School of Communication and Journalism hosts solutions journalism academy

Earlier this month, about 20 educators from colleges and universities around the country came to Stony Brook University to explore ways to integrate solutions journalism into their courses and programs.

The Solutions Journalism Educators Academy was led by School of Communication and Journalism instructors J.D. Allen and Sarah Baxter, and supported by the Solutions Journalism Network and Stony Brook's Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives.

"We deeply enjoyed bringing together this group of dedicated journalism educators and talking about how we can help future journalists and media professionals craft nuanced, thoughtful stories that help build a fairer, more just, more rational world," said Laura Lindenfeld, dean of the SoCJ and executive director of the Alda Center for Communicating Science. "We take seriously our role as a Solutions Journalism Network hub, and view these kinds of programs and conversations as critical to our work as journalism educators."

Solutions journalism is a rigorous approach to reporting that focuses on how communities respond to complex problems, like homelessness or climate change, and what can be learned from their successes and failures.

Journalism educators from institutions ranging from community colleges like the Community College of Baltimore County to large research universities like Penn State, the University of Connecticut and North Carolina State University, came to Stony Brook for the two-day conference.

Over the past few years, SoCJ journalism faculty have integrated solutions journalism into many of their courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students often produce solutionsjournalismstoriesin their classes and their work has gone on to win awards, including a National Student Murrow. The SoCJ was named one of four solutions journalism hub institutions in 2022.

"We've spent a lot of time thinking about and trying different strategies to help students understand that many stories they want to tell can be improved through a solutions journalism approach, and they've risen to the challenge in pretty remarkable ways," said J.D. Allen, journalism instructor, solutions journalism accredited trainer, and managing editor of WSHU, a Long Island National Public Radio affiliate station. "It's been wonderful to share what we've learned with this great group of engaged educators, and to learn from them as well."

The program included conversations about best practices, integrating solutions journalism into syllabi and course learning outcomes, data journalism and solutions, and several brainstorming sessions for educators to collaborate and experiment with different ideas.

"Exquisitely planned and executed, the Educators Academy exceeded even our highest expectations," said Michael Davis, training and curriculum manager at the Solutions Journalism Network and co-host of the educators academy at Stony Brook. "The university provided a pitch-perfect environment for participants to delve deeply into the principles and practices of solutions journalism. Speaking for the attendees and the delegation from Solutions Journalism Network, we thank Stony Brook for the opportunity to network and share, brainstorm and plan. That it took place in a summery expanse, hard by Long Island Sound, made it all the more memorable and enjoyable."

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