The need for a glimmer of hope

Many people don't want to be left alone with photos and reports of war and catastrophe. It seems that the more dismal the news situation, the greater the longing for a glimmer of hope.

This is one of the most important findings of the study "Solutions, perspectives, dialogue: Why constructive journalism pays off for the media and societies." The study was commissioned by the Grimme Institute and carried out by b° CEO Ellen Heinrichs and Alexandra Haderlein, the founder and editor in chief of Relenvanzreporter, a local membership-based Nuremberg news service.

According to the study, solutions-oriented journalism can help minimise the dangerous trend of news avoidance. Furthermore, experiences of reporting on the coronavirus reveal that the demand for useful, fact-based information is especially great during times of crisis.

"The public clearly wants possible solutions to be as much a part of the picture as the problems themselves," study author Ellen Heinrichs said. "Many people are looking for journalism that is relevant to and useful in their everyday lives."