Solutions Journalism

Solutions journalism is rigorous news reporting on how people are responding to society’s problems. For example, where a traditional news story might highlight the rise in homelessness in a community, a solutions-based story would similarly [Page 1627]describe the problem but would dedicate the bulk of the story to what an individual, organization, or institution is doing to combat the problem. In this way, journalists who practice solution-oriented reporting reframe their stories to focus on responses to societal problems rather than causes of them in an effort to engage audiences and push society forward. Research testing the effects of solutions journalism is limited; however, the studies that exist have shown promising results.

This entry provides an overview of solutions journalism as it relates to both scholars and ...