Problems + Solutions = ?

This past week I listened to journalist David Bornstein of the New York Times speak. He talked about how journalism these days is not depicting reality and is telling us our problems rather than solving them. This is because most journalists in the U.S. are not interested in writing stories about solutions.

Bornstein asked the question, "What is the role of the journalist in covering the world today?"

The role of the journalist is to inform the public. However, as time goes on, people are finding easier ways of informing themselves, thus diminishing the role of the journalist. Perhaps this is because getting our information from a journalist rather than finding it for ourselves provides no benefit.

What do journalists do for us that we can't do for ourselves? Journalists are supposed to make a difference, but how do they do that if they are only spotlighting wrongdoing? As Bornstein asked, "How does spotlighting wrongdoing provide a solution?"

We as journalists must balance hard news with solutions to those problems surrounding us in the world today. Spotlighting wrongdoing almost never provides an actual solution. Good news (aka solution news) is a lot harder to write than just telling about the problem, but it is also way more beneficial. Not as many people pay to hear about problems as much as they would to have their problems solved.

We must give the public what they can't give themselves. That is what will make our stories memorable. That is what people will pay to hear. Problems with solutions. And once we can do that for them, we will gain more of their trust as well as their attention.