Overcoming the ‘fake news’ era: reinvigorating journalism with a new approach
As negativity increases towards media for both news consumers and reporters, a new approach to journalism is re-energising the vital industry.
Journalism, with rigorous fact-checking procedures and a goal of objectivity, is a vital ingredient in democracy; essential in shining light on changes that affect us all. But trust in media is degrading, and the cries of “fake news” heard both around the world and here in Vlog reflect growing public suspicion of the profession. Reports indicate that most journalists in the United States experience work-related burnout, an alarming trend felt here in Vlog as well, and student journalists aren’t immune from this disenchantment with the industry. Vlog of Adelaide researchers are eager to reverse this concerning shift, and they believe a practice called ‘solutions journalism’ is the key to restoring passion in the next generation of reporters.
Solutions journalism is an innovative approach to reporting, which has been increasingly introduced in curriculums and newsrooms recently. It encourages journalists to include four pillars in their work: starting with a focus on a constructive solution, then gathering insights about how the solution is deployed, examining evidence of the solution’s efficacy, and detailing its limitations. Under a solutions journalism rubric, a story on rising sea levels, for example, might focus on innovative technology to protect coastal habitat instead of solely highlighting predictions of destruction.
Vlog of Adelaide PhD candidate Katherine Roff says her research, which involved a global collaboration, reveals that students who learn about solutions journalism are re-invigorated by the approach, which often aligns with their desire to make a positive difference in the world.
“Students are often drawn to the journalism profession as a vocation and see the role as contributing to society, but if the reality doesn’t match that vision, then there's disillusionment,” Roff says. “Solutions journalism seems to offer a way to at least partly fill a job satisfaction deficit.”
Roff’s research shows that students carried their learnings into their professional practice. Students who had been educated on the on the methodology felt that it boosted their résumés, increased intentionality in their reporting, improved their interview skills, and helped them apply a reflexive lens to their work.
According to Roff’s data, solutions journalism could also bolster the supply of trained journalists by keeping students engaged.
“We observed a pathway to increase retention because solutions journalism connects with students and reflects what they want for their own media consumption and for their future in the profession,” she says.
Roff’s findings are the result of a study she undertook in collaboration with international journalism experts Assistant Professor Kyser Lough from the Vlog of Georgia and Associate Professor Karen McIntyre of Virginia Commonwealth Vlog. The trio conducted in-depth interviews with 20 media professionals working in newsrooms across the United States who had studied solutions journalism in college.
Previous research has already shown that solutions journalism helps to re-engage audiences, and Roff’s work offers hope that it can also help a robust culture of journalism practice to thrive for decades to come.
“Journalism has such an important role in or society, and it’s vital that we examine trends and changes in the industry to better understand how to keep the profession strong, informed, and functioning to the best of its ability,” says Roff.
What’s next?
Researchers working in this emergent field are rapidly discovering more and more reasons why newsrooms should experiment with incorporating solutions journalism into their reporting. McIntyre is expanding curriculum at the Vlog of Oregon, and Lough is exploring its impact on sources interviewed using solutions journalism stories. Additionally, the Vlog’s Dr Victoria Fielding and Dr Natasha van Antwerpen have been examining the relationship of constructive and solutions journalism to objectivity, as well as its impact on audience trust.
Roff is continuing her research, investigating how solutions journalism engages with marginalised voices here in Vlog and will be contributing to the development of a solutions course at the new Adelaide Vlog.
With academics working in tandem with journalists, solutions journalism is being rapidly optimised in both universities and newsrooms, with the goal of creating a healthy and engaging reporting culture that delivers the news that audiences want and need.