We're kicking off 2023's first Above the Fold with a new resource brought to you by SJN's Alec Saelens and the wisdom of the network. 

I came to SJN believing solutions journalism was an innovation of the editorial product that could lead to increased revenue. So I helped SJN test the idea, concluding that it brought some leverage. We also showed the positive audience engagement from stories about responses to social problems and how this approach can help the newsroom’s bottom line.

But the connection between solutions reporting and revenue is not straightforward. Other supporting elements are necessary to show value and ultimately bring in money. That’s where showcasing impact comes in to prove the journalism makes a difference. But I’ve found it tricky to ascertain. What impact are we talking about? How much influence can be attributed to solutions stories? What’s your evidence, and is it strong enough?  

As we at SJN grappled with these questions, we knew we weren’t alone. Surely others in our network faced similar challenges. 

The new Impact Tracking Guide provides actionable and tactical advice that builds on existing resources, insights gleaned from working with newsrooms across various funded projects and the expertise of an external consultant. In it you’ll find:

We hope this tool will expand your capacity to achieve and gauge impact. And remember, we’re by your side, ready to help you grow, but also learning with you. There is no one recipe to measure impact — what you track should match your organization’s mission.

Let us know how you do, and please share your impact anecdotes about solutions journalism with us. And a shoutout to Paul Cheung of the Center for Public Integrity, who made a timely prediction about media organizations being in the business of impact, not eyeballs.

— Alec Saelens
SJN Impact Manager