Nuancing the Narrative-CALLS FOR CONSTRUCTIVE NEWS - Constructive Institute
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20 PUBLISHED IN DENMARK BY CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE EDITOR MONICA SENKER HOLBECH PHOTOS YONAS TADESSE MATHIAS SVOLD PETER DAMGAARD KRISTENSEN SHAHIN-KHALAJI FOR UNSPLASH FLORIAN STEFFEN FOR UNSPLASH COVER PHOTOS BY YONAS TADESSE FRONT: FROM THE PHOTO COLLECTION “FINDING MEANING IN A PANDEMIC” BY YONAS TADESSE: HEALTH WORKERS SURPRISE COVID-19 PATIENT IN RECOVERY WARD WITH A CAKE ON HER BIRTHDAY. GRAPHICS & LAYOUT MONICA SENKER HOLBECH CONTACT CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE C/O AARHUS UNIVERSITY BARTHOLINS ALLÉ 16 BYGNING 1328, 1. SAL 8000 AARHUS C DENMARK +45 601 38 600 INFO@CONSTRUCTIVEINSTITUTE.ORG Constructive institute is an independent center at the heart of the constructive journalism movement. Our mission is to change the global news culture in five years. Join us @ConstructiveIn. CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE IS SITUATED ON AARHUS UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. THANK YOU TO STUDENTS, RESEARCHERS, STAFF AND THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT FOR THE COLLABORATION AND FOR HOSTING US. 2
CONTENTS PAGE 4 Introductory Note: “Beyond the Problem” By CEO Ulrik Haagerup PAGE 6 Introduction: The Corona Virus is a Global Call for Responsible Journalism PAGE 8 “Journalism During Corona” By Professor Liesbeth Hermans PAGE 10 Covering Corona Constructively “Word Matter” PAGE 12 New Report: “Danes Ask for Constructive News” By Professor Hans Henrik Knoop & CFOO Peter Damgaard Kristensen PAGE 14 “Solutions to News Avoidance” By Professor Morten Skovsgaard & Ass. Professor Kim Andersen PAGE 18 How To Do Constructive Journalism? PAGE 22 Global Constructive Master Class PAGE 24 Constructive Journalism Fellowship PAGE 26 Fellows Essays By Morten Runge, Mette Aaby, Kasper Kaasgaard, Sarah Golczyk, Jo Williamson, Friederike Felbo, Minna Skau, Tine Tud Seerup, Mathilde Graversen, Hans Davidsen-Nielsen, Jakob Risbro and Katja Boxberg PAGE 38 Events & Activities PAGE 44 Funders & Sponsors PAGE 46 Constructive Institute Organisation 3
Constructive Institute “applies Constructive journalism a new vocabulary, so both news people and the people we serve can have a better conversation. – ULRIK HAAGERUP, CEO CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE WRITTEN BY ULRIK HAAGERUP, CEO OF CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE Any sales person, interest group or politician The internet and the disruption have had reporting” emerged. To many it sounded knows, perception is reality. seismic impacts on the news industry. Not strange because wasn’t all reporting only have business models for journalism investigative? No, it was not, far too People make decisions when they vote, shop been shaken and competition for the much of it was printing of press releases or make any decision in their personal or attention of news audiences exacerbated and handing politicians the microphone professional lives based not on what the but news has also sped up, increased and the message. It was not enough to facts are, but on what they perceive to be in volume and become increasingly talk about the need for “better” or more the facts. Where do we get that from? We all sensationalist. “quality” journalism but now the news get our perceptions from what we can see industry had a new vocabulary. with our own eyes and from what we hear The results have been people in their from others around us, the rest is media. millions turning their back from traditional IT'S TIME TO INVEST IN NEW TOOLS news – and so have the advertisers who “Editorial choices for more than a century have been the main funders of independent journalism. News organisations could start investing in tools for “investigative” reporting: New about what news News avoidance has become a growing ways of organizing in reporting units; new ways of interviewing people with power, should focus trend, as especially woman and new generations avoid the “noise” of a news who wanted to hide the truth; new ways of researching using documents and on… have huge cycle that is overwhelming, always on and always on-hand through digital devices. data; and new ways of publishing in series and documentaries applying storytelling impact on the way In Reuters Digital News report 2020 from over 30 countries 32% of respondents said techniques from fiction and movies. other people see they actively avoid the news. Nearly 60% of Constructive journalism applies a new themselves, each these said it was because it had a negative vocabulary, so both news people and effect on their mood, others described the people we serve can have a better other and the world feeling powerless to change events. conversation, both about what is missing in traditional reporting and also how we they live in.” “News avoidance has become a growing can do it better with new questions, new trend, as especially woman and new focus, new roles, new concepts and new generations avoid the “noise” of a news tools. More than probably any other profession cycle that is overwhelming.” journalism is a filter between reality and the “Constructive journalism applies a new public perception of reality. Editorial choices Political polarization has also encouraged vocabulary, so both news people and about what news should focus on, what the growth of partisan agendas online, the people we serve can have a better reporters ask, how their stories are angled which together with clickbait and various conversation.” Constructive journalism and what to publish and not to tell all have forms of misinformation is helping to is neither an alternative to being the a huge impact on the way other people see further undermine trust in media – raising watchdog, nor a quick fix for a profession themselves, each other and the world they new questions about how to deliver in desperate search for a future and a live in. balanced and fair reporting in the digital purpose. age. Business as usual is no longer an WAR OF ATTENTION IN THE DIGITAL AGE option for news organizations. At Constructive Institute we do not have all the answers but we do believe in curious The war of the public attention has A NEW TERM FOR JOURNALISM and critical questions and that applies increased in the digital age in many to the role of journalism itself. We are newsrooms for the last 20 years. And the That’s why we came up with the term certain that we now need this conversation strategy in too many of them has been to constructive journalism – because positive, because in the words of Bulgarian writer just turn up the volume button with more happy, fluffy non-critical, North Korean Maria Popova “Hope without thinking is breaking news alerts, more stories, sharper version of reporting it is not. It builds on all naïve – but critical thinking without hope headlines, more drama, more conflict. the old journalistic values about fairness, is cynical”. fact-fulness and serving people “the best Doing all this on more platforms, all with less obtainable version of the truth”. We want to change the global news culture and less money and fewer and fewer people. because we fear that journalism is partly to It doesn’t sound like something McKinsey It was Watergate-reporter Carl Bernstein blame for the trust meltdown in media and would call a “winning strategy” in any other that coined the term “the best obtainable democracy. But mostly because we are business, does it? Well, it’s not in the news version of the truth” and it was during the certain that journalism needs to be part of industry either. 1960’s and 1970’s the term “investigative the solution too. Annual Report 5
Constructive Institute In a Time of Isolation the Media Must Provide Trusted News The coronavirus pandemic is a global call for responsible media. Constructive journalism places the focus of journalism and public attention beyond the glare of global problems and looks to address potential solutions to the challenges facing us all. Here we map out how some of the world’s most significant news outlets cover the biggest health crisis of our time. Photo: Shahin Khalaji Annual Report 7
Constructive Institute Journalism During Corona The Coronavirus has offered a significant challenge to the financial situation of many news media but it has also been a catalyst for audiences returning to trusted media sources. In the Netherlands and beyond this could be an opportunity for journalists to turn towards the more constructive content that their audiences have been asking for. Here Liesbeth Hermans identifies several constructive principles that can be applied to news production. WRITTEN BY LIESBETH HERMANS, PROFESSOR, CONSTRUCTIVE JOURNALISM, WINDESCHIEM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES CLICK HERE TO READ ONLINE In the Netherlands, as in many other the opposite. An overload of almost often seems to direct news selection countries, subscriptions to newspapers identical, often superficial news, and news coverage. are up and more people are watching causes people to feel restless and television news. People return to uncertain about what is really going We know that exposure to negative traditional news media in times of on, because the context behind the angles in news messages increases crisis such as the corona pandemic numbers is missing. negative emotions, such as fear because they expect to get accurate and anxiety. Experiencing negative and trustworthy information. Work by GapMinder and IPSOS Mori emotions narrows people’s scope on the “perception gap” shows that of attention and increases people’s At the beginning of the Corona crisis, the current interpretation of facts feelings of inefficacy and lack of combating the problem together often does not lead to an accurate control. was central in most news reports. world view. People overwhelmingly Unfortunately, the initial shared have a more pessimistic estimation In contrast, findings show that focus on solidarity, prevention, and of issues, ranging from global poverty exposure to constructive news solutions seems to be giving way to to teenage pregnancy, than the (as compared to traditional news) increased focus on political and social objective reality. brings about the opposite and has contradictions and disagreements. beneficial effects. According some Journalists often believe that ongoing research of mine (soon to be Sadly, many journalists are reverting declining news consumption is published) it also stimulates feelings to prior routines in which they mainly caused by people’s diminishing of hope and inspiration. Further focus on negative developments and interest in social issues. On the studies indicate that constructive emphasize political conflict. contrary my research has found that news leads to higher engagement on young people in the Netherlands for social issues. DEMAND FOR CONSTRUCTIVE example experience a gap between ANGLES what they want and expect from A MISUNDERSTANDING news and what journalism offers. The demand for constructive angles Not everybody agrees with the can prove difficult for journalists Dutch millennials criticise news for constructive approach. Some trained to provide a 24 hour stream being too elite- and institutionally opponents think that constructive of breaking news and new ‘facts’. This focused and for being not being journalism secretly means positive practice makes it intuitive to post relevant and valuable to their own news, this is a misunderstanding. continuous updates on the numbers lives. Worldwide news avoidance Constructive journalism motivates of infections, deaths or economic is growing because audiences feel journalists to look beyond the usual shrinkage. Yet, instead of helping frustrated and depressed by the problem- and conflict- oriented people understand reality, this does predominantly negative focus that format and to search for additional 8 Annual Report
Constructive Institute An overload of almost identical, often superficial news, causes people to feel restless and uncertain about what is really going on, because the context behind the numbers is missing. – LIESBETH HERMANS, PROFESSOR, WINDESCHIEM UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES SEVEN CONSTRUCTIVE PRINCIPLES angles such as solution- future- and and to be open to new values and action-oriented perspectives, for practices that will frame their stories • DEEPENING: example, to try to include more give context and insight in ways that can lead to productive inspiring and engaging formats. through more explanation. change. To achieve this, a new, more creative news-process is needed that When utilizing a constructive mindset, • EMPOWERING: focuses on new angles and ideas journalists move beyond the detached inform the public about to replace standard modes of news observer role to become facilitators of existing and possible solutions coverage. democratic conversation. This leads to for reported problems and a more public-oriented journalism, in about possibilities to take In my article “Placing Constructive which the audience becomes a serious action. Journalism in context” I identify stakeholder in the news process. several principles that can be applied • FUTURE in order to help journalists make TIME TO BREAK OLD HABITS PERSPECTIVE: constructive based decisions in the inform the public beyond the production of news (see list). daily events and raise attention Today’s circumstances are a good for long-term processes. moment to break with old habits; a These principles should be seen as a catalyst for reflection on how best • INCLUSIVE: mix of strategies that apply in several journalists can contribute to well- include a broad range of stages of the news process. They being in society. It is an opportunity to perspectives and sources are not fixed tools but instruments implement the type of news advocated (representing the diversity that can help journalists to broaden by Constructive Journalism, that wants of society) and provide their mindset and attitude towards to provide citizens with contextual information that contributes journalism. news on social issues, without over- to public dialogue. emphasizing the sensational and what The corona era has shown us that goes wrong. • COOPERATIVE: the news remains indispensable involve citizens actively in the and clarifies how important quality news process. It critically questions journalists who journalism is to understand both solely focus on problematic angles in the global and the local impact of • INSPIRING: stories and who (disproportionately) give attention to positive the major issues society faces. More represent institutions, and the logic of examples and developments. constructive journalism will only power. strengthen citizens’ engagement • TRANSPARENT: and mutual understanding, whilst Constructive Journalism calls for be accountable for your enhancing the role of journalism in journalists to change their mindset choices and their impact. our democracies. Annual Report 9
Constructive Institute COVERING CORONA CONSTRUCTIVELY WORDS MATTER Photo: Florian Steffen How to cover Corona? Based on address nuance, context and hope. reporting are essential for covering great journalism from around the The time is now to show why the pandemic of the coronavirus. world we examine how to apply journalism is essential to audiences, the principles of constructive society and democracy. These two modes of reporting use journalism as an additional critical journalism in order to inform The coronavirus pandemic is a global news audiences around the world and element when reporting on the call for responsible journalism. hold the people in power responsible coronavirus. Constructive journalism is a mindset for their actions, or lack of action. which places the focus of journalism DRAMA OR NUANCE and public attention beyond the In what way could the principles Words matter. In this grave international glare of global problems and looks of constructive journalism offer crisis they are absolutely necessary. to address potential solutions to the additional elements when covering the Just take a moment to consider the two challenges facing us all. coronavirus? headlines below. AN ADD-ON TO BREAKING NEWS Constructive journalism is based on “Many Loved Ones Will Die“ AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM three pillars and here are 3 examples “Together We Can Save Many Lives“ of how these principles could be used Constructive journalism compliments in covering the evolving pandemic. With journalism acting as a filter between the two major modes of news Some of the recommendations may reality and the public perception of reporting: Breaking news and seem to be simply good, thorough, reality journalists must ask themselves if Investigative journalism (see opposite critical and balanced journalism but they want to angle their coverage solely page). It goes without saying that that is essentially what constructive on the drama of news stories or instead both breaking news and investigative journalism is all about. 10 Annual Report
Constructive Institute P I L L AR 1 P I L L AR 2 P I L L AR 3 FOCUS ON COVER PROMOTE DEMOCRATIC SOLUTIONS NUANCES CONVERSATION Report not only on the problems Strive for the best obtainable Engage and facilitate debate. but also look for possible solutions. version of the truth. G L O B AL H U B F O R G R E AT J O U R N AL I S M FOR MORE GREAT EXAMPLES ON HOW TO COVER CORONA VISIT OUR WEBSITE’S HOW TO SECTION. CLICK MAP TO VISIT. 1 2 3 E X AM P L E P I L L AR 1 E X AM P L E P I L L AR 2 E X AM P L E P I L L AR 3 MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA THE BBC DIE WELT THE NEW YORK TIMES C O U N T RY C O U N T RY C O U N T RY UK GERMANY USA J O U R N AL I S T S J O U R N AL I S T S J O U R N AL I S T HARRIET AGERHOLM, DANIEL ECKERT & JESSICA GROSE JAMES LAW & HOLGER ZSCHÄPITZ JENNIFER MEIERHANS T H E S T O RY T H E S T O RY Based on questions from readers T H E S T O RY Die Welt cover nuances with a (via an interactive tool for questions) The BBC devotes entire segment Historical Perspective. Thus this article the New York Times gets help from for possible solutions to corona. zooms out to the macro view of the doctors, public officials and other The journalists have gathered a crisis and its global economic impact. experts to answer many of the number of stories that show how Using a historical perspective the questions parents have about public people are helping each other and journalists describes the three big playgrounds, visiting grandparents, finding solutions in response to the financial crashes of the last 100 years general hygiene, birthday parties, coronavirus. and tries to identify some learning testing, homemade hand sanitizer and points. more. AN ADD - O N T O B R E AK I N G N E W S & I N V E S T I G AT I V E J O U R N AL I S M Annual Report 11
Constructive Institute New Report: A S U M M ARY O F T H E M O S T I M P O R TAN T F I N D I N G S F R O M O U R R E S E AR C H Danes 16% of Danes periodically avoid news. Ask for People who report that news often makes them feel bad and who think that the media focus too much on conflict are more prone to avoid news. News Constructive avoiders use traditional media sources less compared to non- avoiders. Instead, avoiders use social media and streaming News as their source of news. • A third of the population feel that news often puts them in a bad mood. More than half of the population believes that news focuses more on negative than positive perspectives on events. Almost six out of ten Danes think that far too much news focuses on conflict. EXCERPTS FROM THE REPORT ‘NEWS EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS IN DENMARK 2020’ • CLICK REPORT READ IN FULL. News credibility in Denmark is lukewarm. WRITTEN BY Around a quarter of Danes agree that the PETER DAMGAARD, CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE media paint a fair and accurate picture of HANS HENRIK KNOOP, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, AU the world. News credibility varies across segments of the population. We have asked the Danish analytics company Epinion • to conduct an independent and representative study 68% of Danes would prefer news that on “news experiences and opinions” among more than focuses more on illuminating a case from 2000 Danish citizens. The survey was made possible different perspectives, on informing about with support from the Salling Foundations as part of the solutions to societal problems (58%) and Constructive News Lab. on inspiring action (51%). • The report investigates current media trends with a profound focus on news 57% of Danes would prefer to read a credibility, perceptions of news negativity news article with a constructive rather and the tendency of some to avoid news. than a conventional news headline. More specifically, the report looks at • how Danes perceive the news media, and we use this to get an impression People who read a constructive of the current state of the news. This is newspaper article are less inclined to feel important in identifying what problems uncomfortable and more likely to agree the broader population are seeing in the that ‘the world needs more articles of media. Next, the report tests whether the this kind’ compared to a control group constructive news paradigm is a potential who read a conventional article about the solution to some of the issues raised. same topic. • Specifically we test if there is a demand for constructive news and if reading People high in the trait neuroticism, who constructive news content is any different are generally more prone to negative from reading conventional news. thoughts, are more likely to avoid news and less likely to think that following news Lastly, the report provides novel evidence is important. People who are agreeable or on the effect of the corona outbreak on conscientious tend to think that following Danes’ opinions and behavior towards the news is important but are more likely news. to experience today’s news as too conflict oriented. 12 Annual Report
Constructive Institute When left with a choice we see that a majority will choose a headline with a constructive angle even though conventional wisdom is that ‘if it bleeds, it leads’. – PETER DAMGAARD, CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE KEY FINDINGS 57% 58% 68% of the time, Danes prefer a of Danes say that news focuses of Danes want the news to focus story with a constructive heading too much on conflict more on Illuminating a case from several different sides F I G U R E : N E W S FO C U S O N F I G U R E : N E W S AVO I DAN C E N E G AT I V I T Y AN D C O N F L I C T I N T H E DAN I S H P O P U L AT I O N 2% 4% 16% 6% 2% 8% 39% periodically avoids news 43% 10% 28% 17% 58% agree that too 19% much news focuses on 22% conflict Agree Partly agree Neither agree nor Agree Partly agree Neither agree nor (39%) (19%) disagree (28%) (6%) (10%) disagree (17%) Disagree Partly Don’t know (4%) Disagree Partly Don’t know (2%) (2%) disagree (8%) (43%) disagree (22%) N=2.014 N=2.014 Wording: How much do you Wording: How much do you agree or agree or disagree with the disagree with the following statement: following statement ... I periodically try to avoid news. Perceiving a more truthful and fairer blend of negative and positive news would not only help people make better sense of the world, it would significantly strengthen journalism by improved public trust. – HANS HENRIK KNOOP, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, AARHUS UNIVERSITY Annual Report 13
Constructive Institute Solutions to News Avoidance News avoidance is considered an increasing problem for the news industry and democracy at large. As news companies lose consumers, democracy loses the informed foundation for an engaged citizenry. Meanwhile, research on news avoidance is hampered by the lack of a common understanding of the phenomenon. WRITTEN BY MORTEN SKOVSGAARD, PROFESSOR WSR, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK KIM ANDERSEN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK AND UNIVERSITY OF GOTHENBURG News avoidance is a problem for the sell subscriptions and maintain their such news has a negative impact on news media as well as for democracy at societal relevance. But news avoidance their mood and their well-being. A large. So what can be done to engage is also a problem for democracy.” subsequent feeling of powerlessness people in news coverage? Among makes them change the channel, turn other things, constructive, fact-based, UNINTENTIONAL AND INTENTIONAL off the television, drop the newspaper, transparent, and slow news may be NEWS AVOIDANCE or delete the news app. possible solutions. News avoidance has a number More news is available now than ever of different causes and, as a Constructive news is one before. Still, a significant amount of consequence, also a number of people consume no, or a very limited, potential solutions that are dependent amount of news and even amongst those who are regular audiences a on actions from different stakeholders. In a study recently published in the possible way to substantial proportion answer that they sometimes or often avoid news content. international journal Journalism Studies we have reviewed and classified the avoid people Furthermore, studies indicate that news avoidance is growing over time despite different causes and potential solutions related to two types of news avoidance turning their backs an increasing supply of journalism – intentional and unintentional. on the news due to its negative focus. output. Contrary to unintentional news News avoidance is a problem for avoidance, which we will return to the traditional news media. News below, intentional news avoidance – MORTEN SKOVSGAARD & KIM ANDERSEN organisations need readers, listeners, or is based on an active and deliberate viewers to generate advertising revenues, choice to avoid news. Studies show that sell subscriptions and maintain their when people actively avoid the news Constructive news is one possible way societal relevance. they often do so because they find the to avoid people turning their backs news too negative, because they do on the news due to its negative focus. But news avoidance is also a problem not trust the news, or because they The idea behind constructive news for democracy. In general, news feel overloaded by the magnitude of is to not only address problems and consumption has a positive impact available news. shortcomings but also the solutions on people’s knowledge of society and and positive examples that can serve politics as well as on their political NEGATIVE NEWS as inspiration for how to handle engagement and participation. So, how challenges. do we encourage people to participate It cannot come as a surprise that in the news cycle? It would be great if a many people feel that the news is too The aim of this more balanced simple answer to that question existed. negative. It is next to impossible to approach to journalism is to tune into a television news broadcast, replace the feeling of distress and “News avoidance is a problem for click onto a news website, or open a powerlessness with a feeling of hope the traditional news media. News newspaper without being confronted and a sense of being able to make a organisations need readers, listeners, or with war, crime, scandals, natural difference in society. viewers to generate advertising revenues, disasters, and suffering. For some, 14 Annual Report
Constructive Institute News organisations need readers, listeners, or viewers to generate advertising revenues, sell subscriptions and maintain their societal relevance. But news avoidance is also a problem for democracy. – MORTEN SKOVSGAARD, PROFESSOR WSR, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN DENMARK Constructive journalism has gained To counter this cause of news develop so-called public service traction in recent years, in Denmark avoidance, news media would have to algorithms. These algorithms ensure for instance several news media put a break on the accelerating news that people are presented with trusted, have introduced constructive news cycle, offering news which explains quality news when they stream their in particular programs or sections of the context behind headlines. News favourite entertainment show on programs. The regional television station overviews that make it easier to identify demand or when they browse through TV 2/Fyn is even working to implement the most important news stories of their social media feed. a constructive mindset amongst all the day would also attract these news journalists to ensure that constructive avoiders. This can be done in different WHO CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM? news stories will blend with news ways. Some of the traditional media are stories that focus on problems and now producing newsletters that outline In consequence, the potential to shortcomings the most important stories of the day counter intentional news avoidance or daily news podcasts that go in-depth primarily lies with journalists and the MISTRUST IN MEDIA with one or a few new stories and news media. Editorial teams are able provide further context. An example of to change news content to make it Low trust in news media and journalists this is The Daily by the New York Times. less negative and more constructive; has also been recurrent issue in recent There is also a trend towards the rise less opinionated, more fact-based and years. For some, the trust in news is of digital born slow news media which transparent; and less overwhelming, so low that they tune out completely. focus on a few stories each day. These more contextualized and slower. The Often, low trust in news media is caused news providers offer long-format in- potential to counter unintentional by a perception that journalists are not depth journalism that contextualize the news avoidance to a larger extent neutral and do not report the truth. One issues more extensively than regular lies with the owners and manager way that news media can potentially news. Some examples of these are of media corporations, social media change this perception is to make a the Dutch De Correspondent, British platforms and politicians. Multipurpose clear distinction between opinion and Tortoise Media or Zetland in Denmark. media organisations and social media journalism based on indisputable facts. companies can decide to develop Another potential way to increase trust UNINTENTIONAL NEWS AVOIDANCE public service algorithms or other among news users is to increase the opportunity structures conducive of transparency in order for people to For those who unintentionally avoid incidental news exposure. In turn check the information included in the news, the underlying causes are politicians can decide to support the journalism and learn how reporters different. They do not turn their media companies developing such constructed the news story. backs on news based on a specific opportunity structures. dislike of news or certain aspects of AN OVERWHELMING NEWS FLOW news. However, when the supply of It is crucial that journalists, media media content increases dramatically, managers, and politicians all make an A third reason why people turn their it is much easier for people to pick effort to counter news avoidance in backs to the news is that they find the exactly the content that meets their order to ensure that the citizenry is as stream of news stories overwhelming. preferences. Thus, this type of news well-informed as possible. However, if The 24-hour television channels or the avoidance is—rather than an active they are to succeed it is also important news websites constantly offer updates rejection of news—based on a choice that the citizens reward their efforts. on the latest developments across of other types of media content—often Citizens can also help to counter news several news stories. While some enjoy entertainment—that in effect crowds avoidance by supporting constructive, the almost endless supply of news, out news consumption. fact-based and transparent, and slow others have the sense of being hit by a and contextualized journalism. news tsunami that is hard to manage. One possible way of alleviating this unintentional news avoidance is to Annual Report 15
Constructive Institute Perhaps, we journalists took a wrong turn 16 Annual Report
Constructive Institute What about ... A journalism for tomorrow? Watch our explainer ‘The World Needs Better News’ click to visit constructiveinstitute.org Annual Report 17
Constructive Institute How To Do P I L L AR Constructive 1: SOLUTIONS MEDIA Journalism? THE UPSIDE, THE GUARDIAN (UK) S U M M ARY ‘HOW TO’ IS A SERIES OF BEST PRACTICE ARTICLES SHOWCASING HOW HOW TO THE WORLD’S LEADING MEDIA HOUSES WORK WITH CONSTRUCTIVE EDIT A STREAM JOURNALISM. HERE WE PRESENT A SELECTION BASED ON OUR THREE OF CONSTRUCTIVE PILLARS, SOLUTIONS, NUANCE, CONVERSATION STORIES The Upside is the Guardian’s constructive journalism “stream”. It is solution-focused reporting Dive into “that seeks out answers, solutions, movements and our compiled initiatives to address the biggest problems besetting the world”. best examples of constructive journalism from all over the world. P I L L AR 2: NUANCES CLICK MAP FOR MORE ONLINE EXAMPLES. MEDIA BERLINGSKE NUANCERER, BERLINGSKE (DK) S U M M ARY HOW TO EMBRACE NUANCE IN POLITICAL COVERAGE “We wanted to show that reality is often not black and white, it can be grey and must have nuances in order to be real,” Editor-in-Chief at Berlingske Mette Østergaard says. P I L L AR 3: CONVERSATION MEDIA EINIG?, NRK (NO) S U M M ARY HOW TO HOST A CIVIL AND CURIOUS POLITICAL DEBATE SHOW The national broadcaster NRK launched a political debate show with a difference. With this format guests find points of connection and agreement rather than look for ways to discredit one another. 18 Annual Report
Constructive Institute How To P I L L AR 1: SOLUTIONS Edit ‘A Stream’ of MEDIA THE UPSIDE, THE GUARDIAN C O U N T RY UK Constructive Stories T O L D T O C I BY MARK RICE-OXLEY EDITOR, THE UPSIDE The Upside is the Guardian’s SOLUTIONS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC constructive journalism “stream”. REPUBLIC OF CONGO It is solutions focused reporting “that seeks out answers, solutions, In 2019 a piece commissioned and produced for the Upside stream won movements and initiatives to the Journalism of Tomorrow award address the biggest problems presented by the Constructive Institute besetting the world”. and the Solutions Journalism Network. The media The piece was written by Guardian Health Editor Sarah Bosely in collaboration must recognise HOW THEY DID IT with photographer David Levene and it reflects the video producer Millie Harvey and was an The driving force behind the series is editor investigation into how the Democratic Mark Rice-Oxley. Mark embarked on the world we live Republic of the Congo has all but project in 2018 because it was “urgently defeated sleeping sickness. in… When needed in a world where a surfeit of dismal news is demoralising audiences as never Accepting the award, Sarah Boseley we report before.” noted that “Most of the media think that stories have to be about something progress, The constructive focus of the Upside was championed by the Guardian’s editor-in- terrible that is happening and it’s only more progress very occasionally that you can turn the chief, Katharine Viner in her 2017 speech tables and say, yes, there are terrible sketching out the future of the newspaper. ensues. What things happening, but within that there Katharine promised that “we will develop are some fantastic things too and maybe better way to ideas that help improve the world, not just we should look to the positive.” critique it. Despair is just another form of change the denial. People long to feel hopeful again – and young people, especially, yearn to feel CONNECTING WITH AUDIENCES world? the hope that previous generations once had.” You can listen to Katharine’s thoughts The Upside has sought to deepen the connection between readers and – MARK RICE-OXLEY, on “A mission for journalism in a time of subjects through a weekly newsletter of EDITOR, THE UPSIDE crisis”. over 30,000 subscribers. Mark stresses the importance of proactively engaging Mark started with an experiment to with recipients of the newsletter by discover whether Guardian readers had an asking teasing questions and offering THE UPSIDE’S appetite for solutions focused journalism. a straightforward method of replying. GROUND RULES After 18 months and 150+ articles he and These efforts have been rewarded with his fellow journalists found that there several good solutions story tips. • LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS FOR THE was significant audience engagement in BIG CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME journalism that “sought out the good things Upside stories are not PR. They Output for the series has been primarily happening in the world”. focused on text articles but earlier in look for solutions that appear replicable, robust and confront June 2020 Mark launched his inaugural the big challenges of our times, Readers spent longer on the articles, often Upside: In Conversation live stream e.g. the environment, atomised reading until the end, and around 1 in 10 (record and now available online -see communities, flagging democracy shared the stories on social media. There constructiveinstitute.org for more). etc. was also a significant volume of responses and enthusiastic messages from readers Introducing the discussion Mark • GO THAT EXTRA MILE asking for more constructive reporting. Efforts are made to find and explained that just as with the Upside’s speak with the communities articles the aim for the conversations The Upside was launched with funding are “Hope, potential, ideas and solutions, working to address the significant problems. The aim is to report from the Skoll Foundation in order to anything really that can give us a dose on places, their reporters rarely commit more deeply to a solutions focused of optimism in challenging times.” visit, broadening reach and stream of content. This funding has now Depending on the reaction from the understanding both for the dried up but the Upside continues. audience they may be planning more. journalists and their reader. Annual Report 19
Constructive Institute How To P I L L AR 2: NUANCES Embrace Nuance MEDIA BERLINGSKE NUANCERER, in Political BERLINGSKE C O U N T RY DENMARK Coverage T O L D T O C I BY METTE ØSTERGAARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BERLINGSKE Berlingske Nuancerer takes a Normally headlines at the paper are deep dive into the central topics a conclusion to the story and give a discussed by Danish politicians and particular angle. The team wanted to voters. The project goes beyond keep them open for Nuancerer. With no conclusion in the headline the reader fact checking what is correct and needs to dig into the content and decide incorrect to explore the nuances their own opinion. of central questions in political debate. Important questions are The tone is authoritative and factual with unpacked, experts are consulted but politicians are left out of the very few quotes, they aren’t opinion piece and are a “politician free zone”. We wanted conversation. Once the Berlingske journalists have to show that HOW THEY DID IT written a first draft of the article it is then reality is often not black and read by a team of external experts who The respected Danish Daily newspaper further fine tune the piece and correct white, it can be Berlingske wanted to approach the 2019 any assumptions or inaccuracies. Danish election with a different tactic. Editor-in-Chief Mette Østergaard felt that in the past journalists had been manipulated Each article is accompanied by a drawing sketched by the same illustrator grey and must by politicians who successfully twisted facts to support their agendas. using a style distinct from the rest of the newspaper. The team never uses have nuances reportage photographs for example, in order to be real. Inspired by a project in the Swedish Nuancerer always has another look newspaper Dagens Nyheter Mette and and feel to the rest of the paper. For her colleagues invited the project lead some stories there is a video explainer, to travel to Copenhagen and share some these are heavy production and only – METTE ØSTERGAARD, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BERLINGSKE inspiration. Off the back of that meeting accompany stories which hold sustained the Berlingske team then developed interest for their readers. Berlingske Nuancerer (Berlingske Nuances) a new editorial concept where every story Berlingske Nuancerer is managed by a starts with a question taken from the most data journalist, Philip Sune Dam, who THE KEY important issues discussed in political takes a deep dive into the statistics and TAK E AWAY S debate. dissects the numbers. Questions that have been tackled so far have ranged • TRUTH IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE The topics covered are high on the agenda from “Is the integration of non-western Sometimes the truth is not black immigrants a failure?” to “Does Demark and white, and audiences distrust for the average Danish voter and citizen. journalism that depicts the world Each question is answered by exploring the have the highest tax burden in the through a simplistic lens. complexity of the topics thereby offering a world?” more precise response for their readers. • AUDIENCES SHOWED INTEREST The aim is to re-examine allegations, REACHED NEW READERS IN DEEPER COMPLEXITY accepted truths and uncritical use of facts. Counterintuitively, audiences It is “a way of giving people new eyes on The project has had a great response welcome an opportunity to delve a topic that they previously thought they both for reads and engagement but also into complex issues without neat knew what the conclusion was,” says Mette by persuading new readers to subscribe answers. Østergaard. to the news website. It has been a valuable tool for branding, showing that • OFFERS SPECIALISED INSIGHTS Giving external experts an The paper put together a team of a “Berlingske is a quality paper that isn’t editorial role offers specialised data journalist, 3 text reporters a video interested in doing just click bait” says insights and integrity to the journalist and an editor to drive the stories Mette Østergaard. journalism. through. Together these journalists build out stories with new clearly identifiable With the success of the concept the • REQUIRES MAN POWER elements. editorial team is now continuing AND TIME Berlingske Nuancerer beyond the Projects such as Berlingske elections publishing a couple of Nuances Nuancerer require extra NEW TOOLS TO OPEN UP FORMAT resources in terms of man Each headline always asks a question. every month. power and time. 20 Annual Report
Constructive Institute How To P I L L AR 3: CONVERSATION Host A Civil MEDIA EINIG?, NRK C O U N T RY NORWAY And Curious Political Debate Show T O L D T O C I BY GRO ENGEN EDITOR, EINIG? Einig? Or “Agreed?” in Norwegian attacks, being argumentative and listing aims to change the culture of political agenda points without regard polarizing political discussion. to what other guests are contributing The national broadcaster NRK are all frowned upon. The editorial team also offers advice on how to lead a launched a political debate show constructive conversation, encouraging with a difference, with this format guests to ask questions about each guests find points of connection other’s views and to be curious. For politicians and agreement rather than look for ways to discredit one another. entering Panelists are not given the questions ahead of time but instead discuss traditional TV HOW THEY DID IT thought provoking statements that are read off a screen in the studio. This debates it is like Einig? Is a prime-time politics show with a difference. The aim of the program is to means no one has prepared talking points with their communications teams winning a match. reverse the toxicity that disfigures public and political language is avoided by all. When they discourse and to avoid shows where the conversations ends as it began, with The program is recorded in garage at decide it’s about nothing being learnt. The team found that many viewers, particularly those under NRK rather than a traditional election campaign studio because the team want “winning” then the age of 50, had given up on debate programs and were tired of politicians to strip away the glamour and drama. their objective arguing and interrupting each other. “We found that the panelists were more is not to inform civil and real with each other when the The show’s website explains their cameras were off and they were having a viewers about philosophy stating that “TV debates are often a battle to be won, but to some coffee, we want to re-create that type of atmosphere”, Engen says. political issues or extent the same participants must listen to each other, not interrupt and must try to ABSENCE OF HOST OPENS UP find resolutions understand the opponent. What happens DISCUSSIONS to problems. then?” According to the Times of London “This approach has led to outbreak and The team also experimented with generosity and accord from across the removing the host from the studio – GRO ENGEN, EDITOR, EINIG?, NRK political spectrum”. and leaving the guests to take the responsibility for their own conversation In an effort to change the status quo and conduct. a number of standard practices for THE KEY Norwegian debate shows have been The aim is to open up new kinds of TAK E AWAY S changed at Einig?. discussion when politicians are taken away from the comfort of traditional • NEW DEBATE CULTURE For a start the program team chooses confrontational formats and the Audiences, particularly young politicians that they believe are capable of journalist in the room isn’t acting as a audiences, want a new kind of abandoning political posturing and point judge to moderate behaviour. political debate format. They are tired of the blame and shame scoring in order to have an open and culture. honest conversation. All this doesn’t mean that the program doesn’t tackle divisive and controversial • CALM AND CURIOUS After many years working in the political topics, so far they have explored Politicians are capable of calm debates the program’s editor Gro Engen immigration, abortion, climate, economy and curious discussion, if they knows who those individuals are. and tax. are offered a venue in which to discuss their views. UNACCEPTABLE ELEMENTS EDITED OUT The conflict between those with different political standpoints remain but the hope • IN DEPTH ANALYSIS ON AIR Political discussions offer more A lot of time and preparation is then is that they may learn from one another. information and in depth analysis spent with the guests before they take Gro’s advice to politicians “Relax, listen to for audiences without the conflict part explaining what is unacceptable in the questions and think. Just be yourself, and point scoring. the show and will be edited out. Personal that’s what voters want.” Annual Report 21
Constructive Institute Journalists from around the world signed up for our Constructive OUR GLOBAL Journalism Master Class hosted at Aarhus University, in Aarhus, Denmark. CONSTRUCTIVE MASTERCLASS Photo: Peter Damgaard The Constructive The idea of constructive Gro Engen is Editor of the international constructive journalism is spreading debate program “Einig?” fellowship program. So how Journalism Master quickly all over Europe. But at NRK, that renewed the do you change the culture of Class took place in why is it important, what do political debate. journalism? Aarhus at Aarhus we actually know of how to University, Denmark do constructive journalism, Often TV-debates are a battle Kristina Lund Jørgensen, how it is introduced in that must be won. But what if editor at TV2 Fyn is and brought different formats for the partipants in the debate constructive editor of the together participants different platforms and must listen to the others, may regional Danish TV-station. from around the how the audiences react to not interrupt and must try to She was appointed with the world. We are proud constructive stories? understand the opponent – what happens then? exact purpose of turning the TV-station into a constructive that so many media Those were some of the news media and was given professionals took questions participants were Annette Hoth of Zweites free hands to put that the time to attend invited to learn more about Deutsches Fernsehen, ZDF, concept of constructive the master class at the two day master class has been a commissioning journalism into the daily news hosted at Aarhus University. editor for „plan b“ since flow. How do you do such a and discuss how In the following we take you the program went on air turn around of a news media? journalism can be through the main topics from two years ago, being the improved for a some of the front runners in first constructive TV format Gerd Maria May has her constructive journalism. in Germany. As one of the own company, Room of better tomorrow. creators of „plan b“, she is Solutions and has developed Anne Lagercrantz , head of committed to continuously an entire new concept of News and Sports at Swedish developing a successful TV local journalism, including Television, SVT, since 2015. approach to constructive the enganging of local high SVT is going through a journalism. school students and she is digital transformation. With writing a book about a new success: the number of first- Ulrik Haagerup, founder and ways of looking at the role of time-voters who considers CEO of Constructive Institute, journalism. the digital offer of SVT as Aarhus. The institute has the trustworthy, has increased goal of changing the global Orla Borg, Head of Fellowship from 54 percent to 74 news culture in five years by Program at Constructive percent. SVT News is listed three means: Institute, was an investigative as one of Sweden’s most Passing on new knowledge journalist before joining purposeful digital brands of research, education Constructive Institute. He has this year and for two years material and new concepts, been working with defining in a row they are the fastest giving new inspiration and developing constructive growing digital news site in through conferences, global stories and presents answers Sweden. What did it take to seminars and keynotes and to the question: So how get there? by creating new journalistic could journalists actually do role models through an constructive stories? 22 Annual Report
Constructive Institute CONSTRUCTIVE MASTER CLASS MOMENTS GERD MARIA MAY, KRISTINA LUND ANNE LAGERKRANTZ, CEO AND FOUNDER, JØRGENSEN, HEAD OF NEWS AND ROOM OF SOLUTIONS CONSTRUCTIVE EDITOR, SPORTS, REGIONAL TV-STATION SWEDISH TELEVISION, SVT Former fellow Gerd Maria May CEO TV2 FYN and founder of Room of Solutions “I feel like I’m part of a global introduced the audience to her How do you change the culture movement, and I’m so inspired by analysis of a local news media’s of a TV- station and introduce the knowledge in this room.” efforts to engage and empower the constructive journalism? This was the main output Head citizens of their community. In the Constructive Editor at TV2 Fyn of News and Sports at SVT Anne presentation it became clear that and former fellow Kristina Lund Lagercrantz took with her from our the constructive news strategy not Jørgensen presented her strategy Constructive Master Class this year only effected its readers positively for the transistion of the news when she gave her presentation but also the staff at the local room at the regional tv-station. of the digital transformation that newspaper. the Swedish broadcaster has gone through. ORLA BORG, GRO ENGEN, ANNETTE HOTH, HEAD OF FELLOWSHIP EDITOR, “EINIG?”, COMMISIONING EDITOR, PROGRAM, NORWEGIAN PLAN B, ZDF CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE BROADCASTING CORPORATION, NRK In Annette Hoth’s presentation Our Head of Fellowship Orla Borg of ZDF’s constructive TV show gave an introduction to ‘Three The Editor of the Norwegian debate ‘Plan B’ that zooms in on solutions Ways of Constructive Journalism’, show “Einig?“, (“Agreed?” in English) to societal issues, the editor taking the participants through the talked about renewing the public presented the case on how to more practical part of the Master debate on TV through a completely make a constructive TV format a Class digging into ‘how to do it’. new concept for political debates, success. Her conclusion? Make it Here, Orla is playing the guitar for and zoomed in on what they relatable. “A constructive format the first task of every day at the learned from that proces. “We can be challenging in the world of institute; singing together. found that the panelists were more television,” editor Annette Hoth civil when the cameras were off, said. and we wanted to re-create that type of atmosphere,” Gro Engen concluded. Annual Report 23
Constructive Fellowship Constructive Journalism Fellowship 2019-2020 Constructive Journalism Fellows posing at Stanford University in San Francisco from left; Tine Tud Seerup, Katja Boxberg, Minna Skau, Morten Runge, Jo Williamson, Mette Aaby, Sarah Golczyk, Hans Davidsen-Nielsen, Kasper Kaasgaard, Friederike Felbo, Mathilde Graversen and Jakob Risbro. 24 Annual Report Photo: Peter Damgaard
Constructive Fellowship The Constructive Institute Fellowship Program is modelled after journalism fellowship programs at Stanford University in San Francisco and at Harvard University in Boston. The program aims to give talented media professionals, with a potential to influence the future of journalism, access to an academic bank of knowledge at a top class university *The program for the duration of an enables the fellows to strengthen their academic year. knowledge of their chosen topic areas, as well as to explore On the next pages you existing solutions to problems in the can read about the fields they are or fellowship 2019-2020. will be covering. The fellows have free access to lectures at Aarhus University, as well as to workshops and training on constructive journalism at the Constructive Institute. Annual Report 25
Constructive Fellowship “21 Things I Learned And Two That I Regret” WRITTEN BY: MORTEN RUNGE, JOURNALIST AT DANISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION AND FORMER CONSTRUCTIVE FELLOW A 10 month stay at Constructive Institute I learned to be fair. accord is an underreported story. has raised my awareness of almost I learned that we at Constructive Institute everything. Here’s some of what I take should take care not to depict the I learned that the number of lawsuits with me home. current state of journalism in sad black against independent media from big and white while asking everyone else to companies under journalistic fire is I learned that journalism today does not use colours. increasing rapidly. always depict the true state of the world I learned that freedom of speech is not and that its negativity bias is the key freedom of reach. You are entitled to I learned that reporting on solutions may point of attack. your thoughts but not necessarily to have be the way forward for journalism but them amplified. that you should also be careful as to who I learned that if you are taken hostage gets to pick and assess these solutions. by, say, Islamic State, you need to fix your I learned that it’s okay to fall asleep attention on daily routines and get to when you prepare for class because that I learned that you have to close your know fellow inmates in order not to go happens to everyone now and then. And presentation with something powerful. nuts. it’s okay to blame it on the inaccessibility Like the one that ended an American of academic texts. editor’s talk on investigative reporting I learned the difference between and fake news: “The truth needs causation and correlation. I learned that fake news was not created reinforcements and I’m here to recruit.” by the internet. But the scale of it was. I learned that one of the fastest ways to I learned our country must be strong // I regret not having tried to do a book on rebuild trust in journalism is by making it that it’s always right and never wrong // trust. I did a podcast, which was fun and transparent. our leaders are the finest men // we elect interesting, but I guess I also had the them again and again chance to put everything down in writing, I learned what 11 other bright and funny illustrations, characters, graphs, chapters, fellows thought of journalism, politics I learned that politics often is about footnotes and maybe I would have hit and life as a whole, and I learned how blame avoidance and that’s what’s a good balance between academic, valuable such inputs and these people keeping us from really liking and trusting journalistic and popular angles. can become. politicians. I learned that you can’t always trust I regret that a 10 month leave from I learned that my kids (12, 10 and 5) surveys on trust that tell you that trust your job is not for everyone in Denmark ended up profiting a lot from a year all of a sudden goes up or down. It’s easy regardless of your occupation. Journalists as exchange students in Eastern to confuse disagreeing with distrusting often succeed in convincing the world Jutland, which is far enough away from politicians and many big polls don’t really that we are important. But teachers, Copenhagen for them (or us) to exit care about this distinction. pedagogues and doctors would be cool comfort zones. to invest in and develop too. I learned that the power and influence I learned that if you have two potatoes of the Danish parliament is decreasing, and your neighbour has two chicken and sadly, while the power and influence you really want a chicken and he really of the government is increasing, pretty wants a potato and you exchange one unstoppably. chicken for one potato – then you end up with something worth more than what I learned to love a story’s nuances even you had. It’s a beautiful thought and you though they may blur the angle can win the Nobel prize in economics if you can sort of expand and explain that I learned that 80 percent of all legislation theory a little. is adopted by 80 percent of all parties in Parliament and that this sign of unity and 26 Annual Report
You can also read