Constructive Journalism In Summary
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.
In Short
“Constructive journalism is a response to increasing tabloidization, sensationalism and negativity bias of the news media today”
Constructive Journalism Is
- Aiming to be critical, objective and balanced
- Tackling important issues facing society
- Based on facts and unbiased
- Calm in its tone
- Does not give in to scandals and outrage
- Bridging, not polarising
- Forward-looking and future-oriented
- Nuanced and contextualised
Constructive Journalism Is Not
- Promoting a specific agenda, crossing the line between journalism and politics
- Uncritical or naive
- Promoting heroes, governments or civil society organizations
- Obscuring critical viewpoints
- Activism in any shape or form
- Dumbed-down, trivial or happy news
- Giving in to false equivalence / balance
- Advocating one solution over another
- Oversimplifying complex problems or solutions to complex problems
Inspired to dive deeper into Constructive Journalism?
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Haagerup, Ulrik (2017) Constructive News: How to save the media and democracy with journalism of tomorrow. Aarhus University Press. -
Haagerup, Ulrik (2015) Constructive News: Warum "bad news" die Medien zerstören und wie Journalisten mit einem völlig neuen Ansatz wieder Menschen berühren. InnoVatio Publishing -
Gyldensted, Catherine (2015) From Mirrors to Movers: Five Elements of Positive Psychology in Constructive Journalism. GGroup Publishing