What Is Solutions Journalism?
The Growing Movement to Report on What Works
Beyond "If It Bleeds, It Leads"
For decades, newsrooms have operated under the assumption that negative stories drive engagement. And while it's true that alarming headlines get clicks, the long-term cost of relentless negativity is becoming clear: news avoidance is at an all-time high, with nearly 40% of people actively avoiding the news according to the Reuters Institute.
Solutions journalism offers a different path. Instead of just reporting on problems, solutions journalists investigate responses to those problems — what's working, what's not, and what we can learn from the evidence.
How It Works
Solutions journalism is not the same as "good news" or "feel-good stories." It's rigorous reporting with a specific framework:
- Focus on a response to a problem. Not just the problem itself, but how someone is trying to address it.
- Present evidence of results. Solutions stories include data, outcomes, and honest assessment of what's working and what isn't.
- Provide insight into how and why a response works. So that others can learn and adapt the approach.
- Acknowledge limitations. No solution is perfect, and solutions journalism doesn't pretend otherwise.
The Impact
Research from the Solutions Journalism Network shows that solutions-oriented stories:
- Are shared more often on social media than equivalent problem-focused stories
- Leave readers feeling more informed and more optimistic about the future
- Increase civic engagement and willingness to take action
- Reduce news fatigue and avoidance
Why It Matters for Good-Mizer
At Good-Mizer, we draw heavily from the solutions journalism approach. When we curate stories, we prioritize ones that show responses in action — not just heartwarming anecdotes, but evidence that things are getting better in measurable ways. We believe this approach gives our readers a more accurate and more useful picture of the world.