Engaging Communities Through Solutions Journalism

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TableofContentsIntroduction

ExecutiveSummary

Introduction

CanNewsBeGood?

Methods

ResearchFindings

RecommendationsandConclusions

Appendix

Footnotes

Citations

EngagingCommunitiesThroughSolutionsJournalism

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Authors:AndreaWenzel,DanielaGersonandEvelynMoreno

SubstantivelocalnewsisararecommodityinmanycommunitiesacrosstheUnitedStates.Inareaswithhighlevelsofviolence,crime,andpoverty,ahistoryofstigmatizationcanfurthercompoundthisabsence.Oftentheonlylocalnewsavailableisnegative.

Thisreportexplorespotentialimpactsoflocalsolutionsjournalism,particularlyforunderrepresentedandstigmatizedcommunities.Solutionsjournalismexploresresponsestosystemicsocialproblems—criticallyexaminingproblemsolvingeffortsthathavethepotentialtoscale.

Proponentsofthisgenreofjournalismbelievethesetypesofstoriesofferapathwaytoengagingaudiences.Preliminaryresearchsuggestsreadersofsolutions-orientedstoriesaremorelikelytosharearticlesandseekrelatedinformation.

However,littleresearchhasexploredsolutionsjournalismatthelocallevelorinstigmatizedcommunities.Thisstudyattemptstoaddressthatgap.Infollow-uptoacommunity-basedmediaprojectinSouthLosAngeles,sixfocusgroupswithforty-eightAfrican-AmericanandLatinoresidentsexaminedhowparticipantsrespondedtothesolutionsjournalismformat.

Acknowledgements

ManythankstotheTowCenterforDigitalJournalism—and,inparticular,ClaireWardleandPeteBrown—forthesupportandthoughtfulfeedback.TheprojectwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthecollaborationofDr.SandraBall-RokeachandtheresearchersoftheMetamorphosisProjectattheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia’sAnnenbergSchoolforCommunicationandJournalism,whodevotedconsiderabletimeandresourcestoconductingfocusgroups.ThanksalsotoourSouthLosAngelescommunitypartners,includingtheCoalitionforResponsibleCommunityDevelopment,CommunityServicesUnlimited,EsperanzaCommunityHousing,AllPeoplesCommunityCenter,CommunityHealthCouncils,CommunityCoalition,andTrustSouthLA.Thankstoourmediapartners,includingKPCC,Hoy,LaOpinión,theLosAngelesSentinel,SouthwestWave,andIntersectionsSouthLA.Finally,thankstotheSolutionsJournalismNetworkforsharinginputonitsresearchtodateandourprojectdesign.

April2016


3Introduction

ExecutiveSummarySubstantivelocalnewsisararecommodityinmanycommunitiesacrosstheUnitedStates.Inareaswithhighlevelsofviolence,crime,andpoverty,ahistoryofstigmatizationcanfurthercompoundthisabsence.Oftentheonlylocalnewsavailableisnegative.

Thisreportexplorespotentialimpactsoflocalsolutionsjournalism,particularlyforunderrepresentedandstigmatizedcommunities.Solutionsjournalismexploresresponsestosystemicsocialproblems—criticallyexaminingproblemsolvingeffortsthathavethepotentialtoscale.

Proponentsofthisgenreofjournalismbelievethesetypesofstoriesofferapathwaytoengagingaudiences.Preliminaryresearchsuggestsreadersofsolutions-orientedstoriesaremorelikelytosharearticlesandseekrelatedinformation.

However,littleresearchhasexploredsolutionsjournalismatthelocallevelorinstigmatizedcommunities.Thisstudyattemptstoaddressthatgap.Infollow-uptoacommunity-basedmediaprojectinSouthLosAngeles,sixfocusgroupswithforty-eightAfrican-AmericanandLatinoresidentsexaminedhowparticipantsrespondedtothesolutionsjournalismformat.

Thestudy’sfindingsillustratehowresidentsnavigateandcriticallyinterpretmainstreamlocalcoverage,oftenusingalternativedigitalsourcestocross-checkstoriesandseekotherinformation.Itsresultsalsosuggestthattheseresidentswouldrespondpositivelytosolutionsjournalism—thoughparticipants’enthusiasmmaybetemperedbylargerconcernsregardingstructuralinequalities.Focusgroupparticipantssaidtheywouldbemorelikelytoseekoutnewsandsharestoriesifsolutionsjournalismweremorecommon,andmanynotedthatoursamplestorieshelpedthemenvisionawaytobecomepersonallyinvolvedincommunityproblemsolving.


4ExecutiveSummary

Introduction

WhySoMuch“BadNews”?

“Inlocalnewstheonlythingtheyreportonarebadthings,onlynegativethings…Theyarenotshowingushowtochangethecommunity.”

“WhatIhavetodoisjustblockmyselfawayfromthat.Shutthenewsupbecauseitain’tnothingbutanignorantboxanyway.”

-SouthLosAngelesfocusgroupparticipants

Inajournalisticenvironmentwherethemantra“ifitbleeds,itleads”continuestoresonate—andisamplifiedevermorebytheclickbaitweb—thereisaprofessionalbiasinfavorof

reportingonviolence,crime,policebrutality,andothernegativetropes.1Buthowdoaudiencesprocessandreacttostoriesabouttheircommunitiespresentedwithinnegativeframes?Howwouldstoriesthataddressthesesystemicproblems—whilealsoexploringtheirsolutions—impactreaders?

Lookingatresearchabouthowaudiencesprocessnegativeinformationhelpstocontextualizenegativejournalismframes.Politicalsciencestudieshavefoundthatnegativestorieslargelyhaveagreaterinfluenceonaudiences’perceptionsofcandidatesandvoting

behavior.2Readersaremorelikelytoclickahyperlinktoanegativepoliticalstorythanalink

withapositiveheadline.3

Severalstudiesinpsychologycomplementfindingsofa“negativitybias,”whichsuggests

thatpeopledevotemoreattentiontoprocessingnegativeinformation,4aremorelikelyto

thinkit’strue,5andtorememberit.6Researchersarguethatthestrengthofbadovergoodmakesevolutionarysenseandthathumansareactuallyhardwiredtobemorepsycho-

physiologicallyarousedbynegativenews.7

However,badnewsisonlyinfluentialwhenpeoplearewillingtoconsumeit.A2008studyofyoungpeople’smediahabitsbytheAssociatedPressfoundthatmanycomplainedaboutthenegativityofnews.Theyreportedturningtosatirical“fakenews”outletslikeTheDailyShow

withJonStewartasanantidotetotheir“newsfatigue.”8

Negativeframinghasalsodemonstrateditselftobeariskystrategyintherealmofpolitical,humanitarian,andsocialchangecampaigns.Researchontheimpactofnegativepolitical

messagesshowsmixedresults.Whilesomedefendtheefficacyofnegativemessaging,9

othershavefoundthatnegativemessagescauseaudiencestostopseekinginformation.10


5Introduction

Inthefieldofhumanitariancampaigns,researchersdocumentcompassionfatigue—whenmessagestriggerasenseofhopelessness—orevenaboomerangeffect—whenaudiences

resentbeingsubjectedtomessagesthatevokeguilt.11Boomerangeffectshavealsobeenassociatedwithclimatechangecommunication,wherediremessagesaboutglobalwarming

appeartomakepeoplemoreskepticalaboutthephenomenon.12Inhealthcommunication,audiencesthatconsumedmediawhichframedhealthissuesnegativelywerefoundtohavelowerperceptionsoftheirownefficacyorbehavioralintentaroundseekingpreventative

care.1314

Theoutcomeisambiguous.Negativestorytellingmaybehighlysalienttoaudiences,butwhataudiencesdowiththisinformationdependsonamorecomplexweboffactors.


6Introduction

CanNewsBeGood?Ifhumansarebiasedtowardnegativity,itfollowsthatjournalistsaremorelikelytoconstructandcuratenegativenewsstories.Journalismoftencentersondocumentingtheproblematicandactingasawatchdog,particularlythefield’s“fourthestate”responsibilitytokeepcitizens

informedandholdgovernmentaccountable.15Whilesomejournalistsquestiontraditionalconceptsofobjectivity,newsnormsthroughouttheageshaveremainedrelativelyfixed.Whatisdeterminedtobenewsgenerallydoesnotincludethe“normal,”the“goodday,”or

positivestability.16

Journalists,forgoodreason,canberesistanttoeffortsthatdeliberatelyshowcase“goodnews”stories.Positivehuman-intereststoriesareoftenderogatorilylabeledaspuffpieces.Thesearetolerated—butarenotregardedasseriousjournalism.Positivestoriesare

frequentlyscrutinizedasthepotentialoutcomesofpublicrelationsinitiatives1718or

advocacyjournalism,whichremains“adirtywordforlegacyjournalists.”19Aseriesofmovements,however,havecometoforeinanattempttopushjournalismtowardnotonlyhighlightingproblemsbutpromotingsolutions.

PeaceJournalism

Agroupofscholarsandjournalistsemergedinthe1960sand1970stochallengetheconventionsofnewsconstruction,anditsrelianceonnegativereferencesandconflictasanewsvalue.SociologistJohanGaltung,thedrivingforcebehindthemovement,advocatedforthepracticeof“peacejournalism,”asopposedtothestatusquothathecalled“war

journalism.”20Galtungcalledforashiftinframingtowardamodelmoreakintohealthreporting—wherejournalistsareencouragedtoexplorecausesandstrategiesforprevention

ofdisease.21Whilepeacejournalismasagenrehasmanyqualitiesinlinewithtraditionalideasofresponsiblereporting,itdoesinsomecasescontaininterventionistelements—forexample,encouragingstorieswithanagreement-orientationversusonlyfocusingonpoints

ofdifference.22Criticsofpeacejournalismsuggestitsubvertsfundamentaltenetsof

objectivityandplacesundueresponsibilityonjournalistsforcorrectingglobalills.23Butproponentsofthisandotherstrainsofadvocacyjournalismsaythatobjectivityisactuallyan

obstaclewhichpreventsjournalismfromplayingamoreconstructiveroleinpubliclife.24

CivicorPublicJournalism


7CanNewsBeGood?

Inthe1990sanothermovementemergedthatsoughttoplacejournalismasanactiveplayerinthefunctioningofdemocracy.Civicjournalism(orpublicjournalism)advocateda“bottom-

upframingofthenews,”whichprioritizednon-elitesourcessettinga“citizens’agenda.”25

Oneofitsfoundingtheorists,JayRosen,calleduponjournaliststo:

1. addresspeopleascitizens,potentialparticipantsinpublicaffairs,ratherthanvictimsorspectators;

2. helpthepoliticalcommunityactupon,ratherthanjustlearnabout,itsproblems;

3. improvetheclimateofpublicdiscussion,ratherthansimplywatchingitdeteriorate;

4. makepubliclifegowell,sothatitearnsitsclaimonourattention.26

ThismovementrenewedahistoricaljournalisticdebatebetweenWalterLipmannandJohnDeweyoverwhetherthejournalistwasjustanobserver,orratheranengagedactorwhocouldshapepublicdiscourse.Civicjournalismtookthelatterapproach,arguingthatreportershadaresponsibilitytocrafttheircoveragesothatthecommunitiestheyrepresentengagewithissuesthatimpactthem.Anumberofnewsoutletsundertookcivic/publicjournalisminitiatives,andresearchersnotedcasesthatachievedsuccessinsourcinggreaternumbersofnon-eliteandmorediversesources.Still,integratingcivic/public

practicesintothemainstreamofjournalismremainedachallenge.27

SolutionsJournalism

Solutionsjournalismbuildsonsomeoftheconceptsdevelopedinpeaceandcivic/publicjournalism.TheSolutionsJournalismNetwork,whichwascreatedin2013andhasbecomealeadingplayerinadvancingtheapproach,definessolutionsjournalismas“rigorousand

compellingreportingonresponsestosocialproblems.”28Solutionsjournalismstories—whichcancoverarangeoflocal,national,andinternationalissues—arenotadvocacypiecesor“goodnews”stories.Nevertheless,theyareinsyncwithcallsfromjournalismscholarslikeHerbertGansthatwebroadendefinitionsof“newsworthiness”toinclude

“solutionsforthecountry’sproblems—advancedbypeopleoutsidethemainstream.”29

Thestrongestsolutionsjournalismstoriesusetherigorofinvestigativereportingtoexploresystemic,underlyingreasonsforsocialills,andthencriticallyexamineeffortstoaddressthem.Thesearenotstoriesaboutaproblemthattackonaquickendingnoteasanafterthoughtaboutwhatcouldbedone.NeitherdotheyfollowtheformulaidentifiedbyGayeTuchman,whereinmediaoutletspresentasolutionasawayto“soothethenewsconsumersevenastheyreifysocialforces”byensuringthepublicthat“legitimatedexperts

andauthoritiesaredoingeverythingtheycan.”30


8CanNewsBeGood?

Inrecentyears,anumberofmediaorganizationshaveadoptedregularsegmentsthateitherexplicitlysetouttocreateaplatformforsolutionsjournalism,or(atleast)tohighlightsocial

entrepreneurshipandproblemsolvingefforts.iTheSolutionsJournalismNetworkhaschampionedthisgenre,spearheadingcollaborationswithmainstreamoutlets,includingThe

BostonGlobe,theDetroitFreePress,31andTheSeattleTimes.32

Solutionsjournalismisalsoapotentialrevenuegenerator—offeringsomethingfreshfornegative-newsfatiguedeyeshungryforpositiveinnovation.TheexecutivedirectorofJ-Lab,

JanSchaffer,whowaspreviouslyaleaderinthecivicjournalismmovement,33suggeststhatsolutions-orientedstoriescanengageaudiencesandofferpossiblenewbusinessmodels:

Ifoneshiftstheperiscopefromnewbusinessmodelsforjournalismtonewjournalismmodelsfornews,Iseetheconvergenceofseveraltrendsthatarebeginningtoprovokeanewconversationaboutwhetherjournalistscan—andshould—craftamoredeliberatesuiteoftoolsthatinspiremovementandaction.Andifthesetoolswereeffective,would

citizensbegintopayasmuchfornewsastheypaytogoto,say,aTEDconference?34

TheSolutionsJournalismNetworkbelievessolutionsjournalismcansell:“Peoplearelikely

topayfornewsthathelpsthemunderstandhowtheworldworks.”35

Attheheartofsolutions-orientedjournalismisanassumptionthatasolutionsnewsframewillencouragegreateraudienceengagement.J-Lab’sSchafferpointstoexamplesofcommunityparticipationinstoriesthatfocusedontheredesignofstreetscapesinMilwaukee

andeffortstoaidpreschoolenrollmentinChicago.36TheKnightFoundationposedthequestion:“Therealchallengeis,howdowemovepeoplefrominformedtoengaged?”It

thinkssolutions-orientedjournalismmayoffertheanswer.37SolutionsJournalismNetworkco-founderDavidBornsteinseesjournalismas“afeedbackmechanismtohelpsocietyself-correct”andbelievesthatknowingabouttheproblemaloneisunlikelytogeneratecorrective

action.“Peopleneedtoknowwhattheycando—andhow,”hesaid.38

Therehasbeenlimitedempiricalresearchintohowaudiencesrespondtosolutionsjournalism.PreliminaryresearchconductedbytheSolutionJournalismNetworkandtheUniversityofTexasatAustin’sEngagingNewsProjectrevealedthatreadersofsolutions-orientedstoriesfeltmoreinformed,andweremorelikelytosharewhattheyreadandseek

moreinformation.39However,thereisalackofresearchonhowsolutionsjournalismcanbeappliedattheleveloflocalandethnicmedia—alevelatwhichcommunitymemberslearnaboutissuesclosesttohomeandhavethegreatestchanceofaffectingchange.

WhyLocalNewsMatters


9CanNewsBeGood?

Local-levelnewsisthefocusofthisstudy,primarilybecausecommunicationtheorysuggestsitiscriticaltothemaintenanceofhealthycommunities.Alackofmediadiscoursereflectingtheconcernsoflocalresidentsposesbarriersnotonlytoresidents’accessto

information,butalsototheirsenseofcommunitybelongingandengagement.40414243

Accordingtocommunicationinfrastructuretheory,strongcommunitieshavestrongstorytellingnetworks—thatis,residents,localandethnicmedia,andcommunityorganizationsareconnectedtoeachotherandshareanunderstandingaboutwhatishappeningintheirarea.Researchershavefoundthatresidents’connectiontoasharedstorytellingnetworkcanpredicthigherlevelsofbelonging,collectiveefficacy,andcivic

participation.4445However,incommunitieslikeSouthLosAngeles,thesenetworksbecomeproblematicwhenthelinkbetweenorganizationsandmediaisweak,thenetworksareethnicallybounded,orthecontentofthestoriescirculatingisoverwhelmingly

negative.4647Residentswhoconnecttosuchstorytellingnetworkstendtobelessengagedandlackasenseofbelonging.

Thisstudyaimstocontributetothedevelopmentofamodelforhealthierlocalstorytellingnetworks.Itrespondstoconcernsaboutadearthofconstructivelocalcoveragearoundbothcommunityproblemsandsystematiceffortstoaddressthesechallenges.Theprojectexploreshowaudiencesprocessstoriesthathavebothbeendevelopedwithinputfromcommunityorganizationsandemployasolutions-orientedlens,aswellashowthesameaudiencesprocesslocalcoverageofsimilarissuesthatusemoretraditionalformats.

Researchquestionsinclude:

1. HowdoSouthLAresidentsprocessmediacoverageoftheircommunities?

2. HowdoSouthLAresidentsprocessstoriesthatuseasolutions-orientedjournalisticformat?


10CanNewsBeGood?

MethodsOurprojectbuildsuponresearchtheMetamorphosisProject48hasbeendoingonthecommunicationneedsofresidentsinSouthLAandotherdiversecommunitiessince1998.ItfollowsanattemptbytheMetamorphosisProjecttostrengthentheSouthLAstorytellingnetworkintwoways.First,theprojectbroughtcommunityorganizationstogetherwithlocalandethnicmediaforaseriesofworkshops,whichhelpedalltheparticipantstoovercomecommunicationsbarriersthathaveplaguedthestory“pitching”processbygivingthemasharedlanguageandgreaterunderstandingoftheirintersectingcommunityinterests.Second,theworkshopsfacilitatedtheproductionofaseriesofstoriesleadinguptothefiftiethanniversaryoftheWattsriots(“WattsRevisited”)andensuredthatthesestoriesweresolutions-oriented.

TounderstandhowSouthLAaudiencesrespondedtothestoriesthatcameoutofthiscollaborationandhowresidentswouldprocessthesolutionsjournalismformatmorebroadly,

aseriesofsixfocusgroupdiscussionscenteredaroundastoryiiadaptedfromthe“Watts

Revisited”collaboration.49Twoversionsofthestorywereeditedtoofferexamplesofeither

A)asolutions-orientedstoryorB)anon-solutionsversionofthesamestory.iiiWhilebothstoriesexaminedtheissueofvacantlotsandthelackofoutdoorspaceswherechildrencanplayinSouthLA,onlythesolutionsversionlookedateffortstotransformvacantlotsintoparks(seetheAppendixforsampletext).

Focusgroupparticipants,recruitedwiththeassistanceofcommunityorganizations,includedatotalofforty-eightAfrican-AmericanandLatinoSouthLAadults(twenty-threewomen,twenty-fivemen;agestwenty-onetofifty-nine)whohadlivedintheareaforaminimumoftwoyearsandreportedatleastoccasionallyreadingnewsarticles.Participantswereassignedtogroupsclusteredbyethnicityandlanguage—threeAfrican-Americangroups(English-language)andthreeLatinogroups(oneSpanish-languageandtwoEnglish-language,inaccordancewithparticipants’languagepreferences).ModeratorsforeachgroupwereLosAngelesnativesandsharedtheparticipants’ethnicbackground.

Uponarrival,participantsinfourofthesixgroupsreadthesolutionsversionofthestorybeforebeginningthediscussion.Theothertwocontrolgroupsfirstreadthenon-solutionsversion.AftervolunteeringtheirownmediapracticesandattitudestowardhowoutletscoverSouthLA,thegroupsdiscussedthestoriestheyread.Afterthis,theyweregiventhealternateversionofthestorytoreadanddiscuss,beforebeingintroducedtoandinvitedtoreflectupontheconceptofsolutionsjournalism.Allfocusgroupswerevideotapedandtranscribed.Transcriptswerethenthematicallycodedandanalyzed.


11Methods

ResearchFindingsPreliminaryanalysisofourfindingsoffersinsightsintohowresidentsofastigmatizedcommunitynavigateandinterpretlocalcoverage,andtheopportunitiesandlimitationsofsolutionsjournalismtoengagetheseaudiences.

CopingwithMediaStigmatization

WhilemanyU.S.residentsaredistrustfulofthemedia,ivthecynicismofSouthLAresidentsisgroundedinahistoryofmediaportrayalsthatdepictthehigh-povertyareaasrifewithviolence,crime,andcivilunrest.Focusgroupparticipantsrevealedhowthismediacoverageimpactstheirinterpretationofthenewstheyconsume.

Overall,participantsexpresseddissatisfactionwithhowSouthLAiscovered.vManypointedtoadisconnectbetweenmediaportrayalsandtheirexperiences.Asonewomanexplained,“You’relookinglike,well,dangisn’tthereanythingpositiveinSouthLA?Iknowthere’salotgoingonpositiveoverhere.Whyarewenotseeingthatonthenews?Whydowealways

seethebadstuff?”50

Thisisnottosaytherewasnointerestinorvalueplacedonnegativenews.Severalparticipantsspokeofusingnewsaboutcrimeorviolencetojudgeiftherewereparticularpartsoftheirneighborhoodtheyshouldavoidduetosafetyconcerns.Forexample,onewomanreferencedanincidentinthesummerof2015whenthreatsandrumorscirculatedonsocialmediaandmainstreamnewsabout“onehundreddaysandonehundrednights”ofretaliatorygangviolence.“Iappreciatethatyou’reinformingmeaboutthatsituationsoIknow,”shesaid.Newsreportswarnedherthatsomeoftheneighborhoodsshefrequentedmighthavebeenaffectedbyviolence:“Itstoppedmefromwalkingintoanambush.I

stoppedgoing,andthatwayIdidn’thavetoputmyselfinharm’sway.”51

However,manymentionedagapbetweentheirobservedexperienceandwhatisreported.Afewcitedexamplesofwhattheyviewedasnewsworthyevents,bothpositive(e.g.,afestival)andnegative(e.g.,ashooting),thattheyhadwitnessedfirsthandbutwhichnevermadethenews.Someattributedthisdisconnecttothecommercialprioritiesofmedia,whileotherswereopenlysuspiciousofthemedia’smotives.Asonemansaid,“Theykeepyououtof

focusonwhat’sreallygoingon.”52Manylamentednews’semphasisonentertainment,thoughsomeacknowledgedcontinuingtoconsumethistypeofcontentanyway.Participantswerecriticalofnewsmedia’s(andparticularlytelevisionnews’s)“circus”-likequality,itslackofinvestigationorfollow-upcoverage,orattemptstoholdresponsiblepartiesaccountable.


12ResearchFindings

Fortheseresidents,dissatisfactionwithlocalnewsisaboutmorethanalackofqualitycoverage.Severalparticipantsspokeoflocalmediaasharmful,andasacontributortoracializedrepresentations.Onemanexplained:

It’salotofweightcomingfromnegativeexposuretomedia…Itcanhaveaheavy,negativementalorpsychologicaleffectonyou.Youhavestuffgoingoninyourownlife,butthenyouhearaboutsomethingbadthat’shappeningandit’snotevenrelatedto

you.Itcanmakeitfeelevenworse.53

Othersspokeofhowthenegativecoveragestigmatizesresidentstooutsiders:“Itmakesus

looklikemostlycriminalslivearoundSouthLA,”saidatwenty-year-oldLatinoparticipant.54

Anotherfocusgroupmemberreferencedwatchingtelevisionwithhisgrandmother:“I’llhearhersaythingslike,‘Lord,havemercy’…Iseethepainthatshefeelsforpeopleshedoesn’tevenknow.”AyoungAfrican-AmericanmansaidwhilewatchingTVhefeltmovedbytheracializednatureofnewscoverage:

IgetfilledwithabunchofemotionswhenIseethebiasedopinionofthemedia—when,say,awhiteguygoesoutandstartsshootingatplaces,theyprobablywouldn’tevenshowhispicture.ButifitwasanAfrican-Americanmale,hewouldbeblastedallover

themediaasaninfamousperson.55

Severalparticipantslamentedthelackofarticulatecommunitymembersrepresentingtheminthenews.Afifty-six-year-oldmanrecountedanincidentwhereareporterwaslookingforsomeonetoreacttoaneventinapark.“Hepickedoutthecatthat’sbeensleepingonthebenchalldaytodescribewhatjusthappened.AndI’mstandingrightthere.I’mfresh,I’mpressed…I’mliterate,”hesaid,addingthatthemediaperpetuatesnegativerepresentations

by“pickingtheworstgrape”ofthebunch.56OtherssuggestedthisphenomenonisworsenedbythosereporterscoveringSouthLA,whotendtobeoutsiderstothearea;they'rereportedlydistantfromthecommunity,don’ttakeissuesseriously,andattimesevenexacerbatelocaltensionsbyappearingtofavoronegroupoveranother.

Oneparticipantfeltthat,asayoungAfrican-Americanman,somenewspersonalitiesaredisrespectfultopeoplelikehimself.Hesaidhetriedtoavoidnewsreportedbyjournalistswhomhefelt“woulddismissmeonthesametopic.”HecitedanexampleoftelevisionnewshewaswatchingaboutviolencebetweenAfrican-AmericanandLatinogangs.Attheendofthestory,thereporter,whowasLatina,“madeacommentthatwas,like,reallyoffensive…somethingaboutleavinga‘blackeyeonthecommunity,’”hesaid.Giventhereporter’sownethnicbackground,heinterpretedthisasaracialslurandsuggestedinsensitivecomments

byjournalistscould“createbarriers.”57


13ResearchFindings

Accountingfortheproblematicnatureoflocalmediacoverage,residentshavedevelopedvariousstrategiesforfindingoutaboutthehappeningsintheircommunities.Whilesomesaidtheirdistrustcausesthemtolimittheirnewsintakeandthusminimizethe“stress”ofnegativecoverage,othersspokeofseekingoutalternativesources.Afewmentionedalternativeweekliesandethnicnewspapers,particularlyaswaystoconnecttopositivecommunityevents.SeveraldescribedhowtheInternetallowsthemtoaccessagreaterarrayofsources,whicharelargelyseenasmoretrustworthythanlocaltelevisionnews.Forexample,onewomansaidsheavoidedtelevisionbecauseshethoughtitwastoo“sensationalist”:

IknowthatifIgo[onto]theInternetIwillfindmoreveracity.Iwillnotrunonlyintooneagency,butIwillfindmany.Forexample,mybrotherssendmelinksandtellme,“Gohereandgothere.”SothenIgo…findadifferentopinionfromtheothernews—that

newsismanipulatedtointerestthepeople.58

Forher,theInternetalsooffersawayfortrusted,interpersonalconnectionstomediatenewssources—vettingthemandgivingthemmoreauthority.Formany,interpersonalsourcesaccessedboththroughface-to-faceinteractionandsocialmediawereconsideredthemostreliablemethodsforlearningaboutlocalinformationandverifyingothersources.Thoseparticipantswhoconsumelegacymediadescribeddoingsowithoppositionalreadings.Forexample,onemanspokeoflaughingthroughtelevisionbroadcastsviewedasincompleteor

disingenuous—andthencallinghisfriendsorfamilytofindoutwhatwas“really”goingon.59

CriticalOptimismandSolutionsJournalism

Incontrasttogeneralperceptionsofmediacoverage,mostrespondentsexpressedappreciationforthesolutions-orientedstoryintroducedinthefocusgroup.Anumberofparticipantssaidthearticleaboutabandonedlotsandeffortstotransformthemintoparksmadethemthinkabouthowtheythemselvescouldgetinvolvedwiththeissue.“Whatcame

tomymindishowIcouldvolunteer,”saidoneperson.60Otherslookedbeyondtheparticularcasepresentedtootherpossibilitiesforcommunityaction:“Youcanlookforward

tochangingsomethingyourselfifyouhavethesamegoalinmind.”61

Thosegroupsthatwerefirstaskedtoreadthenon-solutionsversionofthestory—whichonlydiscussedchallengespresentedbyvacantlotsanddidnotincludeeffortstoaddresstheproblem—often,unprompted,suggestedthestorywouldhavebeenbetterhaditincludedsolutions.Severalvolunteeredpromptsforhowtheywouldtellthestorydifferentlybyincludingideasforhowtodevelopthelotstoservecommunityneeds.Meanwhile,someparticipantspointedoutthateventhenon-solutionsversionofthestorywasmorevaluable

thanthe“typical”SouthLAnewspiecevifocusedoncrimeandsocialills,becauseatleastitincorporatedarticulatevoicesfromcommunitymembersaffectedbytheissue.Accordingto


14ResearchFindings

theseparticipants,thenon-solutionsversionofthestorydidnotfunctionasanaveragebaselineoftypicalcoverage.Whiletheywelcomedsolutionsjournalism,theyacknowledgedthatevennegativecoveragewouldbeanimprovementoverthestatusquoifitweremorein-depthandinclusiveofcommunityperspectives.

Solutionsjournalism’sproblemsolvingorientationresonatedwithwhatseveralparticipantsofferedastheidealroleofnews.Theysuggestedthatthepurposeofnewsshouldbetogobeyondtraditionalnotionsofjournalisticobjectivity.Somesaidnewshasaresponsibilitytofacilitatepositivecommunitychangeandcivicengagement.Oneparticipantnotedthat“newsneedstobeanactualparticipantinwhat’shappeningratherthanjustreportingonit

…itneedstobeapartofthechange.”62Afewexpressedseeminglycontradictoryideas.Forexample,onegroupreachedaconsensusthatitwasthejobofthemediatodonomorethan“tellthetruth”—whileatthesametimethemediaalsohadaresponsibilityto“makeus

awareandgiveusasolution.”63Participantsreflectedmanyofthecontroversiesandcontradictionsembeddedwithinstrandsofjournalism.Overall,though,theirideasregardingajournalist’sroleresonatedmorewithsolutionsjournalism,civicjournalism,andpeacejournalismcampsthanwithtraditionalschoolsofobjectivejournalism.

Whiletherewasenthusiasmfortheparticularsolutions-orientedstorydiscussedandthelargerconceptofsolutionsjournalism,wealsoheardreservations.ResidentswerequicktosituatesolutionsofferedinthecontextofthelargerscopeandscaleofsystemicchallengesfacingSouthLosAngeles.Asonefifty-six-year-oldmanpointedout,“That’sjust,like,one

story…Wherewecomefrom,that’slikeadropinthebucket.”64

Acriticalconcernwasthatsolutions-orientedstoriesmustbecarefulnottoneglectadetailedexplorationoftheproblemortosuggestthereisnotacontinuedneedtopressforaction.“Ifallofitispositive,itkindofglossedovertheproblem,”saidafifty-nine-yearoldLatinoparticipant.“Itkindofalsogivesyouafeelingof‘oh,noproblem…it’stakingcareofitself.’

”65ThisconcernresonateswithTuchman’scriticalassessmentofpositivestoryelements—ortheassurancethatauthoritiesaredoing“everythingtheycan”asawayofundercutting

actionordiscontentfromaudiences.66Theparticipantcautionedthatstoriesneedtoofferamixofbothpositivepotentialsolutionsandanalysisofmorenegativesocialproblems:

Yougottabeabletohandlebadnews.Youcan’tbelike,“Oh,Idon’twanttohearthatbecauseImightgetdepressed.”It’snotrealistictoexpecteverythingtobesunshineandlollipopsinlife.Anybodywho’sgrownuparoundhereshouldknowthatalready,but

yougottagettheinformationoutnomatterwhattheimpactis.67

ResidentsalsohadideasabouthowsolutionsjournalismcouldgofurthertocriticallychallengeassumptionsaboutSouthLA.Afterreadingjustonestory,aselectionofparticipantsdidnotfeelitsimpactwouldbesufficientasastandalonemodel.Instead,theysuggestedincludingmorefollow-upcoverageandintegratingcommunityinput.


15ResearchFindings

Despiteseeinganeedforimprovement,mostpanelistssuggestedtheywouldbemorelikelytoreadorwatchsolutions-orientedstoriesifgiventheopportunity.Theyalsosaidtheywoulddiscusssolutionsjournalismstorieswithfriendsandfamilies:“Itoffersmoreofaplatformnottojustdiscussit,but…totellthemofhowwecangetinvolvedtotrytochangeitortryingto

makesomethingdifferent.”68Someevensuggestedthatsolutionsjournalism,andeffortstosolicitcommunityinputonsolutions,couldhelptostrengthenconnectionsinotherwise

fragmentedcommunities.“Itwouldactuallybringthecommunity…backtogether.”69


16ResearchFindings

RecommendationsandConclusionsThisseriesofdiscussionsoffersanopportunitytolearnfromresidentsinanunderprivilegedareawhosevoicesarerarelyheardreflectingconstructivelyonhowtheirowncommunity’sstoryistold.ThoseinterviewedgaveadviceforhowthemediacouldbettercovertheirSouthLAneighborhoodandreflectedontheirparticularmediapreferencesandpractices.Fromtheseconversations,wecanofferthefollowingrecommendationsformediaoutlets,aswellasthoseorganizationsworkingwithmedia:

AdoptingtheMetamorphosisProjectmodelofstrengthening“storytellingnetworks”betweencommunityorganizations,local/ethnicmedia,andresidentsisaprimarywaytodeveloplocal,community-basedsolutionsjournalism.Thesenetworkconnectionsarecriticaltolong-termimpactsoncivicengagementandlocalinvolvement.

Expandingengagementopportunitiesforresidentinvolvementinvariousstagesofstorydevelopmentanddisseminationisonemethodforstrengtheningthismodel.Residentsandorganizationsshouldbegivenopportunitiestolearnhowtoconnectwithmedia.Communityfoundationsshouldinvestinworkshopsthattraincommunitymembersaroundthebestwaystocommunicatewithjournalists,andjournaliststoeffectivelylistentocommunities.Thisshouldcreatecriticalfeedbackloopsthatarecultivatedoverthelongterm.

Inunderservedcommunitiesofcolorwhereaudiencesfeelneglectedandevenharmedbytraditionalmediacoverage,solutionsjournalismoffersapathwaytorebuildconstructiveandmutuallybeneficialrelationshipsofgreatertrust.Evenwhilelookingforpositiveoutcomes,reportersshouldtakecaretoincludethoroughanalysisofsocialproblemsaspartoftheircoverage.

Journalistsseekinglocalsourcesintraditionallystigmatizedcommunitiesshouldconsiderwhomtheyasktospeakforthatcommunity,and,whenappropriate,seekarticulateandknowledgeablerepresentatives.Reportersshouldbecarefulthatwhilepursuing“characters”forastorytheydonotuncriticallyreproducenegativestereotypes.

Localsolutionsjournalismrequiresaninvestmentinlocalreportingresourcestoenablefollow-upcoverageandthedevelopmentoflastingrelationshipswithcommunitiesbeyondone-timestories.Inaddition,tocultivatetrustwithinunderrepresentedareas,mediamustseektodevelopreporterswhocomefromthecommunitiestheyreporton—or,atminimum,enablereporterstoembedthemselveswithincommunitiesinawaythatallowsthemtoberesponsivetolocalsensitivitiesandconcernsregardingrepresentation.


17RecommendationsandConclusions

Complementingtheserecommendations,additionalresearchonlocalsolutionsjournalismcouldfurtherourunderstandingoftheformat’spotential.Futureresearchmightbenefitfromcomparingthecumulativeconsumptionofmediadietsthathaveeitheragreaternumberofsolutions-orientedstoriesormoretraditionalstoriesinalongitudinalstudy.Suchresearchmayincludeasecondcontrolgroup—makingforatotalofthreetypesofstories:

1. solutions-oriented;

2. anon-solutions,problem-oriented,or“badnews”story;and

3. a“goodnews”storythathighlightsexceptionalindividualsdoingpositivethings,usuallywithoutcriticalanalysisordiscussionofsystemicchange.

Thiswouldallowforanexplorationofthehypothesisthatreadersofboth“bad”and“good”newsstoriesarelikelytobecomeorremaindisengagedwhentheycomeawaywithasensethatthereisnothingtobedone.Thisresearchwouldrequirecaretoinsuresignificantvariancebetweengoodnewsandsolutions-orientedstories,andadditionalresourcestoholdmorefocusgroups.Lastly,theresearchcouldincludestudyoflocaltelevisionandInternetsourcestoassessthebroaderpotentialforlocalsolutionsjournalism,andpotentiallythecirculationandvalidationofstorieswithinsocialnetworks.

Studiessuchasthecurrentonecouldbeduplicatedinmultipleareasofthesamecity(forexample,inamoreaffluentareasuchasWestLA)toseehowresidentsfromdifferentethnicandclassbackgroundsrespondtostorieswhichareincloseproximitybutconcernthe“other.”Researchmightexplorehowresidentsreactgiventhattheyarelikelyimplicatedinthepowerdynamicsofthestory(publicresourcesmayhavehistoricallybeendivertedtotheirneighborhoods;theymayhavegreaterresourcestocontributetoproblemsolving,etc.).

Finally,researchersshouldtakecarenottoassumethatquestionsdevelopedforstudiesofnationalorinternationalnewscanbeappliedwithoutsubstantialadaptationtolocalcontextswhereaudienceshavefirsthandexperiencewithsubjectmatter,andplace-specifichistoriesandpowerrelationshipswithmedia.

Solutions-orientedjournalismdoesnotofferamagicbulletforengagingaudiencesaseithermediaconsumersorcivicactors.Webelieve,however,thatparticularlyincommunitieswithalonghistoryofoverwhelminglynegativecoveragestoriesfeaturingcommunityperspectivesthattakeacriticallookatresponsestosocialproblemsofferanopportunitytostrengthenconnectionsbetweenresidents,media,andcommunityorganizations.Attheendofourdiscussionsessions,participantsaskedushowtheycouldlearnmoreabouttheissuesraisedinthesestories.Manywantedtogetinvolved.Wehopeourstudyshowcasesafewinsightsformedia,otherresearchers,andcommunityorganizationsastheyexplorehowlocalnewscanbecomeamoreconstructiveactorinengagedandinformedcommunities.


18RecommendationsandConclusions

Appendix:SampleSolutionsStoryThefollowinghasbeenadaptedfromDeepaFernandes’sstory“GroupsWorktoTurnSouthLALotsintoChildren’sPlaygrounds,”broadcastonKPCConApril30,2015.Thestorywaseditedforlength,andnamesofcommunitymembersinvolvedintheoriginalpiecehavebeenchanged.Whatfollowswaspresentedtofocusgroupparticipantsasanexampleofasolutionsjournalismstory.

EmptyspaceinSouthLosAngeles

Fordecades,anodd-shapedlotonKingBoulevardinSouthLosAngelessatvacant.Thoughfencedofffromtrespassers,trashcollectedinsideitsbordersandtheweedsgrewbrownandbrittle.Thepropertyisoneofthousandsofparcelslandownershaveabandonedorleftvacant,someinthewakeoftheWattriotsofsummer1965.Almost3,000lotssitvacantinSouthL.A.Incomparison,WestL.A.has134vacantlotsandtheWilshireMiracleMiledistricthas310vacantlots.

Somecommunityorganizersareturningtheseabandonedspacesintoplayareasforyoungchildrenandtheirfamilies.OrganizersLorettaColemanandAlexRosariometuprecentlyatoneoftheirprojects:SerenityParklocatednexttorailwaytracksinWatts,wheremomsanddadscanexerciseonoutdoorfitnessequipmentwhiletheirchildrenenjoystate-of-the-artplaystructures.ColemanandRosariowanttoseeasimilarmetamorphosisattheKingBoulevardlot.LastDecember,organizersturneditintoapop-upsoccerfield,withaconcertstageinonecornerandakiddyplayareainanother.Theseday-longtakeovershavebeenahitwithlocalresidents,andfiredupagrowingmovementtoreclaimvacantlotsforcommunitybetterment.

TanyaKielsermanagesprojectsforThePublicLandAlliance,thelandconservationnonprofitthatWattsresidentssoughtouttohelptacklethelackofparkspaceintheircommunities.KielsersaidWattsisaclassiccaseofa“park-poorneighborhood.”“Inanidealworld,everyonewouldhaveaparkwithina10-minutewalkoftheirhome,”Kielsersaid.

“WithinahalfmileoftheWattsSerenityPark,therewerezeroacresofparkspaceperthousandpeople,”Kielsersaid.“Theminimumstandardforparkacreageisfouracresper1,000people.”Workingwiththecommunity,Kielserandherteamidentifiedasuitablevacantplotandtrackeddowntheowner.Theygottheplotappraised,wroteastategrantandboughtthelandfor$875,000.Sixyears,andalmost$5millionlater,theblightedlotwastransformedintoSerenityPark.


19Appendix

Onarecentmorning,MarianCarterandhertwotoddlerswereoutenjoyingSerenityPark.CarterlivesintheNickersonGardens,asprawlingpublichousingcomplexnearby.“Fromoursideofthecommunity,fromlikeComptonAvenueandCentral,thisisthenicestthingwehave,”shesaid.CartersaidshevisitsSerenityParkeverysingleday.Sheworksoutonthefitnessequipmentwhileherchildren,Brianna,3,andKayla,1,bouncebetweentheswingsandthesandpits.It’sagatedparkandsmallenoughthatCartercanseeherkidsplayingassheexercises.“Ieventellmyfriends,I’mnotgoingto24HourFitness.I’mnotgoingtoBally’s.I’mgoingtotheparkintheneighborhood.It’sabsolutelyfreeandthekidscanplayclosedin,”shesaid.

Researchbehindoutdoorplay

AgrowingbodyofscientificliteraturesuggeststhatchildrenlikeBriannaandKaylawillbenefitfromexposuretotheoutdoors.

ResearcherandwriterRichardLouvcataloguesevidenceinhisbook“LastChildintheWoods.”Louvsaidtheliteraturefindsan“impactonADD,onobesity,oncreativity,ontheabilitytolearn,oncognitivefunctioning,onmentalhealthinparticular”inchildrenwhodidnothaveregularoutdoorplay.“Ithinkchildren,nomatterwheretheylive,haveahumanrighttothepositivebenefitsofexperiencesinnature,”Louvsaid.

Thosebenefits,hesaid,includeahealthierimmunesystemfromplayingin—andostensiblyingesting—dirt.Therehasevenbeenresearchthatshowsbacteriaorinfectiousdiseases,commonlysharedbetweentoddlersandpreschoolers,arelessenedwhenchildrenareoutdoorsmore.

Playingoutdoorsgenerallymeanschildrenaremorephysicallyactive.TheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionrecommends90to120minutesofmoderatetovigorous-intensityphysicalactivityforpreschoolersduringtheirtypicaleight-hourdayinchildcare.TheAmericanAssociationofPediatricspromotesthisCDCguidelineandpreschoolsareexpectedtofollow.ButinSouthLosAngeles,fewchildrenattendpreschoolorchildcare,whichmeansmanychildrenunder5hangoutathomegiventhedearthofparks.

KarenDeaver,formerexecutivedirectoroftheChildren’sEnvironmentalCenter,warnsthatinadditiontophysicalhealth,alackofunstructuredoutdoorplaymayhaveanegativeeffectonchildren’sdevelopment.“Natureprovidesallkindsofmaterialsthatarenotuniforminsizewhichfiresupdifferentpartsofthebrain,”shesaid.

Twodecadesago,Deaversaid,parentsdidn’tquestiontheneedtosendachildoutsidetoplay,andrunouttheirexcessenergy.“Weknownowthatit’smuchmorethanblowingoffsteam.It’sabsolutelycrucialfordevelopmentbecauseweknownowthatthechildrenwhoarenotgettingthoseexperiencesarenotdoingaswellandarenotasreadyforschool,”shesaid.“Havingoutdoorexperiencesisonparwithhavingfood,water,shelterandsafety,”


20Appendix

Deaversaid.OrganizerssayconcernsliketheseaddtotheurgencyofredevelopingvacantlotsinSouthLosAngeles—somorechildrenandfamiliescanbenefitfromspaceslikeSerenityPark.


21Appendix

FootnotesiSomeofthesewouldfallshortofstrictdefinitionsofsolutions-orientedjournalism(i.e.,theymayoccasionallymixingoodnewsstoriesfocusedonexceptionalindividualsratherthansystemicchange):http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference;http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/fixes/;http://www.wbez.org/series/global-activism;http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/whats-working/.

iiTheoriginalstoryfromwhichweadaptedoursamplesolutions-orientedstory:http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/04/30/50927/groups-work-to-turn-south-la-lots-into-children-s/

iiiThisA/BstorymodelwasadaptedfromtheSolutionsJournalismNetworkandEngagingNewsmodel.ThankstoboththeSJNandEngagingNewsstaffmembersforofferinginputonsamplestoriesasweattemptedtoensurethestoriesmetasimilarstandardapartfromthesolutionversusnon-solutionformattingstyles.

ivANovember2015Pewsurveyfoundthat65percentofrespondentsbelievedthenationalnewsmediahasanegativeeffectontheUnitedStates:http://www.people-press.org/2015/11/23/beyond-distrust-how-americans-view-their-government/.

vNamesofallfocusgroupparticipantshavebeenchanged.

viParticipantsaskedtodescribea“typicalSouthLAstory”listedwordsincluding:violence,death,robbery,crime,poverty,unemployment,drugs,gangs,prostitution,homelessness,policebrutality,andgentrification,etc.


22Footnotes

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/fixes/

http://www.wbez.org/series/global-activism

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/whats-working/

http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/04/30/50927/groups-work-to-turn-south-la-lots-into-children-s/

http://www.people-press.org/2015/11/23/beyond-distrust-how-americans-view-their-government/

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58. 'Gabriela',FocusgroupdiscussionwithLatinoresidents(Group2),LosAngeles,24October2015.

59. 'Manuel',FocusgroupdiscussionwithLatinoresidents(Group2),LosAngeles,24October2015.

60. 'Gabriela',FocusgroupdiscussionwithLatinoresidents(Group2),LosAngeles,24October2015.



63. 'Bianca',FocusgroupdiscussionwithLatinoresidents(Group3),LosAngeles,24October2015.


65. 'Javier',FocusgroupdiscussionwithLatinoresidents(Group3),LosAngeles,24October2015.

66. Tuchman,“NewsastheReproductionoftheStatusQuo.”

67. 'Javier',FocusgroupdiscussionwithLatinoresidents(Group3),LosAngeles,24October2015.

68. 'Keanna',FocusgroupdiscussionwithAfricanAmericanresidents(Group6),LosAngeles,7November2015.



27Citations

Documents

Engaging Communities Through Solutions Journalism