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LEARNING LAB
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SJN SOLUTIONSU® STORYTRACKER® BLOG
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Welcome to the

LEARNING LAB

Your one-stop guide to producing solutions journalism—rigorous and compelling reporting on responses to social problems. From finding great story ideas, to asking the perfect interview question, to spinning a powerful narrative, it all starts here.

START WITH THE BASICS

Basic toolkit

Basic Toolkit

Guide de base

Herramientas básicas

Panduan Dasar

基础知识工具箱

Основной инструментарий

Základní manuál

مجموعة الأدوات الأساسية

Podstawowy pakiet narzędziowy

Uneltele de Baza

Kezdjük az alapokkal

Der Werkzeugkasten für die Grundlagen

Kit de Ferramentas Básicas

2 hours

What You'll Learn: The key tenets of solutions journalism. What is it? What is it not? Why is it important? And how to make it happen, from idea to reporting to completed story.

Who It's For: Journalists who want to add rigor and impact to any sort of reporting.

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I. Introduction (30min)

Welcome

How do I know it's Solutions Journalism?

How do I know it's NOT Solutions Journalism?

Why Solutions Journalism?

What Kind of Impact Can Solutions Journalism Have?

Solutions Journalism in Your Workflow?

II. Basic Reporting (60min)

Steps to Creating a Solutions Story

Introduction

Reporting Instructively on Failure

Slices

Bringing a Solutions Lens to Short Pieces

Doing Solutions Journalism on Deadline

Solutions Journalism and Investigations

Introduction

Good Solutions Stories...

Conducting Interviews for a Solutions-Oriented Story?

Introduction

Crafting Your Pitch

Bringing a Solutions Focus to Your Beat

III. Basic Storytelling (30min)

Structuring a Solutions-Oriented Story

Story Type: Positive Deviant

Story Type: Big New Idea

Story Type: Experiment in Progress

Story Type: Location Transformation

Heroes vs. Characters

Language: Language:

Explore Our Issue Guides

Health guide

Health Guide

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I. Introduction (15min)

Welcome

When Should I Try a Solutions Approach?

Reporter Chalktalk: Brie Zeltner

II. Health Reporting (40min)

Introduction

Finding Solutions Stories

Slices

Evidence Introduction

Story Annotation

Evaluating Evidence

Data Resources

Positive Deviants

III. Health Storytelling (15min)

Health Storytelling

Story Annotation

Avoiding Advocacy

1 hour, 10 minutes

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to use solutions reporting to enhance coverage of complex issues such as access to care, substance use disorder, and mental health treatment.

WHO IT'S FOR: Health reporters aiming to shift the lens on their beat.

Hechinger thumbnail Education guide

Education Guide

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I. Introduction (10min)

Welcome

Case Study

II. Education Reporting (65min)

Issues Introduction

Issue 1: The Performance Gap

Issue 2: School Choice

Issue 3: Early Childhood Education & Universal Pre-K

Issue 4: Standards & Testing

Issue 5: Teacher Evaluation & Training

Issue 6: Digital Learning

Issue 7: Higher Education

Evidence: Introduction

Using Data

Getting Inside Test Scores

Research Studies

Slices

III. Education Storytelling (10min)

Story Walkthrough

Reporter Q&A

1 hour, 25 minutes

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to apply the solutions lens to the most pressing issues in public education, with a special focus on navigating complex evidence.

WHO IT'S FOR: Education beat reporters who want to raise the bar on their coverage.

Violence guide

Violence Guide

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I. Introduction (10min)

Welcome

Case Study

II. Violence Reporting (40min)

Issues: Introduction

Issue: Childhood Trauma

Issue: Gun Violence

Issue: Mental Health

Issue: Police Use of Force

Issue: Domestic Violence

Issue: School Discipline

Slices

III. Violence Storytelling (10min)

Story Walkthrough

Reporter Q&A

1 hour

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to reframe coverage of gun crime, sexual assault, detention, and more — with advice and examples from reporters in the trenches.

WHO IT'S FOR: Journalists ready to change their approach to reporting on crime.

Go Deeper

Collaborative playbook

Collaborative Playbook

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2 hours

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to design an effective collaborative between/among news organizations, including how to surmount challenges such as editorial direction, spending decisions of shared funds and internal communications.

WHO IT'S FOR: Editors interested in designing a collaborative or working with other news organizations in a joint reporting initiative.

Curriculum builder

J-School Curriculum Builder

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I. Introduction (5min)

Welcome

II. The Essentials of Teaching Solutions Journalism (60min)

What Solutions Journalism Is, and What It Is Not

The Case for Solutions Journalism

Doing Solutions Journalism to the Highest Standards

Identifying, Vetting and Reporting Solutions Stories

Organizing and Writing Solutions Stories

III. Teaching Solutions Journalism as a Module (15min)

Text Course: Maureen West, ASU

Broadcast Course: Theresa de los Santos, Pepperdine

IV. Customized Approaches to Teaching Solutions Journalism (25min)

Two-Week Online Course: Framing through Digital Narrative

Focus on Single Issue: Addressing Violence

Focus on Single Issue: Covering Addiction

Separate Courses Focusing on Content and Production

V. Resources (45min)

FAQ

Sources: Professors and Students

Syllabi and Course Materials

2 hours, 30 minutes

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to teach solutions journalism in a J-School setting. How to construct lessons, from a single module to an entire semester's course, in the approach.

WHO IT'S FOR: J-School professors who want to teach solutions journalism.

Editor toolkit

Editor Toolkit

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I. Introduction (10min)

Welcome

Diagnostic: Is Your Newsroom Ready for Solutions Journalism?

II. Making the Case (20min)

Introduction

Anticipate and Head Off Misconceptions

Purposefully Build an Understanding of Solutions Journalism

Showcase the Benefits of Solutions Journalism

III. Practicing Solutions Journalism (30min)

Introduction

Changing Culture

Organizing Solutions Coverage in the Newsroom

Organizing Solutions Reporting Teams

IV. Case Study: The Montgomerey Advertiser (20min)

Institutionalizing Solutions Journalism in the Newsroom

Setting a Vision

Making the Change Accessible

Communicating the Change

V. Solutions for the Most Common Stumbling Blocks (40min)

Introduction

Shift Priorities and Increase Focus

Start Small

Look Locally for Solutions

Build on Others' Work

Collaborations and Partnerships

Solutions-Oriented Fundraising

Debunking Common Myths: A Cheat Sheet

2 hours

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to institutionalize solutions journalism into newsroom practice on a consistent and ongoing basis. How to communicate the value of solutions journalism to your team, find the time and resources, and work across beats and geographies to surface credible responses.

WHO IT'S FOR: Editors wishing to facilitate the transition towards solutions journalism in their newsroom.

Engagement toolkit

Engagement Toolkit

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I. Introduction (15min)

Welcome

How to Use this Guide

Diagnostic

II. Choose Your Own Adventure (30min)

Ensure Coverage is Relevant to Community Concerns

Amplify Community Voices

Reach Marginalized or Undercovered Communities

Create a Platform for Participatory Civic Action

Facilitate Civil Discourse Between Disparate Groups

Deliver Deeper Customer Value

III. Case Studies (50min)

AL.com ("Tackling the Gap")

Choteau Acantha ("The Montana Gap")

The Christian Science Monitor

Detroit Free Press ("Our Children: Searching for Solutions")

KCPT

Minneapolis Star Tribune ("Muslims and De-Radicalization: What Works?")

The Seattle Times ("Education Lab")

The Tennessean ("The Cost of Growth and Change"; "Civility Tennessee")

Wyoming Public Media ("I Respectfully Disagree")

Your Voice Ohio

IV. Best Practices (35min)

Listen and Get to Know Your Community

Assess Your Presence and Reach

Convene the Right People

Find a Partner or Collaborator

Cultivate the Right Space (Physically and Digitally)

Experiment

Engagement Resources

2 hours, 10 minutes

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to use solutions reporting to create a platform for more constructive engagement. How to drive productive public discourse and online discussions to strengthen agency and innovation within the communities you serve.

WHO IT'S FOR: Journalists who want to meaningfully connect and build relationships with their audiences.

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I WORK IN, TEACH, OR STUDY JOURNALISM Not a journalist, but I want to learn about solutions.

Join The Hub

AS A MEMBER, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:
  • Access our training curriculum or attend a training
  • Share your stories
  • Join a local community of journalists
  • Attend story workshops and events to hone your craft
  • Get funding and additional support
  • Access the full Solutions Story Tracker®
  • Save favorite stories and create collections in your user profile
  • Receive emails containing the above offerings via occasional email throughout your membership
TO JOIN, PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION (*=REQUIRED)

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Your information will be used to better support and enable your membership. We care about your privacy and, in accordance with GDPR regulations, request your consent before giving you access to the membership services described above. You will also receive customized communications tailored to your interests as described by your selections. We will never sell your information to 3rd parties. You can cancel your membership and change your communications preferences at any time, though this may prevent you from participating in the opportunities provided by this program. View our full privacy policy here. By clicking submit, you accept these terms.

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Join Solutions U

Here is what you will get:
  • Unlimited access to thousands of stories from around the world
  • First look and access to new features, tools, and resources
  • Curated newsletters with top stories
  • Invitations to SolutionsU® community events
  • Receive emails containing the above offerings via occasional email throughout your membership
  • And much more to come…
It’s easy and will take less than 2 minutes.

Journalist or J-School? Register here instead.

Your information will be used to better support and enable your membership. We care about your privacy and, in accordance with GDPR regulations, request your consent before giving you access to the membership services described above. You will also receive customized communications tailored to your interests as described by your selections. We will never sell your information to 3rd parties. You can cancel your membership and change your communications preferences at any time, though this may prevent you from participating in the opportunities provided by this program. View our full privacy policy here. By clicking submit, you accept these terms.

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Site Acknowledgements

Photo Credits: Almudena Toral; Cody Pope; Matt Stokes; Kriston Bethel; Noah Friedman-Rudovsky

All other photos are licensed under Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license, and are credited to the following photographers: Rowan El Shimi; Samuele Arcidiacono; Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum 2017 © DW/H. W. Lamberz

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