{"id":7919,"date":"2023-03-05T13:16:21","date_gmt":"2023-03-05T13:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techsupport-dev.de\/cjtoolbox\/?page_id=7919"},"modified":"2023-04-25T10:26:16","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T10:26:16","slug":"desmak-m3c2-essentials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/techsupport-dev.de\/cjtoolbox\/modules-for-decision-maker\/marketplace\/moving-your-media-outlet-forward\/essentials\/","title":{"rendered":"Essentials"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Essentials<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Moving your media outlet forward<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Main topics: <\/strong>
Editors\/managers and support for constructive journalism, coverage priorities, implementing constructive journalism in the newsroom, impact studies, collaborative projects, metrics and analytics.<\/p>

Summary:<\/strong>
If a newsroom or journalists want to introduce a constructive journalism approach or small-scale project, it\u2019s essential to get editors and other newsroom decision-makers behind the idea. There is no single approach to integrating constructive reporting in newsrooms, it depends on resources, staff levels and priorities. Outlets interested in the approach don\u2019t have to radically change the way they operate \u2013 a slow introduction is possible to test the waters. Impact studies on the impact of constructive stories on audiences as well as revenue streams look promising and media outlets would be well advised to use analytics to track the performance of constructive stories.\u00a0 <\/span><\/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

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Pushback from higher-ups <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

To successfully introduce constructive journalism at a media outlet and make it part of the newsroom culture, the people setting editorial policy have to be convinced of its benefits. Experience has shown that journalists introduced to the concept of constructive journalism, for example at a workshop or conference, often become enthusiastic proponents. But once they return to their newsrooms, just as often they become frustrated because management is skeptical of the approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

To some, constructive journalism is simply another flavor of the month, a trendy form of journalism that\u2019s buzzy now but which will fade away soon enough. Remember, the constructive approach is unknown in many parts of the world, and a lot of editors and managers don\u2019t fully understand it. They perceive it as a drain on time and resources, two things often in short supply at media outlets. Or they consider constructive journalism akin to those \u201cgood news\u201d stories that grace the back pages of the newspaper or the end of a broadcast\u2014heart-warming and fuzzy. Nice to have but not real news, skeptical editors might say.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

That means that journalists eager to try out this approach often have no support from above and go back to working in a traditional conflict-centered mode: reporting on problems to the exclusion of anything else.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

But this pushback usually stems from unfamiliarity, a reaction to a mindset that seems to run contrary to what experienced reporters and editors learned at journalism school or during long careers. A constructive approach brings real benefits to audiences, as has been outlined in previous chapters, but it can also bring benefits to news outlets, many of whom are struggling. Studies have shown that constructive journalism can result in higher audience engagement, more trust and more loyalty, which can lead to better revenue streams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

That\u2019s something that everyone in management can get behind.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In fact, given the multiple difficulties the media faces, a new mindset might be necessary for the industry\u2019s long-term survival, according to Joseph Odindo, a lecturer and former editorial director of Kenya\u2019s Nation Media Group. \u201cWe must be ready to abandon the traditional and venture into the unknown. Doing business as usual cannot save news publishing from the twin pressures of hostile governments and the digital revolution.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/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

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Re-examining coverage priorities\n<\/h2>\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
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Problems scream; solutions whisper. Many problem-oriented stories \u2013 plane crashes, police shootings, pandemics, even a water-main break \u2013 are front and center and demand coverage. Quotes for these stories are easy to get. Solutions-oriented stories, on the other hand, are rarely breaking news events. But managers and editors must ask themselves, is the screaming type of coverage working for us all that well?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Since research shows that constructive journalism can improve audience loyalty, it\u2019s up to newsroom leaders to afford the time, space and resources to capitalize on it, if that\u2019s a metric they care about. The trouble is that click numbers still dominate.<\/span><\/p>

But many experts, such as An Nguyen, Bournemouth University\u2019s associate professor of journalism who led the <\/span>CoJo Against Covid<\/span><\/a> project, say page views are not the key metric. Most of the people represented by page views are casual readers. That\u2019s very different from the loyal reader who spends more time with the publication or program and might support an outlet by paying for premium content, getting a subscription or joining a membership program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

For editors interested in adding a constructive element to the news mix, the question is how to invest scarce resources in these stories. Ultimately, editors should ask themselves: What are the most relevant, most valuable stories we can bring to our audience? What stories are we doing just because we\u2019ve always done them? What\u2019s missing from the public conversation? And is the current conversation moving our community forward?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In practical terms, this may mean reconsidering coverage: Do we have to cover the school board meeting (again) \u2013 or is our reporter\u2019s time better spent examining how schools are changing their approach to discipline? Or, do we need to cover the latest local shooting like we usually do? Or should we send a reporter to a nearby city that has a response to gun violence that seems to be working?<\/span><\/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

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Incorporating constructive journalism into the newsroom\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Adopting constructive journalism practices at your media outlet doesn\u2019t mean transforming your newsroom or overturning all existing workflows. You don\u2019t have to reinvent the wheel. Once management has decided to introduce a constructive approach, what are the first steps? How can the change be initiated and carried out? Instead of revolution, think evolution.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Adding to the existing editorial mix: <\/b>Constructive journalism is an add-on to an organization\u2019s existing journalistic practices and stories.<\/span> It can be implemented slowly as a trial-run without drawing too many resources from other areas. How about one solution-focused story a month? An experiment promoting dialogue between opposing groups once a year? One way to dip your toe into the constructive pool is to make your social media feeds more constructive. Open the dialogue with your audiences, ask more questions, get more feedback and implement some of the good ideas you hear. You might be surprised.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Retraining not required:<\/b> Constructive journalism is not a completely different way of reporting. There\u2019s no need for big retraining programs or for reporters to throw out everything they\u2019ve ever learned. Constructive journalism is about seeing the news through a new lens. How about a one-hour constructive journalism seminar for the newsroom staff? Gauge the reaction and follow up if it\u2019s positive.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Baby steps: <\/b>One strategy is to start small. Take baby steps instead of huge leaps.\u00a0How about putting one reporter on the constructive beat one day a week? Then follow reactions (social media engagement, comments, etc.) and get analytics if you can. Look at both qualitative and quantitative data on the value of this new constructive approach. Based on those findings, develop a constructive coverage strategy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Dedicated team, special sections or general constructive culture? <\/b>There are different ways to start down a more constructive path. It all depends on the outlet\u2019s staffing and resources as well as its appetite for change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>