The 4 Pillars of Solutions Journalism

Solutions journalism is defined by the “four pillars.” Helping students learn to identify and then seek these out for their stories is essential for any module or course on solutions journalism.

The four pillars are:

1. The response and how it works. This “howdunit” approach often provides the narrative spine of many solutions stories. It sheds light on how the response was implemented, providing practical information for those who might want to replicate it. 
2. Evidence of effectiveness. This can include both quantitative and qualitative evidence that the response has achieved at least some of the intended results. As with any journalistic story, the evidence needs to be vetted and verified for accuracy.
3. Insights. Providing specifics of what was learned along the way can help others adopt and adapt the response in other places. These are the keys to success that can inform other responses to similar problems.
4. Limitations. No response is complete or perfect; there are always issues that aren’t overcome and barriers to replication. By acknowledging and sharing what the response is unable to achieve, solutions stories are journalistically rigorous. 

It takes time and practice to feel fully confident identifying the four pillars. For additional guidance, please  check out the Basic Toolkit.

How to teach this: Have a class discussion about what “rigor” means in reporting, and capture the key elements your students identify and how they contribute to rigor. For any of the four pillars that are missing from that discussion, ask what they would contribute if added. What components do your students think make up the “whole story” about a response to a social problem? Do the pillars address all of them?

Tip: The hardest pillars to grasp are limitations and insights. (Sometimes students misidentify the problem itself as a limitation.) Encourage students to go beyond insufficient funding when seeking out limitations; limitations include all obstacles that hinder the effectiveness of a response or its replicability. For insights, encourage them to think about what was learned along the way that can inform those seeking to replicate the response.