1.
CONSTRUCTIVE
JOURNALISM
“Unlikely Dialogue”
23 January 2020
itdUPM

2.
WHO?
Oliver Balch
• “Constructive Journalist”

3.
WHY? THE PROBLEM
“Whether or not the world really is getting
worse, the nature of news will interact with the
nature of cognition to make us think that it is.”
Stephen Pinker

4.
WHAT?
CONSTRUCTIVE
JOURNALISM
“Rigorous, compelling reporting
that includes positive and solution-
focused elements in order to
empower audiences and present a
fuller picture of truth, while
upholding journalism’s core
functions and ethics.”
Constructive Journalism Project

5.
WHAT?
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
• Written by someone who
cares
• Focused on solutions
• Aimed at engaging and
empowering audiences

6.
WHAT?
BASIC DIFFERENCES
• Positive (but not
uncritical)
• Solving problems (not
exacerbating problems)
• Aspirational about
journalism (not naïve
about media)
• Valuable to society
• Fosters
debate/consensus (not
silos/division)

7.
WHAT IS IT NOT?
PUBLIC RELATIONS
• Fluff: ‘Good news’
• Advocacy journalism
• State-backed “development journalism”

8.
WHERE?
SPECIALIST PRESS

9.
WHERE? TRADE PRESS

10.
WHERE?
MAINSTREAM
PRESS …

11.
WHERE?
PAID FOR CONTENT
& ADVERTORIAL

12.
WHERE?
THE GUARDIAN:
“UPSIDE” SERIES

13.
WHAT’S NEXT?
FUTURE
THE NEED IS THERE,
THE STORIES ARE THERE ...
BUT SO ARE THE CHALLENGES

14.
HOW TO?
MOVE FOWARD
• combat media industry skepticism
• change audience expectations
• inspire and train journalists
• create suitable media platforms &
business models