Solutions Journalism: Why Now?
"Stuart Davis: Impression of the New York World's Fair (mural study, Communications Building, World's Fair, Flushing, New York), 1938" Courtesy of the American Art Museum
SJ spotlights the tools to be agents of change
By Ayesha Le Breton
So far, I’m only one class into the semester-long course and have little hands-on experience with Solutions Journalism. Yet, I’m already eager to put it into practice. I understand SJ to be a re-framed approach to reporting, one that highlights important problems alongside potential solutions. It was created to rebuild the deteriorating public confidence, and gain back the trust of an audience that can longer stand the constant negativity in the news reel. New York Times journalist, David Bornstein speaks to this in his TEDxBYU talk, stating that journalism’s current information scaffolding and feedback mechanism is incomplete, and has therefore eroded the trust of our readers. SJ is an adaptation that appeals to the shift in product and audience within the journalistic field. In her article “Why We Need Hopeful News” Jill Suttie suggests that as journalists we should “widen our lens of attention and inquiry” to “mitigate some of the effects of negative news.”
SJ is meant to complement existing forms of journalism. I find this fascinating. We as journalists have the ability— and therefore the responsibility—to provide the public with necessary information and tools to create change. SJ spotlights the tools to be those agents of change.
The confusion between solutions and advocacy journalism, among journalists and readers still brings up questions for me. I’m curious as to whether or not a clear distinction between the two can actually be made.
I’m hoping to incorporate SJ into my investigative and accountability reporting—the three seem to go hand in hand. I’m also looking forward to bringing this into the New School Free Press newsroom, as an editor I hope to encourage this more inclusive approach to reporting that will hopefully optimize reader engagement.
Ayesha Le Breton is in her third year at The New School, pursuing a major in Journalism + Design, and a minor in Communications Design. She is currently a digital editorial intern at CR Fashion Book, and news editor at The New School Free Press—she has work published with both.