Everyone knows the internet and social media have continually impacted journalism, which struggles to capture the public’s attention. Like the loud tribal voices online that usurp more reasoned debate, the news has also sped up, increased in volume, and become increasingly sensationalist. But when it comes to the constantly negative news flow, many (including journalists) are saying: enough already!
Many journalists think the media needs to be critical AND constructive. The Constructive Journalism movement is gaining traction as those in the field look for ways to inform the public and explore challenges, while shaking their “if it bleeds, it leads” reputation.
Pioneered by the Constructive Institute in Denmark, constructive journalism encourages nuanced, engaging and more “big picture” reporting. In a nutshell, the thinking is this: focus on problems, you get problems; focus on solutions, you get solutions. Germany’s Bonn Institute calls it people-friendly journalism, an approach that puts the common good at its core.
Being constructive isn’t Pollyannish—it’s not about covering lost kittens and apps that notify you when your pets are happy. It’s about telling real news, but in a more positive, palatable way that encourages the public to get involved. It’s about investigating ideas and stimulating dialogue, rather than oversimplifying issues, sensationalising the news, or striving for clickbait.
Content that leads to negativity and feelings of powerlessness makes people tune out. To put it in perspective, in the Reuters Institute 2023 digital news report, 93,000 people from over 46 countries were surveyed—the results: 36% often or actively avoid the news. After reading about countless disasters, adversity, war, and starvation, people feel a sense of compassion fatigue, making them overwhelmed and disengaged.
So why not attempt the opposite? It’s no surprise, people feel better after reading constructive articles.
While the media often portrays the world as being in a chaotic free fall, life is far better than we think. As Forbes puts it, “The rub is that you can’t get anyone to believe the good news.” That’s why journalism needs to keep reporting it, shifting away from the doom and gloom, and instead shine the light on where we’re going.
Journalism is not activism, nor should it be. Some activists might fuel fear to stay relevant in the public eye but again, the state of the world is much better than we think. What journalists can contribute are uplifting stories that offer potential solutions, or show the public how we are making progress. By reframing issues to give people fact-based hope, journalists can strengthen their role in the communities they are writing for, gaining their trust. This is exactly what we need in such a polarised world.
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