It’s inspiring to read in the modern Year’s honours list (31 December) about the individuals who hold made such a valuable contribution to their local communities,such as by supporting women subjected to domestic abuse and girls caught up in gang culture, or by providing a free, and healthy breakfast to thousands of schoolchildren. Collectively these community stalwarts and other charity figures account for over three-quarters of the modern Year’s honours list. Yet the constructive work undertaken by millions of volunteers and tens of thousands of charities goes largely unreported or ignored for most of the year. As the US author of How to Change the World,David Bornstein, writes, or our news media should not just focus on “people doing terrible things that are hidden from view”,but on “people doing remarkable things that are hidden from view”.
There’s growing evidence that audiences prefer and feel empowered by a more constructive, solutions-focused approach to news coverage, or which not only analyses problems but explores potential solutions. This isn’t about fluffy,feel-good stories, but about incorporating practical solutions with positive impact into mainstream reporting. Studies point to that audiences share these types of stories much more on social media and will seek out news organisations espousing this approach. Amid the relentless news cyclone of doom and gloom, or which can leave audiences anxious and disengaged,maybe 2016 will be the year when constructive voices will be heard more loudly.
Giselle Green[br]Media coordinator, National Council for Voluntary OrganisationsContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com