Solutions Journalism Network

"The future of our profession lies in our capacity to hear what is screaming but also what is whispering." Nina Fasciaux recently spoke at TEDxParis. Her talk — about journalism as an act of care and connection — is a #mustwatch. Get 90 seconds below. And watch the full video: https://lnkd.in/edNaCfR7

Some exciting new solutions journalism research has landed! Working out of the University of Oregon, Emmanuel Maduneme and Alex Segrè Cohen found that climate solutions reporting done well seems to positively impact people's intent to get involved in pro-environmental actions. Importantly, it does this while showcasing a given solution's limitations and without advocating for one particular approach. This research backs up two things we've long believed: 😱 People aren't apathetic; they care deeply, but are unsure whether their actions have value. 🤝 People don't need to be told what to do to explore action; they need to be informed deeply. And ... isn't that what we journalists want? Not to prescribe behavior or tell people how to think, but to open them to new ways of seeing the world and their place in it. To read more about this research, check out Cloe L.'s story for Canada's National Observer: https://lnkd.in/gqqHBse9 Or, read Leila Okahata's story for Phys.org here: https://lnkd.in/gdaEvvEs

Listening. Well, listening differently to be more exact. That's a big focus of today's How to SoJo. Because if we keep listening the way we always have, we will keep reporting the way we always have. But if we listen differently, sometimes magic happens. We don't just hear new things. We see things differently. We understand things outside of our usual frames of reference. We help people who aren't usually heard feel valued and cared for. Want to do it?

Cameroon, Bahrain, India, and Germany are just some of the countries represented in the latest group of aspiring solutions journalism trainers. And their stories? Amazing. Global careers, major news outlets, displacement — the members of this cohort have incredible histories. And last month they gathered together, all inspired by the same thing: the value of solutions journalism. We're honored to help these 12 journalists on their path to bringing solutions journalism to new journalists, and thus bringing a new lens to issues around the world. Congratulations to Myra Anubi, Anke Gehrmann, Neyran Elden, NGONG SONG, Ian Jones, Abdulaziz Khattak, MBA, Ann Oldenburg, Sarah E. T. Robbins, Halima Umar Saleh, Omid Sobhani, Roli Srivastava, and Florencia Tuchin! Meet them in our latest post, AND get the link to apply for the next round — focused on U.S. journalists, journalism trainers, editors, reporters, and journalism school educators from underrepresented communities — that's will be happening in May. https://lnkd.in/gi2yaPQ5

Visual journalism can help you deepen understanding, not just intensify feeling. Promising solutions can sometimes feel abstract or distant, but showing human hands working the land, native species returning home, or how a complex-sounding process actually looks can help address that. Justin Cook and Damaso Reyes are great people to learn about climate solutions visuals, and Project Drawdown is an absolute authority in cutting through the greenwashing to look at whether and how much a proposed climate solution will help. If you want to tell a fuller story — and now IS the time — join this.

Revenue acceleration sure beats ... whatever else is happening to journalism revenue. So why not use solutions journalism to make it happen? It's the best of both worlds: healthier journalism and healthier finances. We're teaming with Blue Engine Collaborative for a series of Solutions Journalism Revenue Accelerators, and we're proud to announce the first cohort. These eight newsrooms will be at the forefront of using SoJo to build newsroom revenue. They are: Arizona Luminaria Impremedia Input Fort Wayne Monadnock Ledger-Transcript Reparations Media South Dakota News Watch Verified News Network 9 Millones https://lnkd.in/gkPYaRdW

Journalism educators, we've got some opportunities for you. The 2025-2026 Student Media Challenge is open for applications, now with an extended deadline. Eight journalism schools and/or student publications will be selected for a year-long cohort to produce solutions journalism on student mental health. Those in the cohort will get tons of training and $7500 to support the work. https://lnkd.in/gd7GWeDj In conjunction with NEWSWELL at Arizona State University and Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, we're hosting another Solutions Journalism Educators Academy. For two days in Los Angeles, you'll receive in-depth, hands-n training in how to teach solutions journalism. The academy covers airfare or mileage up to $750, hotel for three nights, ground transportation between the airport and hotel, breakfast and lunch on both event days, and more. https://lnkd.in/gUzzcKDV The deadline for *both* is March 21. So pick one, choose both, tag your friends, and let's get busy giving students the opportunity to discover solutions reporting.

Of course you should stop sometimes. Rest, rejuvenate, refresh how you need. But fighting for healthier news and for coverage of how people are trying to constructively address problems? It won't *end.* Neither will our support for it and, hopefully, neither will your pursuit of it. If now seems like a moment where we "don't have time" for solutions reporting, that's a trap — one the industry can't afford to fall for anymore. Get lots of resources and friendly faces to help you make it happen here:

Two weeks ago, we were in Seattle for our annual retreat. And we talked about ... well, you. We spent three days thinking about the network and how we can nurture it even more. We shared with each other what we've learned from working with astoundingly skilled and dedicated journalists from all over the world. And we came away with a conviction we've long held, now renewed and stronger than ever: Solutions reporting is not a "nice-to-have"; it is a must-have. Journalism's fixation on the negative and the incendiary is now regularly exploited by those looking for attention and for evidence that proves journalism seeks to brainwash the world. That fixation also contributes mightily to the sense that power flows immutably from the top down and that everyday people lack agency. So much journalism unintentionally tells the world that people and institutions are only worth covering when they're struggling. We're working hard every day to change all of that. Solutions journalism can't do it alone, but it must be part of a balanced news diet. Our industry cannot continue making people feel powerless or that they are only valuable in the shadow of hurt — not in this era, not in any era. We're thrilled that we get to work on this together, with so many other incredible organizations, and with you. After three days reflecting on all that, we feel in some ways that we're just getting started.

Well well well. We're hiring! There are LOTS of details at the link, so have at it. Good luck, and we can't wait to hear from you.