This post was originally published on this site
The axiom “if it bleeds, it leads” lures clicks, but it can also result in discouraging and polarizing coverage.
People are hungry for stories about the ways individuals and communities are solving problems. Though it may not be easy to see (just yet), this is a big opportunity for PR agencies and organizations that specialize in solutions to social and environmental problems.
The Solutions Journalism (SoJo) Network helps reporters by providing learning opportunities, resources and a framework to tell solutions-oriented stories that spark social impact and civic engagement. In the last six years, more than 12,000 reporters have taken a SoJo training, and by the end of 2018, they had published 5,000 solutions stories.
Those of us who work with social enterprises and other problem solvers know there are many more stories to tell, but it takes effort to understand solutions journalists’ needs and craft pitches that show the outlines of a balanced story.
Why these pitches are worth the work
Taking a solutions approach makes your organization’s or your client’s work more likely to get feature coverage and helps you build better media relationships.
Solutions journalism can pierce partisan divides and cynicism by targeting what works, and PR pros who provide these stories can help reporters create better relationships between their newsrooms and communities.
For example, after reading local SoJo stories, Los Angeles residents reported that they felt more likely to take action, and people in Detroit felt more connected to their community. Solutions stories might even capture the attention of jaded readers who