Visual Solutions Journalism: A Theoretical Framework

Abstract

Solutions journalism, which is defined as rigorous and fact-driven news stories that include responses to social problems, has gained momentum in U.S. newsrooms. To date, research on this journalistic practice is scant, and has primarily focused on text. This study synthesized literature about solutions journalism, visual communication theory, and photojournalism norms and ethics. The result of this analysis is a proposed set of best practices that suggests visual solutions journalism should be comprehensive, humanizing, and precise. Then a content analysis and a social semiotic analysis of visuals from solutions journalism identified newspaper stories were conducted. The content analysis identified visual trends in current solutions journalism reporting. The social semiotic analysis assessed visual work that best exemplifies solutions journalism and photojournalism tenets. This semiotic analysis yielded support for the proposed best practices for visual solutions journalism. The findings advance visual communication theory and offer photojournalists and editors a set of practical guidelines for applying solutions journalism tenets to photography.

A systematic review of constructive and solutions journalism research

“…Numerous journal articles since then have focussed on solutions journalism from perspectives of conceptualization, production, effects and more. While there have not been any dedicated conferences or journal issues, solutions journalism research has been presented around the world at academic conferences, including a recent panel that provided an overview and suggested future trajectory of solutions visual journalism research and practice (Midberry et al, 2020).…”

The Influence of Visual Frame Combinations in Solutions Journalism Stories

“…The justification for publishing and venerating disturbing images is based on the assumption that they are needed to arouse compassion and empathy that will lead to action (Emmett, 2010). Building on these industry arguments, Midberry and Dahmen (2020) asserted that problem images are necessary for visual solutions journalism to cause compassion and empathy responses.…”

“…The combination condition was theorized in previous research (Midberry & Dahmen, 2020) to yield high levels of positive emotions and efficacy and lower levels of negative emotions than problem-only photos. Results demonstrated that participants in the no photos condition responded similarly to those in the combination condition, with no significant differences.…”

The curve not taken: Effects of COVID-19 international comparison news

“…Several decades of newsroom cost-cutting have led to major reductions in international newsgathering resources at U.S. news outlets [25] while also greatly reducing policy coverage and instead focusing on political competition and strategy [26,27]. There are commendable efforts underway to reverse this trend such as the solutions journalism movement [28][29][30]. We believe that international policy comparison news is a particularly promising form of solutions journalism.…”