Supercharging SoJo in Europe 🚀

This is a newsletter for people interested in rethinking the role of journalism. It features a couple things we think you should know each week related to solutions journalism. Our aim? To be thought-provoking and/or laugh-inducing every Wednesday. If someone forwarded you this email, you can sign up here.

|| February 1, 2023

This week's Above the Fold kicks off with a big opportunity from our partners at The European Journalism Centre.

Are you working in a media organisation in France, Germany or the United Kingdom and looking for a way to establish a long-term solutions-focused journalism project?

We at the European Journalism Centre have just launched a new call for applications for the Solutions Journalism Accelerator! The Solutions Journalism Accelerator is a programme delivering grant funding, mentoring, resources and knowledge transfer to support solutions-focused development journalism in European news organisations.

Apply by 21 February 2023 to receive grants of up to 130,000 euros and further support for your 12-month solutions-focused development journalism project. If you're interested to see the projects of our first cohort of grantees, you can do it here.

Any questions about the application? We are hosting an Online Q&A Session on 2 February at 11 a.m. Central European Time. You can sign up here.

— Stella Volkenand
European Journalism Centre

The next Solutions Journalism 101 webinar happens next Wednesday, Feb. 8. Whether you’re experienced with SoJo or just curious about learning more, we’ll cover the why and — most importantly — the many hows of building solutions coverage into your work. It’s completely free and open to all.

REASONS TO BE EMPLOYED

Last year, the solutions-focused outlet Reasons to be Cheerful launched their first membership drive, and it was a brilliant success, with more than 1,200 people becoming supporting members. (Note the financial support for solutions journalism wink wink.) One of the benefits of this drive was the ability to fund a new position: editorial director. Who that editorial director will be remains a mystery. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 17, so if you’re based in New York and very passionate and knowledgeable about solutions journalism, check out all the details here.

FOR LORNET

Lornet Turnbull was a thoughtful editor, enthusiastic colleague and generous spirit whom we were privileged to work with during her time at YES! Magazine. She recently passed away after a battle with cancer, but the legacy of that battle is one of optimism and generosity. If you want to learn from her remarkable journey, take a few minutes to read her moving travelogue published in The Washington Post about finding the goodness in people all over, or her reflection for REI about her shifting relationship with nature. Thanks for everything, Lornet.

NETWORK NEWS
A well-meaning but totally non-comprehensive guide to what’s happening around and for the network

Earth Journalism Network’s Amrita Gupta Nambiar gathered all of EJN’s current opportunities in a Twitter thread. Some have ended, but a couple remain open if you’re a climate and/or environmental journalist.
Scalawag magazine is looking for an editor-in-chief and a creative director, but the deadline is approaching. Apply for either or both here by Feb. 3.
Trusting News covered how the Arizona Daily Star built its solutions beat using some underestimated approaches ... including the mail.
The International Women’s Media Foundation released “A Mental Health Guide for Journalists Facing Online Violence.” As the name suggests, it’s full of useful tools and strategies for journalists facing internet harassment and/or attacks.
Tickets are now available for the 2023 Student Conference from NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists. Members go free, while nonmembers pay $25.
We’re loving this clear explanation of different types of “greenwashing” by Planet Tracker and shared by sustainability strategist Mike Barry. Very useful for journalists.

Have something you want featured here? Drop me a line: Allen@solutionsjournalism.org

🎯 THE IMPACT ZONE 🎯

Occasionally, we'll feature some significant impact from solutions reporting here, but today, we're helping you build, gather, and share your own. The new Solutions Journalism Impact Tracking Guide built by SJN and Fathm will help your outlet design for change and make the most of it when communicating with your audiences. Eyes are no longer enough; we're in the era of impact.