Solutions journalism resonates with students, according to research by OU scholars
JUNE 2024
We’re not the least bit surprised to learn that solutions journalism education resonates with students. See the proof in “Beyond the Classroom: Evaluating Solutions Journalism Education From the Perspective of University Graduates,” co-authored by the SoJo news bureau’s own Kate Roff, and her colleagues Karen McIntyre and Kyser Lough. The paper, recently published in Journalism and Mass Communication Educator, proffers evidence that solutions journalism learning also has the potential re-engage disenchanted students.
Here’s the abstract:
This study examines how solutions journalism education translates toprofessional practice, through in-depth interviews with current media professionals who encountered solutions journalism when they were in college. Findings suggest that solutions journalism education resonates powerfully with students, and incorporating the practice in J-school curriculum may have the potential to reengage disenchanted students. Whereas there remain significant barriers to practicing the approach in the workplace, participants revealed that their encounters at university with solutions journalism positively affected their reporting style, interview skills, and perspective of journalism’s role in society.
Kate, who chartered solutions journalism education at OU, is now a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Adelaide, South Australia. She worked on this research with the support of the Richard Rose donation at Oakland University.
SoJo team members recognized by Society of Professional Journalists
November, 2022
The work of Sojo team members Jess Orlando and Kate Roff was honored at the Society of Professional Journalists – Detroit Chapter – 2022 Excellence in Journalism Awards.
Orlando, a charter SoJo News Bureau journalist, was the recipient of the Lawrence Laurain scholarship. This annual grant is awarded to a student with a demonstrated interest in journalism.
“Jessica exemplifies the kind of dedicated, street-smart, and multi-talented journalist that Larry would have been proud to know, and eager to mentor,” said Instructor of Practice Holly Gilbert, who co-taught Oakland University’s first Solutions Journalism class with Roff.
Roff, an editor at Model D and Metromode, received a second-place award for Newsletter Strategy. She was honored along with Biba Adams, Mike Galbraith, Nina Ignaczak, and Dorothy Hernandez, for relevant and on-point creation of weekly newsletters for cutting-edge digital news magazines covering Southeast Michigan.