Imagine reading a news story that doesn’t leave you feeling helpless about the problems in your community but instead highlights real solutions people are implementing to improve things. This is the essence of solutions journalism – a fresh approach that shifts the focus from what’s wrong to what can be done about it.
At TUKO.co.ke, this method of storytelling is gaining traction and transforming how we create content and share news. By giving priority to human-interest stories and the search for solutions together with the reader, we have built a media brand that offers a 360-degree view of the problem and its causes.
This article will focus on the four pillars of solutions journalism and how we have incorporated them into our day-to-day content creation.
Response to crises
Our YouTube channel is popular for its human interest stories that have culminated in life-changing results for the story heroes featured. These stories are a great example of the response, that society has given to injustice.
When a taxi driver, who was a crucial state witness in the murder of a Member of Parliament, reached out for help, Kenyans ensured that he had left the country and moved to a different state with a new job and a new lease on life, Tuko.co.ke reported on it in a series of video episodes, articles, and social media posts through the years.
Impact through evidence
The second pillar, evidence, challenges journalists to back their stories with hard facts. This means bringing in data, expert opinions, and real-life case studies that prove the success of the solutions we spotlight. TUKO.co.ke’s editorial team features in-depth explainers and expert insights, alongside a dedicated fact-checking segment that keeps everything accurate and trustworthy.
We go deeper than face value when researching a story. For instance, TUKO.co.ke recently broke down the economic survey report by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics to highlight the positive numbers that supported the growth of the country’s GDP.
Giving insight to understand the process
Instead of publishing an article about how women in Homa Bay, in Kenya, are struggling with respiratory diseases caused by gaseous poisons because of cooking with firewood, TUKO.co.ke highlighted how the women have transitioned from depending on smoky firewood and are now cooking using stoves that use briquettes instead of ordinary charcoal. These efficient cooking methods reduce hazardous emissions that pose health risks and are eco-friendly.
By highlighting these stories, editors can provide a balanced view of a situation highlighting the problem while inspiring solutions to their audiences to apply where needed.
Limitations
No solution is perfect. Acknowledging imperfections, that is limitations, ensures that stories remain realistic. By transparently discussing the obstacles and areas for improvement, journalists can foster a nuanced understanding and encourage continuous innovation. This pillar prevents the narrative from becoming overly idealistic, maintaining a grounded and honest perspective.
When TUKO.co.ke shared Joe Mudikisa’s story about how he was looking for financial support to travel abroad and end his life through euthanasia because of Sickle cell anaemia, Kenyans across the globe came together to donate and support his recovery instead of allowing him to end his life. TUKO.co.ke still went on to do a series of articles showing the painful reality of Sickle Cell in Kenya.
Embracing solutions journalism in Kenya can profoundly transform how stories are told. While traditional media often dwell on the country’s challenges – like poverty, corruption, and infrastructure deficits – solutions journalism offers a balanced narrative. It shifts the focus from the problems to the progress being made, leaving readers with a sense of possibility rather than despair.
Masolo Mabonga is the Head of the Politics and Current Affairs desk at TUKO.co.ke. With over seven years of experience in digital media, including roles at KNA and Opera News, Masolo holds a certificate of recognition from the Google News Initiative (GNI) and Women in News (WIN). In 2022, he was awarded the Elevate scholarship and is currently pursuing a law degree at Mount Kenya University (MKU). Email: masolo.mabonga@tuko.co.ke
