A recap of the webinar | Torino Social Impact

Monday, June 17, from 2 to 4 PM, the webinar “Fundamentals and Principles of Solutions Journalism” was held: the first in a series of webinars, part of the Torino Impact Journalism initiative, sponsored by Social Impact Agenda for Italy, which aims to explore how journalism can promote change by involving all societal actors, from institutions to businesses, to address major environmental and social challenges.

The importance of solutions-oriented journalism in the current media context

During the webinar – organized in collaboration with the Order of Journalists of Piedmont – 100 journalists, communicators, media experts, and interested parties participated, having the opportunity to listen and interact with prominent speakers to discuss the role and importance of the solutions journalism approach in the current media context.

Among the speakers sharing their experiences were Stefano Arduini, Director of VITA magazine and Vita.it; Peter Damgaard, Chief Operating Officer of the Constructive Institute; Alessia Gianoncelli, Director of Knowledge and Programs at Impact Europe; Jodie Jackson, author and founder of News Literacy Lab; Tina Rosenberg, Co-founder of the Solutions Journalism Network; and Assunta Corbo, journalist, author, and founder of the Constructive Network.

Testimonies of Solutions Journalism towards positive change in information

The meeting was an important opportunity for debate and exchange among national and international experts. Through two discussion sessions, the speakers shared their experiences and testimonies, addressing two central themes: the first roundtable focused on the question: “Can solutions journalism be the way out of the journalism crisis?“.

To answer this, the speakers delved into the causes of the decline in interest in news, the psychological effects of constant negative news, and why Solutions Journalism can be a solution to the journalism crisis; what are the distinctive traits of constructive journalism, and how to define journalism that has a social impact.

The second roundtable aimed to tell “experiences and cases of solutions journalism“: Tina Rosenberg presented concrete cases showing how solutions journalism can offer greater rigor as a methodology to ensure truth and accuracy in reporting news, while Peter Damgaard Kristensen shared a representative case of solutions journalism that embodies the principles of impartiality and independence.

Assunta Corbo shared the experience of the Italian Constructive network, while Jodie Jackson focused on the social responsibility of journalists in assessing the impact of news and increasing public trust, through a case study. Finally, Alessia Gianoncelli showed how journalism can contribute to advancing impact investing solutions.

Thanks to their diverse experiences and perspectives, the webinar overall allowed for a deeper understanding of how Solutions Journalism can be a powerful tool for positive change, promoting journalism that not only highlights problems but also proposes effective solutions and inspires concrete actions.

To learn more, don’t miss the upcoming webinars scheduled: