I'd work on a plan on how this could be implemented at scale (and suggest newsroom training), but I would start by applying the approach to a single story with a willing reporter and measure the effort, impact and response of the reporting. Proving it works is a great way to expand into a more ambitious workstream and create real change.
Jen, I think your idea of starting with a single story with a colleague and then gauging the effort, impact, and response of the reporting sounds like the most pragmatic way of introducing solutions journalism to a newsroom.
Agreed. Going to management with not just an idea but prove that the idea works is a great strategy to win their support.
I would do the same. First, one story / one reporter and then I would take it to a whole team. Improving collaboration between teams or newsrooms from the same network could work too. Or maybe as a weekly segment to be aired on TV. I think that could engage the audience.
Not to be repetitive, but I think the key is that first story. That said, I wouldn't label it as "solutions journalism" unless it's clear that the newsroom management already knows what that is and has an interest. I'd focus more on getting a story that shows people trying constructive approaches that are outside the norm to solve a problem that matters highly to the outlet's local audience. After all, a good story that attracts attention is a good story that attracts attention, no matter what the label.
It's a bit of a gamble to stake a pitch for a larger series/project on just one story, so, if I intended to propose such a project, I'd have multiple stories that, in total, can give managers a better sense of the audience reaction to stories that emphasize concrete solutions rather than just focus on the problems themselves.
That said, as has been mentioned already, reporting briefly on prominent potential solutions is pretty standard for any decent news story, so this shouldn't be a radical proposal for many editors. I guess it's just a question of shifting the emphasis even further to make the solutions the primary focus -- and making sure that these are solutions that aren't pie-in-the-sky, but that actually can stimulate thought and debate.
It's a bit of a gamble to stake a pitch for a larger series/project on just one story, so, if I intended to propose such a project, I'd have multiple stories that, in total, can give managers a better sense of the audience reaction to stories that emphasize concrete solutions rather than just focus on the problems themselves.
That said, as has been mentioned already, reporting briefly on prominent potential solutions is pretty standard for any decent news story, so this shouldn't be a radical proposal for many editors. I guess it's just a question of shifting the emphasis even further to make the solutions the primary focus -- and making sure that these are solutions that aren't pie-in-the-sky, but that actually can stimulate thought and debate.
For change is important colaborate, but not impose, I think the Solution Journalism is a new vision of the news, I never knew this kind of Journalism or the structure for bring a solution for the community. The change start with this new vision and find solutions or part of the solution, because one good story can change the reality of the people and regions.