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How Are Journalists Applying Solutions DISCOVERING SOLUTIONS: HOW ARE JOURNALISTS APPLYING SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM TO CHANGE THE WAY NEWS IS REPORTED AND WHAT DO THEY HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH? Ashley Elizabeth Porter Thesis Prepared for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS December 201 8 APPROVED: Tracy Everbach, Committee Chair Sara Champlin, Committee Member Neil Foote, Committee Member Koji Fuse, Director of the Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism Michael McPherson, Acting Dean of the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism Victor Prybutok, Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School Porter, Ashley Elizabeth. Discovering Solutions: How are Journalists Applying Solutions Journalism to Change the Way News is Reported and What Do They Hope to Accomplish? Master of Arts (Journalism), December 2018, 78 pp., 3 appendices, references, 88 titles. Solutions journalism, rigorous reporting on responses to social problems, has gained great traction in the last decade. Using positive psychology theory, also known as the theory of well-being, this qualitative study examines the impact of reporting while using solutions journalism techniques. Applying the five pillars of positive psychology theory: positive emotion, engagement, positive relationships, meaning and accomplishment (PERMA), this study used interviews and content analysis to investigate how journalists are applying the tools of solutions journalism as well as what they hope to accomplish in the process. Findings revealed that the application of solutions journalism techniques produces hope and community engagement resulting in flourishing and positive change for individuals, communities and all involved in the reporting process. Copyright 2018 By Ashley Elizabeth Porter ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, thank you to my children Zandt and Alie. For their encouragement, undying support and unconditional love. I could not and would not have been able to complete this without you. To the many friends and family members, including my parents, who believed in me… and still do. To Sara Champlin, who was kind enough to agree to be on my committee. Your feedback during my thesis prospective meeting provided direction that has been beyond helpful. Thank you. To Neil Foote, thank you for your academic guidance on so many research papers, class assignments and special projects during the past three years. Your insight has been invaluable as you have allowed me and encouraged me to explore the areas of journalism that inspire me most. To Tracy Everbach, for teaching me theories and qualitative analysis and off- handedly suggesting the topics I enjoy would be worth exploring as a thesis topic. Our regular meetings kept me on track and allowed me the opportunity to learn from you. Thank you for the thorough readings, quick turn-arounds and most of all for the encouragement. I’m grateful to have had the privilege to work with this committee and research a topic I am curious about, using a theory I am passionate about. Thank you to those who took time out of their lives to be interviewed for this thesis project and for all of the journalists, instructors and researchers that are teaching, studying and applying solutions journalism in hopes to promote wellness and enhance communities throughout the world. After spending time in conversation with inviduals striving to improve communities through quality, thorough reporting I believe, in my heart, that journalism has the ability to change the world for the better. I am encouraged by what I have learned from this research. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE .................................................................................. 2 Journalism through the Years ............................................................................................. 2 Investigative Journalists ...................................................................................................... 3 The Evolution of Solutions Journalism............................................................................... 6 What Is Solutions Journalism?............................................................................................ 8 Elements of a Solutions Story ........................................................................................... 10 Solutions Journalism Projects ........................................................................................... 11 Spreading the Practice of Solutions Journalism................................................................ 12 Previous Research in Solutions Journalism ...................................................................... 14 Consumers............................................................................................................. 14 Journalists ............................................................................................................. 17 Instructors ............................................................................................................. 18 The History of Positive Psychology ................................................................................. 18 Positive Psychology Today ................................................................................... 19 Positive Psychology Theory ................................................................................. 20 PERMA – Theory of Well-Being ..................................................................................... 20 Previous Studies Using PERMA ...................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 3. METHOD .............................................................................................................. 25 CHAPTER 4. RESULTS .............................................................................................................. 28 Interviews .......................................................................................................................... 28 Theme 1: Hope ...................................................................................................... 29 Theme 2: Community ........................................................................................... 33 Theme 3: The Practice of Solutions Journalism ................................................... 37 Story Content Analysis ..................................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ................................................................... 56 Limitations and Future Research ...................................................................................... 61 APPENDIX A. RECRUITMENT EMAIL ................................................................................... 63 iv APPENDIX B. INFORMED CONSENT NOTICE ..................................................................... 65 APPENDIX C. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ................................................................................ 69 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 72 v CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The role of journalism in a democracy continues to evolve, as it has throughout history. As journalists are challenged during this era of “fake news” and consumer expectations of free news on demand, it is unknown which reporting techniques and approaches will sustain and thrive. The purpose of this study is to examine a relatively new form of journalism, solutions journalism, to better understand the mission behind solutions journalism and analyze the changes solutions journalism advocates are striving to create in the journalism industry and in society. The specific aims of this study are to investigate the following questions: RQ1: How are journalists applying solutions journalism to change the way news is reported? RQ2: What do journalists hope to accomplish with their reporting? In this study, solutions journalism is examined using the theory of positive psychology (PERMA), also known as well-being theory. The five pillars of PERMA positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaning, and accomplishment are −used to analyze solutions journalism pieces and journalists’ experiences reporting solutions− stories. Through this qualitative examination, employing in-depth interviews and content analysis, I seek to determine how solutions journalism is making a difference in the lives of journalists and their communities and whether these changes may be lasting and impactful. By learning about the intentions and impact of solutions journalism, this study may contribute to the overall direction and positive growth of the journalism industry, including consumers, publications and journalists. 1 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE Journalism through the Years The history of journalism includes many attempts to improve society and make the United States and the world a better place to live. The movable type printing press, invented during the 15th century by Johannes Gutenberg, allowed newspapers to be published two centuries later including the first daily publication, The Daily Courant, in London, England. While the first newspaper published in the United States in 1690
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