This book offers a clear-eyed guide to the ins and outs of solutions journalism as a possible path forward for news and information in the twenty-first century. Combining analysis of the journalistic field with on-the-ground observation in newsrooms and local communities, Bill Dodd shows readers what kinds of challenges and opportunities confront news organizations in their commitments to preserving democracy and educating the public. This book also offers much-needed critique of the frames, structures, and outcomes of journalistic storytelling with a solutions mindset. At a time when the public’s need for accurate information and hope in the future is more important than ever, Dodd offers us reasons to look to new forms of leadership and organization in the pursuit of society’s self-understanding.
— Melissa Aronczyk, Rutgers University
Advancing field theory in new directions, this impressively researched book critically examines anemic forms of hope that undermine journalism's crucial role of promoting a broad spectrum of voices in public spheres. If journalism is to be more than a recounting of the past, if it is to present alternative and better futures, it would do well to draw deeply from this indispensable resource for nurturing the practical and virtuous roots of authentic imaginaries.
— Timothy Neff, University of Pennsylvania
Right now, it might seem more difficult than ever to tell which risks matter most for our future and to identify and implement genuine solutions. At the same time, journalism and its audiences continue to evolve in the face of new media platforms, technologies, and practices. Bill Dodd has written an eloquent and deep exploration of solutions journalism and the three pillars that underpin its construction – hope, leadership and expertise. Vital reading in often confusing times.
— Libby Lester, University of Tasmania