"This guide aims to propose a few guidelines for those interested in embracing a solutions journalism angle to development reporting. Development refers to processes undertaken by individuals, organisations or states with the clear objective of reaching “a positive change” for the benefit of the ... majority. While many are aware that reporting on development plays a vital role in shaping public discourse, focusing on potential solutions is equally important. Showcasing initiatives, innovative approaches, and promising practices can provide valuable insights into what works and why. By first demonstrating why and how solutions journalism and development reporting make a good fit, this guide offers journalists practical tips and tricks on how to report on development reporting with a solutions angle." (Introduction) more

"The Solutions Journalism Revenue Project (SJRP), which ran between February 2020 and February 2021, aimed to explore how a diverse range of newsrooms could leverage solutions journalism to generate revenue. Among the questions the project sought to answer were: Can reporting on responses to social ... problems help newsrooms attract financial backers and contribute to their economic sustainability? Is there a business case that supports this journalistic practice? Over the yearlong project, we gathered both quantitative and qualitative evidence indicating that producing solutions journalism can help news organizations bring in revenue. We are particularly heartened by this outcome given the extraordinary challenges faced by newsrooms across the industry this past year, including COVID-19 and urgent news issues, such as the movement for racial justice and the presidential election, that demanded significant attention from already stretched newsroom staff. Our partner newsrooms’ dedication to experimenting with and keeping the focus on solutions journalism is testimony to its value in advancing their revenue objectives and larger goals of serving communities with a different approach to producing information that is in the public interest. The takeaways below reflect results from SJN’s work, both with the 12 U.S.-based newsrooms that formed the yearlong SJRP cohort and with numerous other newsrooms we’ve worked with outside the cohort where data and insights are relevant to this report." (Introduction, page 1) more

"The four Pulitzer Center projects highlighted in this guidebook are powerful examples of solutions-oriented reporting—and proof that when done well, such projects get the traction they deserve. For Amy Maxmen, the topic was malaria, new thinking regarding an effective method of malaria prevention ... that may eventually lead to widespread drug resistance. For Chris Berdik, it was how scientists are mapping Tonle Sap, Cambodia’s largest and most threatened lake, so as to devise a plan that protects both jobs and environment. For Steve Sapienza, it was efforts to deliver clean water to the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh, one of the world’s fastest growing cities. For Esha Chhabra, it was the eradication of polio in India, and the lessons from that experience for other public health challenges. Conventional wisdom says stories like this disappear, that in the chaotic din of contemporary journalism they sink without an audience. Our experience with these projects has been the opposite, with placements in outlets that range from The New York Times and The Atlantic to The Daily Beast, Nature, Forbes, and PBS NewsHour." (Pages 4-5) more