approaching AI (surprise!) as solutions journalism does: By examining what AI actually does in newsrooms (response), what the evidence shows about its costs and benefits (evidence), what reporters are learning about its best uses (insight), and where it falls short (limitations).
On May 21, veteran journalist and SF State University Professor Yumi Wilson will take you through it so you can make the best decisions possible. RSVP at the 🔗 in bio.
"Trust in U.S. elections is eroding. Between skepticism about redistricting, fear about immigration agents at the polls, and unproven claims about widespread election fraud, Americans are losing confidence in the accuracy and security of their elections.
"Voter confidence in accurate vote counts dropped 17% across party lines in about a year, according to two nationwide polls from the Center for Transparent and Trusted Elections at the University of California San Diego. One poll was conducted just after the 2024 presidential election, the other in late 2025, in collaboration with UCSD’s Yankelovich Center for Social Science Research.
"But across the country, and within Illinois, election authorities of both political parties say American elections are, and will stay, fair and secure. And many local election authorities say their effort to address misinformation and reassure voters is beginning to turn the tide .... "
Continue reading the @capitolnewsillinois story here:
/news/how-illinois-county-clerks-are-combating-election-misinformation/
This story is part of the Healing Illinois 2026 Reporting Project, “Democracy Lives Here,” managed by the @medillschool@solutionsjournalism Hub, and made possible by a grant from @healingillinois , a racial and community initiative from the @ilhumanservices in partnership with the @fieldfoundation .
#journalism #storytelling #communitypowerbuilding #capitolnews
It's back!
The Mental Health in Journalism Summit from @theselfinvestigation is happening Oct. 6-9, and it will be virtual so all can attend.
But before that, it needs sessions! That's where you come in.
The theme this year is "Stronger Together: Building Systems of Care," and we're proud to be outreach partners once again. We know that a whole lot of people interested in solutions journalism come to it because they themselves — in their roles as communicators, journalists, and media makers — feel deeply the relentlessness and despair of the problem-focused news cycle. Working differently and finding community are two ways to protect and heal yourself.
So, we should let you know that there are four ways for you to get involved: submit a full session proposal, propose an experiential workshop, send a speaker submission, or suggest a session idea.
🗓️ Deadline: May 31, 23:59 PST
📩 Submit your contributions at the link in bio.
#MHJS26 #HealthyJournalists #MentalHealthInJournalism #CallForParticipation
Merch idea: A button you can push that announces, "It doesn't have to be!" every time someone talks about "how things are done" in journalism.
We — and a whole lot of other people, journalists and not — would be slapping that button plenty when it comes to election coverage. Often, people are hungry, absolutely starving, for info that helps them understand the issues more deeply and become active participants in the political process. All while we focus on ... drama!
If you want to step out of the soap opera (and trust us, the public wants us to), a voter guide is a great way to do that, and if you want to be REALLY good at making one, listening, engagement and solutions coverage can help you take it to the next level.
We've just released "Creating Solutions-Focused Voting Guides," a bright, short and sweet tip sheet for newsrooms who want to help people choose and vote via a heaping helping of listening and SoJo. It's got real-world examples from folks like Trusting News, The Current in Louisiana and more.
It's drama free, but that doesn't mean it's not exciting. Hit the link in bio.
#journalism #solutionsjournalism #betternews #mediastudies #journalist #journolife #jornalista #jurnalistik #nachrichten #berita #journaliste #haber #новости #periodismo #뉴스 #언론 #新聞
Does your #solutionsjournalism reach the people who want it?
There is often a divide between the people we reach with our stories and those who would be most impacted by a solution. Meaningful engagement around your solutions reporting is one way to tackle that.
Take note: We're not talking “engagement” as clicks — this is intentional, community-focused work. And while it might seem like alchemy, any newsroom can build a successful and fulfilling engagement plan. It just takes commitment, some solid examples and a roadmap. For those committed, we can help you find the other two.
At “Find your people: Engagement strategies for bringing solutions reporting to the community," we’re gathering newsrooms who received support from the Advancing Democracy Innovation Fund. They’ll share examples of how they merged solutions journalism and meaningful engagement as they covered everything from how communities are responding to AI data centers, to civic engagement and adult education.
Then, you’ll walk through a clear, practical roadmap to meaningful engagement with a hands-on session to help you establish a purpose, potential partners and more. You’ll leave with both real-world insights and the start of an idea you’ll create yourself (with guidance).
You can join @gulfstatesnewsroom and @factchequeado on May 7, or @texas_standard and @crosswindsnews on May 21 (or both sessions!) by registering here at the link in bio.
#journalism #betternews #mediastudies #journalismtraining #journalist #journolife #jornalista #jurnalistik #nachrichten #berita #journaliste #haber #новости #periodismo #뉴스 #언론 #新聞
Major announcement for Sub-Saharan Africa!
Today, we have opened applications for our second ever Train-the-Trainers exclusive to journalists from the region.
At it's core, it's the same as our global Train-the-Trainers program: We're looking for journalists, educators and media makers who want to learn to teach solutions journalism. Across five days, you will get immersive, in-depth solutions journalism training so that you can bring it to the newsrooms, students, journalists or communities that might benefit from it.
What's different?
This one is solely for applicants in Sub-Saharan Africa, a region that is arguably the fast growing for solutions journalism. And this one will be led by the terrific trio of Caroline Karobia (SJN's Africa initiative manager), Nina Fasciaux (SJN's director of partnerships and fellowships), and @chibu_ikem of @nigeriahealthwatch . The deadline to apply is May 15, so click the link in bio for all the details, guidelines, timing and the application itself.
We look forward to hearing from — and learning with — you!
"The house is oppressive and nobody appreciates it." This is the title of an encouraging, optimistic story. Believe it.
That story was written by journalist Camila Ramirez for @el_turbion as part of Fund for Solutions Journalism in Latin America, led by @elcolectivo506 . Over the course of the program, dozens of Latin American journalists were given solutions journalism training and story support as they covered gender issues through a solutions lens.
Camila's story examined a program in Colombia offering education, counseling, skills training, exercise and more for women caregivers. The approach has started to become a model in Latin America, and policymakers took note of the reporting. It's a warm and sensitive story about a difficult issue, qualities the solutions focus helped support for many of the journalists involved in the fund.
There was also an unexpected success we often see when journalists begin working with solutions journalism: Their view of their own work starts changing for the better.
Swipe through for some of Camila's reflections on the process, and read her story — "La casa agobia y nadie agradece" — at the link.
#journalism #solutionsjournalism #betternews #mediastudies #journalist #journolife #jornalista #jurnalistik #nachrichten #berita #journaliste #haber #новости #periodismo #뉴스 #언론 #新聞
THANK YOU to all the journalists at #SEJ2026 in Chicago who showed up yesterday to CCNow’s and @solutionsjournalism ’s workshop “Mapping The Future of Climate Journalism.”
The conversations were lively and inspiring, and we can’t wait to continue the work with you in the coming months!
One of the highlights of our year is hosting our annual training at the Society of Environmental Journalists conference. This year, the topic is "Using Data and a Solutions Lens to Enhance Your Environmental Reporting," in collaboration with the Solutions Journalism Network and The Water Desk.
In part 1, we explored taking a solutions-oriented approach to environmental reporting. In part 2, we dug into how data visualizations can improve stories.
A huge thanks to all our speakers, and thanks to everyone the attended for the great turnout and discussion! #SEJ2026
