solutions journalism with samantha mccann
DESCRIPTION
Slides from the presentation Samantha McCann of Solutions Journalism Network gave at the LION Publishers 2015 Summit in Chicago Oct. 1-3.TRANSCRIPT
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 1/34
The Whole Story
solutionsjournalism.org
@soljourno
Solutions Journalism
October 3, 2015
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 2/34
The Whole Story
To legitimize and spread the practice of solutions
journalism—rigorous reporting about responses to
social problems and their associated results
Our Mission
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 3/34
The Whole Story
A growing network
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 4/34
The Whole Story
Newsroom partnerships
Workshops, individual consultations, data support and
project funding (on a case-by-case basis)
Online learning platform
Comprehensive toolkit, best practices, case studies—all for
free
Community buildingPlatform for shared learning and collaboration
What We Do
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 5/34
The Whole Story
What is solutions journalism?
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 6/34
The Whole Story
Chicago and Fayetteville, North Carolina, have among
the highest crime rates in the U.S.
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 7/34The Whole Story
A special series in the Chicago Tribune aims to “document
how gun violence shocks and destabilizes neighborhoods”
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 8/34The Whole Story
“Fear is the norm,
unity the response.”
–Mike Adams
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 9/34The Whole Story
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 10/34The Whole Story
Solutions journalism imposters
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 11/34
The Whole Story
Hero worship
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 12/34
The Whole Story
eHero Worship
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 13/34
The Whole Story
Silver bullet
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 14/34
The Whole Story
Favor for a Friend
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 15/34
The Whole Story
Think tank
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 16/34
The Whole Story
The Afterthought
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 17/34
The Whole Story
Instant Activist
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 18/34
The Whole Story
Chris P. Bacon
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 19/34
The Whole Story
It’s solutions journalism if it….
Features not just a person, but a response to a problem
and how it happened
Provides available evidence of results, looking at
effectiveness — not just intentions
Produces insights that can help others respond, too —
not just inspiration
Discusses limitations and avoids reading like a puff piece
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 20/34
The Whole Story
Why should I do solutions journalism?
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 21/34
The Whole Story
Journalism’s theory of change
Pointing out social problems
will spur reform
Journalists act as
whistleblowers and expose
wrongdoing
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 22/34
The Whole Story
“Publicity is justly commended as a remedy
for social and industrial diseases. Sunlight
is said to be the best of disinfectants;electric light the most efficient
policeman.” –SC Justice Louis Brandeis
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 23/34
The Whole Story
A 2008 Associated Press study of young adults
found widespread “news fatigue”
Associated Press, “A New Model For News: Studying the deep structure of young adult news consumption; June 2008
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 24/34
The Whole Story
“News fatigue brought many of the participants to a learned
helplessness response.”
“Over and over, the negativity of news added to the desire
to tune out.”
When people think something can be done about a problem(even something modest), they are more receptive and
attentive to the information
Findings:
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 25/34
The Whole Story
Seattle Times: Education Lab
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 26/34
The Whole Story
Preliminary findings suggest that “Ed Lab”
readers felt empowered and engaged
• Readers overwhelmingly felt there are effective ways to
address problems
• Majority said that stories changed the way they think about
the topic
• >50% singled out The Seattle Times as a source of new
information about educational approaches
• Content was consistently redistributed and/or shared by
professional stakeholder communities
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 27/34
The Whole Story
Ed Lab results supported by A/B testing
59%52%
47%
35%
22%
36%
28%22%
0%
10%
20%30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
“I felt inspired
and/or optimisticafter reading thearticle” *
Would read
more articlesfrom the samenewspaper **
Would get
involved inworking towarda solution **
Would share the
article **
Solutionsstory
Non-solutionsstory
* Agree or strongly agree** Somewhat likely or very likely
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 28/34
The Whole Story
Solutions journalism popular on social media
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 29/34
The Whole Story
Publishers say…
• “I was very skeptical when I first thought
about solutions journalism. I thought, isnt’
that what we do every day? We tell the
stories, we make the comments. But I’vedrank the Kool-Aid, I’ve really become a
believer. I’ve seen how it’s changed our
newsroom’s approach to things. We couldn’t
be more pleased with the results.”
–Frank Blethen, Seattle Times
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 30/34
The Whole Story
Publishers say…
• “Everybody knows that we have a crime
problem here, so we don’t just want to do
the same-old, same-old series…We do not
have a staff of 600 in the newsroom, we’vegot a staff of 60 in the newsroom. Great
staff, but you really have to focus your
resources…there’s not a bigger issue in this
community, so it’s perfect for the Observer
to get behind.” –Charles Broadwell, FO
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 31/34
The Whole Story
Why should I do solutions journalism?
It’s just good journalism
It engages the audience
It’s impactful
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 32/34
The Whole Story
Routinely ask sources:
is someone doing a better job with this?
Routinely ask themselves:
is there a possible solutions angle to this story?
Solutions journalism happens when reporters…
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 33/34
The Whole Story
Thanks for joining!
• Sign up for
The Solutions
Three
• Download ourtoolkits
7/17/2019 Solutions Journalism with Samantha McCann
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/solutions-journalism-with-samantha-mccann 34/34
Th Wh l S
Samantha McCann:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/solutionsjournalism
Twitter: @soljourno
solutionsjournalism.org
@soljourno