The Evolution Of Solutions Journalism Medium

Traditional news media reporting tends to spotlight problems and conflict in society. Journalists have begun to wonder if it is possible to report news without overwhelming audiences with negative and depressing stories. In 2010, New York Times journalists David Bornstein and Tina Rosenberg launched a column called “Fixes” that highlighted solutions to problems and whether they worked for the community that implemented the solution. This column became a precursor to a new form of journalism called solutions journalism. Solutions journalism is an approach to journalism that focuses on reporting on the existing responses to societal problems. Journalists approach solutions journalism stories by examining what is being done to solve an issue.

The profession of journalism needs more than the watchdog role, otherwise it is incomplete, according to David Bornstein. Solutions journalism is meant to complement other approaches to journalism including the watchdog, or investigative, reporting role of journalism. The practice “seek[s] to rebalance the news, so that every day people are exposed to stories that help them understand problems and challenges, and stories that show potential ways to respond” according to the... In an effort to restore trust in journalists, solutions journalism engages the public by showing them how communities are responding to their problems by exposing people to different solutions including downfalls and challenges associated... The Solutions Journalism Network’s stated that the approach “offers a more comprehensive and representative view of the world, and it circulates timely knowledge to help society self-correct, spotlighting adaptive responses that people and communities... Solutions journalism stems from a culmination of several journalistic experiments that reflect a never-ending goal of the profession trying to figure out how to engage audiences with the news.

Solutions journalism is an approach to news reporting that focuses on the responses to social issues as well as the problems themselves. Solutions stories, anchored in credible evidence, explain how and why responses are working, or not working. The goal of this journalistic approach is to present people with a truer, more complete view of these issues, helping to drive more effective citizenship. Solutions journalism is rigorous, evidence-based reporting on the responses to social problems. Solutions stories can take many forms, but they share several key characteristics. They identify the root causes of a social problem; prominently highlight a response, or responses, to that problem; present evidence of the impact of that response; and explain how and why the response is...

When possible, solutions stories also present an insight that helps people better understand how complex systems work, and how they can be improved. Proponents of solutions journalism distinguish the approach from so-called "good news" reporting, which can be characterized by a superficial presentation of a response without careful analysis or examination of whether the response is effective. Solutions stories assess responses that are working today, as opposed to untested theories—and they tend to place more emphasis on the innovation than on a person or institution responsible for that innovation. Solutions journalism supporters believe that it provides important feedback that allows society to see credible possibilities and respond more successfully to emerging challenges. Compelling reporting about responses to social problems, they say, can strengthen society by increasing the circulation of knowledge necessary for citizens to engage powerfully with issues in their communities, and for communities, leaders, innovators,... Simply reporting on problems, some research shows, can reduce citizens' sense of efficacy, leading them to disengage from public life.

In a 2008 study, the Associated Press found that young people were tired of news, which they perceived as being negative and lacking resolution.[1] This resulted in "news fatigue", in which people tended to... Solutions journalism is rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems, which includes these key elements: Solutions journalism investigates and explains, in a critical and clear-eyed way, how people try to solve widely shared problems. While journalists usually define news as “what’s gone wrong,” solutions journalism tries to expand that definition: Responses to problems are also newsworthy. By adding rigorous coverage of solutions, journalists can tell the whole story. Solutions journalism complements and strengthens coverage of problems.

Done well, solutions stories provide valuable insights that help communities with the difficult work of tackling problems like homelessness or climate change, skyrocketing housing prices or low voter turnout. We also know from research that solutions stories can change the tone of public discourse, making it less divisive and more constructive. By revealing what has worked, such stories have led to meaningful change. We gathered in 2023 to celebrate a decade of solutions journalism, impact, insights, and the people who have made this possible. ‌Solutions journalism moves beyond bad news to explore what’s working. Learn how to tell rigorous, evidence-based stories that inform, engage, and inspire change.

Let’s be honest—most news is a doomscrolling nightmare. War, corruption, climate disasters, economic meltdowns—it’s enough to make anyone want to throw their phone into the ocean and move to a cabin in the woods. But what if journalism didn’t just highlight problems—it also explored how people are actually fixing them? That’s the heart of solutions journalism, a growing movement that shifts the focus from catastrophe to credible responses. Major outlets like The New York Times and The Seattle Times are embracing this approach, proving that rigorous reporting on real-world solutions can engage readers without sugarcoating reality. For experienced journalists, solutions journalism offers a refreshing change: a way to report on pressing social problems without leaving audiences feeling hopeless.

It doesn’t just document failures—it investigates what’s working, why it works, and what others can learn from it. And let’s be honest, after years of covering nothing but scandals and disasters, wouldn’t it be nice to write something that actually gives people a little hope? For decades, journalism has thrived on the old adage: “If it bleeds, it leads.” But while disaster-driven headlines grab attention, they also fuel audience fatigue, mistrust, and disengagement. Readers are tired of hearing about problems with no clear way forward. That’s where solutions journalism comes in—not as feel-good fluff, but as rigorous, evidence-based reporting on responses to social issues.

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