Impact Stories

A 2024 academic article titled “Beyond the Classroom: Evaluating Solutions Journalism Education From the Perspective of University Graduates,” and published by Kyser Lough, Karen McIntyre and Kate Roff in the Journalism & Mass Communication Educator journal, demonstrated the benefits of solutions journalism for career prospects. The research stated: “A high portion of participants indicated that their solutions journalism education helped secure employment, and 80% of participants said that the practice had an impact on their careers. Half of the participants shared that solutions journalism was discussed in the interview process for their position, was part of their hiring process or employment advertisement, and/or strengthened their resume. [...] Solutions journalism education also shaped graduates’ career trajectory, the publications they targeted in job searches, and/or their level of satisfaction with their work.”

A Colorado housing initiative run by Lutheran campus ministry, LuMin, received $50,000 from a couple who had economic hardship in college after they heard a solutions story about the organization on NPR. The story, by Emma VandenEinde, was originally broadcast on KUNC, a local public radio station in Greeley, Colorado. LuMin is an organization in Fort Collins next to Colorado State University that subsidizes housing-insecure or homeless students. The donors who had no financial assistance during their college years wrote a letter explaining their donation to LuMin and ended by saying they “would not have known about your organization had it not been for the piece NPR did.”

The Day, a daily publication based in New London, Connecticut, covering the eastern part of the state, raised $100,000 in support of its Housing Solutions Lab. The editorial project has led to the production of solutions-oriented stories such as “Branford Manor residents make a difference with mold complaints.” The revenue generated came from the local community foundation The Day had received financial support from previously, an organization referred by the first foundation, and an audience-focused fundraising campaign. The Day participated in the Lab for Journalism Funding organized by the Local Media Foundation, which also acts as fiscal sponsor for the news organization.

The BBC’s solutions-focused documentary film “Power of Mama: the women firefighters of West Borneo,” about the organization of the same name in Borneo, also known as TPOM, raised the profile of its model for climate mitigation as well as that of the elderly women living in the community who actively contribute to protecting the environment. The film was translated into Indonesian and spread widely in the community. Its local filmmaker, Rita Utari, says: “From the experience of making this film, the members of TPOM increasingly feel confident in their abilities both as individuals and as women … TPOM has also received support from local governments after [they became aware of] the film. Specifically, a verbal promise from the Ketapang Regency that they will receive Social Security Assistance for health benefits and assistance with agricultural equipment from a Legislative Assembly member.”

When Diana Alba Soular began reporting for her solutions article titled “NM endowment offers perpetual funding source for rural libraries,” no money had been allocated in the state budget to support this network of essential community institutions in Southern New Mexico. While pressure from rural library advocacy groups had limited traction, Alba Soular’s sustained questions around state lawmakers’ positions on the matter contributed to their decision to add $2.5 million in funding. After unsuccessfully reaching out to state Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, the chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, for an interview about funding rural libraries, she was able to get other representatives on the record. However, this allocation of money was only a fraction of the $27 million goal needed to fully fund the endowment initiative rural libraries are calling for.

Since launching in 2022, The Green Line (TGL), a hyperlocal news outlet that serves young Torontonians and those living in underserved areas, has blended financial sustainability with deep community engagement, all while offering coverage of tangible solutions. At the heart of its operating model is the Action Journey strategy, which involves explaining and investigating the root of problems people face, convening community-focused events with discussions around those issues, and developing reporting as well as resources that can help address them. An example of its solutions coverage and engagement is the project “Living With Covid in Toronto.” TGL has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the audiences and communities it serves, as well as from local institutions with which it has partnered on various projects. Its revenue has grown by 125% from 2022 to 2023, with a mix coming from partnerships; foundation and government grants; and readers. Anita Li, founder and publisher of The Green Line, has said solutions journalism plays a crucial role in attracting support from grantmakers and audiences alike.