What is Constructive Journalism?

Constructive journalism is a response to increasing tabloidization, sensationalism and negativity bias of the news media today and offers an add on to both breaking and investigative journalism.

A Broader Perspective

Constructive Journalism reports on important societal issues, setting them in the bigger picture and in their relevant context.
Balanced focus

While a healthy dose of negativity in the press is undoubtedly necessary, the chronic overexposure of negative constitutes a hidden media bias that has an erosive effect on the societies we live in.

Combat degradation

The aim of constructive journalism is to combat the trivialisation and degradation of journalism by media that often is more interested in entertaining and creating controversies than informing the citizenship.

The Bigger Picture

Constructive journalism is calm in tone, being less focused on scandals, conflicts and outrage.It reports on important societal issues, setting them in the bigger picture and in their relevant context.

A Focus on Nuance and Perspective

Constructive journalism is calm in tone, being less focused on scandals, conflicts and outrage.

Constructive journalism is not about the “nice and cute”, nor is it positive or soft news that ignores problems. It is “two-eyed journalism”, balanced reporting on both good and the bad in society.

The Two Layers in Constructive Journalism

In short, constructive journalism can be thought about in two layers.

  • The first one is the editorial aspect of picking a calmer tone and not giving into the excess of negativity and sensationalism.
  • The other layer focuses on reporting on responses to social ills.
The Full Circle of Reporting

This is the work flow for reporters working on responses to social ills.
Want to Know More?
What is Constructive Journalism?
Constructive Journalism in Short

Constructive journalism is a response to increasing tabloidization, sensationalism and negativity bias of the news media today. Read the short introduction to what constructive journalism is and what it is not.

The Constructive Institute
What We Do

The institute helps journalists and news organisations to apply constructive reporting through a best practices portal, our fellowship programme, training curricula, and initiating independent academic research. Read more about Constructive Institute here.