What can Communities gain from Solutions Journalism?
In the United States there are efforts to help and heal suffering communities. However, mainstream media does not often highlight the positive efforts of many organizations in these communities. This is where solutions journalists and solutions Journalism can assist in a great way. Media companies that make it their priority to use community engagement to become a part of the solution to issues can provide a voice and a outlet for the existing population of the community.
In other countries, international media development is an established industry and a useful tool in providing a voice and awareness to needful communities. An organization called Internews used this model to help recruit and train reporters that would help inform the neighborhood about the resources that many of the people in Sri Lanka needed in order to survive. The way that they address issues in that area such as finding food, shelter, safe places and how to keep children healthy, by creating a radio show and newspaper called Lifeline. They use this show to also gather information from their target audience which they use to help refine their stories.
I believe that this approach and use of media allows for journalists to learn more about the communities that they are attempting to help. It also establishes a longer connection between the community and the journalist. Because solutions journalism does not claim to only write about the exclusive solutions to issues without studying the issues themselves, community engagement has the ability to help solutions journalists study community issues in more depth. This method of being more engaged with communities works to change the negative perception that many communities of journalists. As journalists decide to actually get to know the communities that they are studying, their actions build trust. In my opinion, the main barrier to this action would be the time that it would take to build that trust because of the negative perception that many communities have of journalists.
