Flint Beat

Foregrounding solutions journalism in your mission is critical

Jiquanda Johnson, Flint Beat’s founder and publisher, has long been a proponent of solutions journalism and using this reporting approach to cover issues in Flint, Michigan.

Discussion of solutions angles for stories has become a key part of the newsroom’s editorial meetings.

A three-part solutions series reviewing the city’s policies around gun violence reduction, which received an award from the Michigan Press Association, was a highlight of Flint Beat’s work in 2020, alongside solutions-focused reporting on education and health care during the pandemic.

Johnson told SJN that most of the newsroom’s work is funded by grants and major donors, with $276,525 secured in 2020. Solutions journalism is mentioned in all its pitches to potential financial backers. According to one funder, “including solutions as part of our proposal made our application stronger,” Johnson said.

Emphasizing this reporting approach helps show “how our newsroom stands out from other local media and our investment in the Flint community,” said Johnson. Funders support reporting on what works as part of a wider “mission to build equitable communities,” she said.

Flint Beat has redesigned its website with a dedicated solutions journalism section, featured in the homepage’s top menu bar, which defines the practice as “rigorous reporting on responses to social problems.” It has also used the “solutions journalism” label to identify solutions articles and in email newsletters.

Johnson sees signposting solutions journalism as a necessity. “Most people in our community do not know what [it] is,” she said. Especially when corresponding with funders, she showcases Flint Beat’s work and points to other publications doing similar coverage as a way to demonstrate what solutions reporting entails.

KEY TIP:

Make solutions journalism a core part of all conversations.

Raising money is a time- and resource-intensive exercise for all newsrooms, but particularly for small operations. Success demands a strong pitch, anchored in presenting your work and mission. Leading with your organization’s aim to produce solutions-driven content generally will create a hook that can lead to deeper conversations in which you can elaborate on the practice and how it connects with a funder’s aims.