Impact Stories

Twenty journalists in Peru came together to form the Peruvian Solutions Journalism Network for Integrity (Red de Periodismo de Soluciones para la Integridad), with an initial focus on promoting investigations and debate on public contracts, which are regularly subject to corruption and other inefficiencies. The network’s first contribution was the publication of articles by its founding members, covering subjects such as citizen-led monitoring of progress of public works. The impulse for the creation of this new group came from Wilber Huacasi, a journalist at La República (a major legacy paper in Lima), who initially organized a countrywide online training that for approximately 60 Peruvian journalists, with the financial support of USAID, Peruvian foundation Gustavo Mohme Llona and the Jesuit university in Lima.

As a result of a solutions journalism story about a program that teaches new parents and family members to handle issues such as domestic violence, neglect and drug use, the program received support from community leaders and saw an increase in attendance by people who had read the piece. The Rev. Kennedy Jacobs, who leads the African American Family Institute and runs sessions in three local churches, praised the benefits of the article, titled “Parent Cafe program gives residents guidance, chance to connect.” The piece was written by Jasmine Hall, a student in mass communications at Bethune-Cookman University, which participated in the Solutions Journalism HBCU Educator/Black Press Academy program, coordinated by SJN.

The Green Grove farm near the Ukrainian city of Dnipro provided shelter for animals during the early stages of Russia’s invasion. Rubryka, a Ukrainian digital publication, reported the story with a solutions focus, describing the work volunteers did to save animals from bombardments as people fled the area. Readers responded by sending donations, which provided vital support to the farm. According to Anastasia Rudenko, Rubryka’s editor-in-chief, “This story illustrates how solutions-focused journalism can directly benefit communities and contribute to social initiatives.” Similarly, in 2022, Rubryka published a solutions article about Ukrainian knitters produced clothing for soldiers on the battlefield, which led readers in America to knit a range of garments that they shipped to Ukraine as a donation in solidarity with the war torn country.

Nigeria Health Watch, one of the implementing partners of the Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative, took its responsibility to spread the practice of solutions reporting beyond the media world. It successfully submitted proposals and abstracts for presentations, workshops and other projects based on its work at public health conferences such as the Conference on Public Health in Africa held in Zambia, Global Health Security Conference in Australia and the International AIDS Conference in Germany. Their work was well received, generating positive feedback from organizers, panel chairs and attendees alike.

A coalition of funders have found value in the Great Salt Lake Collaborative's mission and solutions journalism focus, donating money to ensure it continues operating through 2024. Six large institutional donors, including two universities and local and environmental groups, are among the funders. Between March and May 2024, an individual donor fundraising campaign raised $10,000, which was matched by the local Audubon Society.

In California’s capital, The Sacramento Bee, the largest local legacy newspaper, has been pursuing coverage of local climate solutions since the spring of 2023. In December of that year, the publication initiated a highly original community engagement approach by giving three $5,000 grants to local groups eager to develop an array of initiatives across the region. Fast-forward six months, and The Bee’s reporters produced stories on pollinator gardens developed in schools by students, a school compost program that could nurture a garden and a new agricultural program based on the principles of regenerative agriculture. Emilie Stigliani, The Bee’s assistant managing editor, said the “goal was to engage [supporters of the project]” and “explore how climate intersects with beats across the newsroom.”