Solutions-oriented journalism
How to address mental health through a solutions journalism lens
Belle de Jong spent several months speaking to some European journalists to understand the unique threats they face to their mental well-being. In an interview with Matthew Leake, she explains how self-coping mechanisms and peer networks are often the only sources of mental-health support and what should be done at the societal and newsroom-level to better support cross-border journalists. “Newsrooms can do more to protect their staff by offering mental health support, fostering open discussions about well-being, and promoting work-life balance”, she says.
Let’s talk about… solutions journalism
When the Animal Político team discussed how to cover violence in Mexico, they always mentioned the role of civil organisations in giving hope to the people. The journalists covering these issues caught some of these solutions-focused vibes as they also struggled with mental health issues. That’s how Animal Político realised that solutions journalism is not only a way to combat the audience’s news fatigue but also to care for the mental health of its own team.
The debate
“For our journalists, this practice not only meant a new way of exploring their own sources and agenda, but also a way to breathe in the midst of the bad news they cover. When we gather to discuss our coverage, the meeting is less tense because the team also has good news and hopeful examples to discuss. Anyone, not just the journalists who focus on crime and security, can propose a hope story to cover, including the video and design teams”.
Tania Montalvo spoke to María Cristerna, former Deputy Editorial Director at Animal Político in Mexico, about an initiative they are running that aims to address mental health through a solutions journalism lens.
The research
Reporters face unique mental health risks in cross-border investigations. An academic study published in Journalism looks at how to address them.
The resources
Conversations with Sydney is a solutions-oriented podcast series exploring effective ways for parents, teens, teachers, and communities to respond to the crisis of teen mental health and suicide. It is created and hosted by a journalist father and his teenager who discuss their own experiences with mental health and speak with leading experts while interviewing teens and opening up a dialogue and conduct solutions-oriented exploration.