introduction to solutions journalism
DESCRIPTION
Introduction to Solutions Journalism with David Bornstein.TRANSCRIPT
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Chicago Tribune documents “how gun violence shocks and destabilizes neighborhoods”
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The Fayetteville Observer takes a different approach
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Cover local problems & look to seehow others are doing better
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Solutions Journalism
Solutions journalism IS:• Rigorous reporting about
responses to problems
• Grounded in results & evidence
• About problem-solving
• Readily integrated with hard news and investigative journalism
Solutions journalism is NOT:• Advocacy, fluff, hero
stories
• “Good news”, feel good
• Speculative
• A movement
• Boring!
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“News fatigue brought many of the participants to a learned helplessness
response.”
“Over and over, the negativity of news added to the desire to tune out.”
2008 Associated Press Study of Young Adults
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Can GOOD journalism backfire?
• Feinberg & Willer, 2011: Dire warnings reduce belief in global warming.
• Witte & Allen, 2000: When people have a low sense of efficacy, fear-inducing messages lead to defensive responses not behavior change.
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NOT the solution!
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No Silver bullets
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Tweet & donate 20 bucks!
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Just the last 5% of the story?
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Chris P. Bacon
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Information & Behavior Change: 2 Questions
“Can we fix this?”“What’s at stake?”
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Marshall Ganz
It’s a recognition of the world’s problems combined with recognition of the world’s possibilities that brings change.
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An entry point for serious stories
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Solutions journalism: rigorous and compelling coverage of responses to social
problems and the results that they are producing
A practice
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A growing network
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A different response to prostitution(Orange County learns from San Diego)
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How to engage parents in public schools?(Seattle sees possibilities from Chicago)
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From Dropout Factory to 94% graduation rateHow did it happen?
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Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s & Meg Kissinger’s award-winning “Chronic Crisis” series
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How do Bangladesh’s “Polders” Work?
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Solutions journalism rubric
1. Does the story explain the causes of a social problem?
2. Does the story present an associated response to that problem?
3. Does the story get into the problem solving and how-to details?
4. Is the problem solving process central to the narrative?
5. Does the story present evidence of results linked to the response?
6. Does the story explain the limitations of the response?
7. Does the story convey an insight or teachable lesson?
8. Does the story avoid reading like a puff piece?
9. Does the story draw on sources who have a ground-level understanding, not just 30,000 foot expertise?
10. Does the story give greater attention to the response than to a leader/innovator/do-gooder?
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The Howdunnit!
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Seattle Times: Education Lab
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr0
1000020000300004000050000600007000080000
Education Lab Blog Traffic
Page viewsVisitsUnique Visitors
Strategies
• Get on st.com home page• 3 posts/day at Web rush
hour
Highlights
• #4 non-sports blog
• #11 among all blogs
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Reader Engagement (A/B) Test
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
59%52%
47%
35%
22%
36%28%
22%
Solutions story
Non-solutions story
* Agree or strongly agree
** Somewhat likely or very likely
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For reporters, new energy
“Never in 23 years of reporting have I written a story that’s generated such consistent reaction from readers – from politicians to educators to moms and those who’ve never had kids. Yes, I’ve done stories that sparked lots of reaction, but not like this: thoughtful, appreciative, inspired. [It’s] an indication that people really seem to be ready to change the tone of debate around education.”
– Claudia Rowe, Seattle Times reporter
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Harnessing data and information for the health of communities.
10-12 news partners
Asking “Who’s doing it better?”
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Good Samaritan Medical CenterWest Islip, NY
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Good Samaritan Regional Medical CenterSuffern, NY
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When should I look for a solutions angle?
Whenever you’re looking into a widespread problem, or a news event whose cause is a
widespread problem.
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Who’s doing better against smoking?
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Who’s doing better against maternal mortality?
Percentage change in Maternal Mortality Rate 1990-2010, Africa
What’s happening in Rwanda?
What about Angola, Namibia and Zambia?
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Who’s doing better against stillbirths?
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Why is it worth doing?
•Makes our journalism more accurate & complete
•Makes investigations about problems starker
•Makes the story fresher (adds contrast)
•Increases community efficacy, not apathy or cynicism
•Can lead to less polarized, more constructive discourse
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Covering responses to problems without
advocacy, PR or fluff makes journalism
stronger, and has the potential to make
communities and society stronger
In Summary
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Just one more thing…
“Who’s doing it better?”