Solutions-oriented Journalism

A growing number of news organizations are showcasing solutions, often by focusing on the work of community groups. Based here in the Puget Sound area, the national magazine Yes! A Journal of Positive Futures focuses on solutions-oriented storytelling. It spurns saccharin anecdotes and adoring profiles, focusing instead on the fundamental and systemic reasons for success.

"A recent issue on community currencies has become an organizing resource for groups around the country," according to editor Sarah Van Gelder. "Community groups often use Yes! articles and sometimes even the whole issues to get the stories of their community activism out." Yes! also publishes resource guides along with their articles. In the spirit of civic journalism, those guides tell readers how to access resources and how they may help individuals in their own work.

Each issue, Van Gelder added, "tries to offer readers specific plans for involvement, either as individuals in their community or as active participants in national or global affairs."