{"id":5497,"date":"2023-02-14T14:53:21","date_gmt":"2023-02-14T14:53:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techsupport-dev.de\/cjtoolbox\/?page_id=5497"},"modified":"2023-04-25T10:48:03","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T10:48:03","slug":"m1c3-essentials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/techsupport-dev.de\/cjtoolbox\/modules-for-journalists\/showroom\/roots-role-potential-and-impact\/essentials\/","title":{"rendered":"Essentials"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Essentials<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Roots, role and impact<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Main topics:<\/strong> Origins of constructive journalism, similarities\/differences with other forms of journalism, the journalist\u2019s role, ethics, ethnocentrism, Eurocentrism, potential in the Global South, impact of constructive journalism on audiences.<\/p>

Summary:<\/strong> Constructive journalism\u2019s origins extend back to the middle of the 20th century, although its concepts have taken on more concrete form over the past two decades. It shares similarities with other forms of journalism, such as conflict-sensitive journalism, restorative narrative and civic journalism, among others, although there are also important differences. Constructive journalism asks journalists to consider what role they will play in society: one that simply monitors or one that takes a more active role \u2013 without becoming activists. As influential societal actors, journalists should avoid propagating stereotypes or adopting ethnocentric or Eurocentric perspectives. There is great potential for constructive journalism in the Global South, although there are also risks and potential pitfalls that may vary according to the regional context.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What are the origins of constructive journalism? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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While the name \u201cconstructive journalism\u201d is a fairly recent coinage, the approach itself has been around for more than half a century. In 1948, a news service appeared in New York called \u201cGood News Bulletin\u201d. It asked: “Have you had your daily dose of catastrophes, crises and cynicism?” and is considered the first constructive news endeavor. Made up of a few pages and sent out to newsrooms and universities once a week, the bulletin contained information on \u201csuccessful projects and positive alternatives\u201d and closely followed the newly founded UN organizations such as the WHO, UNESCO and UNICEF. In 1959, David Chalmers published \u201cThe muckrakers and the growth of corporate power: A study in constructive journalism\u201d. Even though American muckraking journalists at the turn of the 20th century did not apply the word \u201cconstructive\u201d to their work, their approach was to expose societal ills and also to offer ideas how people could overcome those problems. In the 1980s, the terms \u201ccivic journalism\u201d and \u201cpublic journalism\u201d emerged, referring to forms of journalism that share many characteristics with constructive journalism.<\/p>

Two of the most prominent organizations promoting constructive journalism today are the Constructive Institute (CI), based in Aarhus, Denmark, and the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN), headquartered in New York.<\/p>

A brief timeline of the constructive journalism movement:<\/strong>
\u25cf 1948: \u201cGood News Bulletin\u201d appears in New York
\u25cf 1988: terms \u201ccivic journalism\u201d and \u201cpublic journalism\u201d gain currency
\u25cf 2003: French NGO Reporters d\u2019Espoirs was created to promote solutions-based news
\u25cf 2007: Danish journalist Ulrik Haagerup coins the term \u201cconstructive news\u201d \/ Danish media groups begin experimenting with constructive approaches
\u25cf 2013: Solutions Journalism Network founded
\u25cf 2017: Constructive Institute founded<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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How does constructive journalism relate to other forms of journalism? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Constructive journalism builds on and shares features with other forms of journalism such as peace journalism and conflict-sensitive journalism. It picks up elements from other types as well, such as development journalism (see table below). Constructive journalism can be seen as a broad umbrella for a practice that is conscious about its impact and wants to use it in a responsible way.
One of the pioneers of constructive journalism, the Constructive Institute\u2019s founder Ulrik Haagerup, has described constructive journalism as a \u201cmegatrend\u201d in journalism which would transform the practice of journalism. A 2018 paper by Tanja Aitamurto and Anita Varma argues that constructive journalism should be considered as a \u201cresurgence\u201d<\/a> and not reinvention of journalism because it is still based on the established norms of journalism. Constructive journalism researcher Karen McIntyre visualizes different forms of journalism as branches of a larger constructive journalism tree:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Source: Karen McIntyre, Catherine Gyldensted and Joshua Smith<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The following chart offers a comparison of various forms of journalism:<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Journalism concepts<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

How they relate (=) or differ (#)<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Service Journalism<\/strong> provides useful and practical advice<\/a> (pdf) on how to live well. It covers all aspects of everyday life \u2013 lifestyle, culture, travel, food, books, technology, money, and fashion, but also features tips on relationships, health, psychology and how to live a considered life. It\u2019s \u201cnews you can use\u201d that ranges from the serious to the superficial.<\/p><\/td>

= addresses audiences looking for advice and orientation (solutions)<\/p>

= assumes a social role for journalists<\/p>

# is more oriented towards consumer advice<\/p>

# often blurs the lines between reported news and opinion<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Development Journalism <\/strong>can refer to two different types of journalism.<\/p>

The first type focuses on developing nations and ways to improve conditions<\/a> there. Journalists look at projects and analyze their effectiveness, even offering proposed solutions and suggesting ways to implement them. A second type involves influence from a government. This can be a tool for local education and empowerment, but also can be used to suppress information and restrict journalists. For example, journalists can be told not to report on certain controversial issues because it will impact the \u201cdevelopment\u201d of the nation.<\/p><\/td>

= addresses problems and proposes solutions<\/p>

= aims to empower people to overcome poverty and underdevelopment<\/p>

# specifically relates to the developing world<\/p>

# journalists can take on a more activist role<\/p>

# addresses only development topics such as poverty and inequality<\/p>

# can be \u201chijacked\u201d by governments (second type)<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Community Journalism<\/strong> operates traditionally in small geographic markets and emphasizes local news and information. Most community journalists are professionally trained reporters and editors, not citizen journalists. Journalists working in this mode tend to develop a closer, more intimate connection to the community they serve. In a broader sense, community journalism can also address non-geographical communities, such as professional or special-interest communities, in the real or virtual world.<\/p><\/td>

= aims to engage targeted audiences in its news production cycle<\/p>

= tends to cover subjects that larger news media might not<\/p>

# addresses specific audience segments rather than the public at large<\/p>

# is not specifically centered around a solution-based approach<\/p>

# reporters do not always maintain objective distance from stories they cover<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Restorative narrative<\/strong> provides stories of resilience and recovery<\/a> within communities in the wake of traumatic events or longstanding problems (Examples: Rwandan genocide in 1994; the Beirut port explosion in 2020). Restorative narrative is supposed to inspire audiences and give hope for healing and growth. The reporting often requires a long-term commitment from journalists. But by telling more complete and authentic stories, proponents say confidence and trust in storytellers is increased.<\/p><\/td>

= aims to present contextual reporting and to explore societal remedies<\/p>

= focus is on how people move on (resilience) after adversity instead of just describing the difficulty faced<\/p>

= aims at \u201cthe social good\u201d<\/p>

# relates to specific situations\/events instead of a general approach\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Solutions Journalism <\/strong>is rigorous reporting about responses to social problems. While holding true to core journalistic standards, it investigates and explains, in a critical way, examples of responses to problems that are being tried out. Solutions Journalism explores the effects of these responses and examines their sustainability. It offers interview techniques that \u201ccomplicate the narrative\u201d by getting at underlying motives and interests, thereby finding root causes of disagreement and possibly decreasing polarization.<\/p><\/td>

= Forward looking<\/p>

= a nuanced representation of reality<\/p>

= critical, data-based journalism<\/p>

= techniques to discuss controversial topics<\/p>

# focused on solutions<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Peace Journalism<\/strong> reveals background information of conflicts, places events into their wider context, casts light on all sides and explores peace initiatives and ideas. According to the Media Peace Project<\/a>, Peace Journalism \u201cgives peacemakers a voice while making peace initiatives and non-violent solutions more visible and viable.\u201d It often tends toward advocacy for peacemakers. It seeks to facilitate dialogue in conflict and post-conflict contexts.<\/p><\/td>

= strong constructive elements<\/p>

= high ethical standards<\/p>

= oriented towards solutions for a peaceful future<\/p>

= promotes dialogue and mutual understanding<\/p>

# limited to a specific context of conflict and war<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Conflict<\/strong>–Sensitive Journalism <\/strong>involves in-depth, fair, accurate and responsible reporting on conflicts without feeding the flames. It explains the multiple perspectives of involved parties, the causes and context of conflict, and examines possibilities for peacebuilding while showing the human face of conflict. Conflict-sensitive media practitioners report on responses to conflict and possible solutions. Their role is not to reduce conflict themselves but to encourage peace-building processes<\/a> (.pdf). Conflict-sensitive journalism does not engage in advocacy but is constructive and peace oriented.<\/p><\/td>

= constructive approach by contributing to consensus building, decreased polarization and resolution of conflict<\/p>

= high ethical standards, avoids stereotypes<\/p>

= corrects misconceptions<\/p>

= balanced and responsible<\/p>

# limited to a specific context of conflict and war<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Civic journalism (or public journalism) <\/strong>uses a bottom-up approach and prioritizes non-elite sources to set a \u201ccitizens\u2019 agenda\u201d. It addresses people as participants in public affairs, rather than as victims or spectators and aims to include the public more in the information- gathering process. Its goal is to help the community act on problems and improve the climate of public discussion.<\/p><\/td>

= seeks to engage and empower audiences<\/p>

= aims to encourage positive action on the part of the public<\/p>

= aims to create public debate<\/p>

= sees a different role for the journalist<\/p>

# has been criticized for not being objective and for creating activist reporters<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Positive Journalism <\/strong>focuses on good news and inspiring stories. They are often uplifting. This form often has less rigor than investigative or traditional journalism and stories are often about heroes and individual events that often have less significance to society at large or do not offer systemic and replicable responses to problems.<\/p><\/td>

= reports on what is working in society<\/p>

= stories can offer inspiration and feature role models<\/p>

# often lacks in-depth reporting or a critical viewpoint<\/p>

# tends toward light, \u201csoft\u201d news<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 See Handouts: History of constructive journalism, comparison with other journalism forms<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is the role of the constructive journalist? <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Journalists are traditionally taught to be witnesses \u2013 present the facts and those facts will speak for themselves. But that approach is too restrictive, say constructive journalism proponents, and not even all that effective anymore. It\u2019s not enough to simply tell the public what\u2019s going on in their communities or the wider world, but people also need to understand why something is happening, how it got to this point, and how they can make informed decisions to affect the outcome. While most journalists see their job as holding up a mirror to society, if they fail to cover the ways people and institutions are succeeding or at least trying to, they are leaving out an important part of the picture.<\/p>

The collapse of traditional business models and intense competition in digital markets have forced many media companies to put a strong focus on earning advertising revenue. This hunt for clicks attracts audiences via sensationalism and measures its impact through hard numbers. Constructive journalism, on the other hand, wants to be measured on societal impact as well as on revenue generation.<\/p>

In the end, journalists, editors and media organization owners have to decide if they want to feature the most dramatic, fear-inducing stories to reach their performance goals and get clicks and likes. That might work in the short term, but at what cost? Or do they also want to highlight opportunities, fresh perspectives, ways out of difficulty and reasons for hope? This latter approach can arguably keep audiences more loyal over the longer term.<\/p>

Many journalists, especially experienced ones, have work habits and philosophies that are deeply ingrained. Talk of taking on a more active role in reporting and being something besides a disinterested observer is not a role that all journalists are comfortable with. But constructive journalism does not seek to change the core mission of journalists. They should still be concerned with hard facts, uncovering problems and asking critical questions. But constructive journalists also ask themselves: What can I do to respond to this problem?<\/p>

\u201cBreeds\u201d of journalists:<\/strong> In a complex world that faces serious, even existential challenges, many journalists, younger ones especially, want to play a more active role in society. Are journalists simply watchdogs, exposing wrongdoing and criticizing before moving to the next story? Or should they act as \u201cguide dogs\u201d as well, taking on a more active role as arbitrators in the public debate about responses to challenges, enabling dialogue and engagement, and presenting events and issues in all their complexity? The following \u201cAction Compass\u201d looks at the roles of the journalist from a canine perspective.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Source: The Action Compass, Peter Bro, Journalistica 2006<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Watchdog:<\/strong> Most journalists are taught to be witnesses and adopt a monitorial role <\/strong>that holds a mirror up to society and holds the powerful to account. They spread knowledge to help their audiences understand issues and enable them to make informed decisions.<\/p>

Sheep dog:<\/strong> Journalists can also adopt a facilitating\/moderating role<\/strong> and offer a platform for public dialogue.<\/p>

Hunting dog:<\/strong> Journalists in this category also look at problems, like watchdogs, but also confront those in positions of power<\/strong> about how they would solve those problems.\u00a0<\/p>

Rescue dog: <\/strong>Journalists of this category actively seek to inspire, encourage and create positive change<\/strong> in society. Constructive journalists see themselves in this category while still taking the monitoring and facilitating role seriously. They see their role as:<\/p>