Solutions Journalism: How Its Evolving Definition, Practice and Perceived Impact Affects Underrepresented Communities

Abstract

Local news organizations are currently redefining how they tell stories, and one tool they are utilizing to reconnect with members of their communities is solutions journalism. This solutions-oriented approach to storytelling includes voices who have the tools to combat local, national, and international problems as well as those who have been directly impacted by issues. This back-and-forth narrative gives deeper insight into issues pervading society (and what can be done about them) than a traditional news story might. However, much is still unknown about how journalists and their media organizations are defining and practicing solutions journalism, especially from the context of local media. This study sought to give foundational understanding to how media practitioners in the southeastern United States who recognize and utilize solutions journalism are pioneering this subsection of the journalism landscape. Insights mined from semi-structured interviews indicate that the definition and practice of solutions journalism is evolving, and that symbiotic relationships formed through the practice of solutions journalism can aid in building credibility, creating stronger bonds within communities, and positively impacting underrepresented communities through tangible change.