Best practices

• Summary: There are already 42 geothermal power plants in Germany, and the possibilities are also being explored in Husum. But the process requires patience. Using the small town of Bad Bevensen as an example, we explain where the opportunities and limitations lie and why perseverance can pay off.
• User needs: Solution orientation 
• What we like about the story: This article is a good example of how thinking beyond your own backyard can enrich your local reporting. There are recent developments in Husum that have already progressed elsewhere. Solutions journalism can help to tell these stories for your own audience. 
• Published on: March 4, 2024
• Author: Jonna Marlin Lausen

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• Summary: The German government aims to wet a quarter of all peatland areas by 2040, with the Free State of Bavaria offering the highest funding support.
• User needs: Solution orientation
• What we like about the story: Sometimes, constructive journalism simply picks up on news that gets lost in the everyday noise of headlines. News that shows that good things are happening in the world. Because someone needs to find and write about these stories too. 
• What the authors say: Ronja Brier: "We deliver the 'Good News.' Every day. Because the world is far from coming to an end. Both users and advertising partners increasingly reflect that the format is extremely popular." It also has a "very positive" impact on the job satisfaction of editorial staff.
• Published on: January 8, 2024
• Author: Julia Dombrowsky

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• Summary: Various social media platforms are circulating claims that the first Muslim party in Germany has been founded, based on a supposed Bild article. The fact-check reveals that neither the party nor the article exists, and it wouldn't be the first Muslim party in Germany.
• User needs: Background information and verifications
• What we like about the story: With its fact-checking, CORRECTIV makes an important contribution to the fight against disinformation, which is particularly valuable for free-reaching platforms.
• Published on: February 1, 2024
• Author: Steffen Kutzner

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• Summary: For those living in rural areas, reliance on cars is often a necessity. But what could environmentally friendly public transportation look like, and how can it be effectively utilized? That's the focus of this episode of kugelzwei.
• User needs: Diversity of perspectives, solution and future orientation
• What we like about the story: It addresses questions about envisioning a better future and how to get there. kugelzwei consistently aims to answer these core questions in depth and from various angles for different issues. Often, this involves looking beyond national borders, as is the case in this episode.
• Published on: September 15, 2023
• Author: Anja Wollschläger

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• Summary: The Müller drugstore is a crowd-puller in downtown Mindelheim. Now, the store is set to close. The article explains how the closure of Müller in a small Austrian town similar to Mindelheim served as a catalyst for a reorientation - and the positive outcomes that resulted from it.
• User needs: Diversity of perspectives, solution and future orientation
• What we like about the story: Constructive journalism works at the local level as well. Once again, looking beyond national borders has provided new perspectives and demonstrated the value of not just identifying problems, but actively seeking solutions.
• Published on: March 27, 2023
• Author: Benedikt Dahlmann

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• Summary: While the previous article about Bottrop focuses more on its successes, this text documents the journey of the Arrenberg district in Wuppertal towards climate neutrality.
• User needs: Solution orientation and transparency
• What we like about the story: The article is far from being a final solution proposal. Instead, it documents Wuppertal's efforts to achieve transformation. Such insights are just as valuable as final assessments, if not more so. Additionally, they lend themselves well to multipart series and follow-up reporting.
• Published on: March 5, 2021
• Author: Benjamin Fuchs

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• Summary: Two individuals with opposing views on a political issue, such as vaccination, how the West should deal with Russia, or the effectiveness of gender mainstreaming, engage in a conversation to understand each other's perspectives. In this episode, the discussion revolves around arms supplies to Ukraine.
• User needs: Representation, diversity of perspectives and constructive dialogue
• What we like about the story: The hosting duo, Jana Simon and Philip Faigle, meet participants before each episode to learn how their backgrounds influence their views. Two strong elements of the format are the questions: "On a scale of 0 to 10, how confident are you in your position?" and after the discussion: "What have you learned?"
• Published on: July 2, 2022
• Authors: Jana Simon and Philip Faigle

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• Summary: More and more shipping companies are switching to green methanol as fuel. Two years ago, Mission Climate reported on this trend. Now, the hosts examine what has changed since then.
• User needs: Solution orientation
• What we like about the content: Instead of extensively explaining the problem, Mission Climate dives directly into a critical examination of the proposed solution. A good example of constructive follow-up reporting.
• Published on: December 12, 2023
• Authors: Susanne Tappe and Arne Schulz

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• Summary: Crash Course always explores a current topic from two perspectives: present and past. In this episode, it discusses the introduction of shortened working hours, reflecting on historical fears and perceptions.
• User needs: Diversity of perspectives
• What we like about the story: A historical perspective is always an effective means of introducing diversity of perspectives. The podcast also highlights the value of a well-maintained archive.
• Published on: February 2, 2024
• Author: Sandra Pfister

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• Summary: For queer individuals in Uganda, even visiting a doctor poses risks due to a new harsh law against sexual minorities. Curiosity Satisfied sheds light on their daily lives, provides background information, and discusses potential pathways forward.
• User needs: Representation, diversity of perspectives, background information, human stories and future orientation
• What we liked about the story: Author Naveena Kottoor reports on individuals who defy significant obstacles while retaining hope. The editorial team not only tackles an exceptional topic but also researches extraordinary protagonists, without dwelling solely on the problem.
• Published on: January 26, 2024
• Author: Naveena Kottoor

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• Summary: In many Nairobi slums, it smokes and stinks at mealtimes because many residents cook with cheap coal stoves. Unfortunately, these are not only harmful to health but also to the environment. A start-up has developed a biogas stove - and ways in which local people can afford it.
• User needs: Solution orientation
• What we like about the story: The Weltspiegel report is a very well-executed solution story. The answers that the company has found to keep gas stoves as affordable as possible are particularly strong. Plus points are also awarded for the fact that it is a solution approach from local people for local people.
• Published on: June 16, 2024
• Author: Caroline Imlau

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• Summary: The core question of the program is: What's going wrong in Germany? The editorial team explores this question in relation to topics such as labor shortages, digitalization, and bureaucracy, while also considering alternative approaches.
• User needs: Background information, human stories and solution orientation
• What we like about the Story: The program conducts thorough root cause analysis, presenting stories from practical experiences. It also features examples of individuals who do things differently - and succeed.
• What the newsroom says: Editor Donata Dröge: "My colleagues have achieved a good mix of problem analysis, solution approaches, and constructive atmosphere. Like the previous year's edition, 'Through Examination' achieved good ratings." Nearly 1.5 million people watched the program live on television.

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• Summary: Germany is lagging behind digitally. Plan B showcases various examples that demonstrate this doesn't have to be the case. The program discusses AI robotics from a startup, a digital assistant for hospitals, and paperless bureaucracy in Estonia.
• User needs: Human stories, solution and future orientation
• What we like about the story: With "There’s Room For More, Germany", the title sets the positive and motivating tone it promises. The hosts get close to the protagonists and spend minimal time explaining well-known problems, focusing more on solutions.
• Published on: December 7, 2023
• Author: Lara Bauerkamp

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• Summary: Brother Stève reports on the African continent - sometimes on a specific topic, sometimes with a series of brief news items. In this episode, he discusses the presidential election in Liberia and the ban on Eritrean football players from the World Cup.
• User needs: This content meets the needs of media consumers by providing: Representation and diversity of perspectives
• What we like about the story: The news reported by the moderator is often positive and encouraging, covering a wide range of topics that other media outlets might find worthwhile to explore further. Additionally, the content reflects the diversity of the continent.
• Published on: December 5, 2023
• Author: Stève Hiobi

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• Summary: Loneliness is a taboo topic for many young people, yet nearly 15% of them in the Netherlands are affected. The youth club Join Us aims to bring these people together and strengthen them.
• User needs: Representation, diversity of perspectives, human stories and solution orientation
• What we like about the story: Constructive journalism can also be presented succinctly, as demonstrated by People Fixing the World. The author doesn't minimize the problem but emphasizes potential solutions.
• Published on: January 29, 2024
• Author: Myra Anubi

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• Summary: Libraries often have a stale and sometimes elitist image, despite reflecting the idea of classless education. The article explores how long-standing institutions can be reimagined to play a role in modern urban development.
• User needs: Diversity of perspectives and solution orientation.
• What we like about the story: The article shows that a good future doesn't always require major innovations. Sometimes, it's enough to focus on what has worked well for a long time and consider how familiar institutions and structures can function in a modern world.
• Published on: January 8, 2024
• Author: Jon Hanley

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• Summary: While the spread of dangerous hospital-acquired infections is a growing problem in Hungary every year, it is being successfully managed elsewhere. In England, this problem has been solved with a lot of attention and radical transparency.
• User needs: Solution orientation 
• What we like about the story: This solutions story is part of an investigative series by the Hungarian media outlet Direkt36 on hospital infections in the country. It shows: Investigative and constructive journalism go hand in hand; when abuses are uncovered, the next step is to research whether solutions have already been found and how they work, thus not just leaving people alone with the awareness of the problem. The series is on the 2024 Shortlist of the European Press Prize. 
• Published on: November 3, 2023
• Authors: Zsuzsanna Wirth, Kamilla Marton

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• Summary: The commentary explains the editorial decision to report on elections differently in the future.
• User needs: Transparency and solution orientation
• What we like about the story: What's special about the content is not only the departure from horse race journalism but also the transparent justification of this decision.
• Published on: October 12, 2023
• Author: Quentin Young

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• Summary: In one of the world’s driest cities, an ingenious system channels water from the air to those who need it most.
• User needs: solution orientation
• What we like about the story: The story is a great example of a solutions story that is checking all the boxes. The story was awarded with the first Solutions Journalism Network Award in the category General Excellence.
• Published on: September 18, 2023
• Authors: Peter Young and Melanie Pérez Arias

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• Summary: Since 2011, Ethiopia has been constructing the GERD Dam, a large-scale project costing over four billion dollars. The electricity generated by the dam is expected to provide access to 60% of Ethiopians currently not connected to the power grid. However, the project is contentious in the region.
• User needs: Diversity of perspectives, background information and solution orientation 
• What we like about the content: African countries often appear in the news as pawns in international relations rather than as independent actors. This piece provides a different perspective, discussing uncertainties and potential solutions.
• Published on: August 4, 2023
• Author: Jennifer Holleis

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• Summary: From Berlin to Barcelona and from Stuttgart to San Francisco, rents are skyrocketing. Only in Vienna do housing costs remain relatively affordable. The article compares rents in New York and Vienna and explains why Vienna offers such affordable housing.
• User needs: Diversity of perspectives and solution orientation 
• What we like about the story: Data journalism can also be constructive. The data described both the problem and the solution, with the text providing context for both sides.
• Published on: March 25, 2023
• Author: Mirko Lorenz

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