This emerging style has been elevated by major publications with specific “solutions” news beats, such as in The Guardian, BBC, The New York Times, and NBC News, creating platforms for reporters to cover complex issues in a manner that doesn’t isolate readers. The escalation of news avoidance has, however, prompted the rise of “solutions journalism”, a constructive approach that offers rigorous coverage of community issues from a problem-solving lens.

As academics we have witnessed the toll that negative news cycles have had on our students, particularly over the last few years, impacting their mental health and ability to engage effectively with the world around them. Even before the pandemic, nearly two-thirds of Americans said they suffered from news fatigue and a staggering 41% were already beginning to actively avoid news. Mainstream news media has long drawn criticism for its “negative” approach, but with recent coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, divisive domestic politics, and now conflict in Ukraine, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. OU journalism faculty Kate Roff and Holly Shreve Gilbert developed this solutions journalism teaching approach with support from CETL’s Teaching Grant.

Solutions journalism story tracker