Philly, Philly: Solutions Journalism, Poverty and the City of Brotherly Love
Poverty. The word provokes different emotions and scenarios for each of us in unique ways. In a journalism framework, the word creates a sense of overwhelming defeat, a problem so large and so systematically woven into other areas such as education, healthcare access, food quality, and housing opportunities, etc. it is unclear where to even start. For a growing number of Philadelphians, poverty and inequality may mean a daily struggle for survival.
Pew Charitable Trusts reports that Philadelphia’s poverty rate is “25.7 percent… the highest percentage among the nation’s 10 largest cities.” The question then becomes how do we start creating change? As journalists, we have the responsibility and the duty to cover issues that impact everyday people. This is one of the first challenges faced in covering poverty and economic inequality in a solutions journalism framework: representing the diverse people we serve.
When discussing what stories to publish, Hearken’s Jennifer Brandel states that, “they make those decisions around editorial tables filled with people who don’t often resemble the demographics of the communities they’re hoping and trying to serve.” This disconnect creates a fissure in the system that not only perpetuates the overall problem of economic inequality, but may also create resentment or distrust between audience and reporters.
Solutions journalism may offer a distinct approach to covering poverty and economic issues. First, researching other entities who are creating viable solutions and avenues to advancement in this topic is key to understanding the roots of the problem. These entities provide an insight into understanding more about this issue, but they may also provide a road map for addressing it in a culturally and socially appropriate way. It is imperative that we recognize entities who have tried to combat this problem and have failed. Reporting on success stories and failures alike can bring enlightenment in the face of uncertainty.
Gathering a range of ideas, questions, statements and opinions from various demographics is key to understanding the problem of economic disparity, which people are fighting right now. After garnering such feedback, it is then possible to understand your audience and their struggles, their successes, their moments of vulnerability and how the ‘system’ affects us all. Maybe a hidden gem, a resource or tidbit of information of where the story will go next is hidden in these responses, but for solutions journalists, the lead never runs cold.
Creating a story that represents different narratives, different demographics and responses to poverty is challenging. Avoiding a hero story line and a silver bullet solution is even more challenging in a topic that is intricate and deeply involved. In “the city of brotherly love,” we as solutions journalists, must connect to our audiences, collaborate with them and come together to find the best (or worst) advancements in order to better understand and deconstruct the problem that is poverty and economic inequality.
