Nigeria, like the rest of the world, is dealing with a lot of problems. However, beyond all these problems, there are efforts to respond to them.
Solutions Journalism aims to tell these stories of how people are responding to different social problems. The aim is to empower others experiencing similar problems with information on how they are being addressed.
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Solutions Journalism adopts a solutions-oriented approach to storytelling; telling rigorous, investigative, and compelling stories of responses to existing social problems. The insights from these stories can help scale up the responses or replicate them in other places.
It differs from the traditional, often problem-focused journalism because it highlights what works, as opposed to what does not, and goes further to investigate why an intervention or solution to a social problem was able to bring change.
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Solutions Journalism also looks at what could have been done differently to improve or solve similar problems in other places. It can be used as an effective tool to hold the powerful accountable by showing them how others are solving problems, thereby removing excuses.
As part of ther Solutions Journalism Africa Initiative project supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, they work with Newsrooms and individuals to spread the practice of solutions journalism in Nigeria.
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They train them to understand why solutions journalism matters and support them to produce these stories. They are currently working with 10 newsrooms across Nigeria and will be onboarding 10 fellows as part of the initiative. Like Journalists from the newsrooms, the fellows will be trained to understand how to produce solutions stories and supported to produce their own over the period of the fellowship (11 months).
Table of Contents
Benefits
- Grant to produce any story of your choice (stories must be human interest and have health angles)
- Remote support from a mentor to produce your proposed stories
- Editorial freedom to work on your project using your preferred format (video, photography, audio, text, animation etc)
- Access to exclusive workshops + webinars to hone your solutions journalism and storytelling skills
- Access to a global network of solutions journalists and storytellers
- Opportunity to publish stories in media outlets outside Nigeria
- Priority in accepting and commissioning your pitches for publication on Nigeria Health Watch website after your fellowship is over
Eligibilities
- Affiliated with a media organisation or a freelancer
- Passionate about telling stories of efforts to respond to various social problems especially around health
- Can tell compelling stories using multiple formats (In addition to writers, we want photojournalists, documentary photographers, podcasters, documentary video makers, graphic animators)
- Already familiar with the solutions journalism framework or interested to learn about it
- Willing and available to commit to the fellowship schedule (training, mentoring and periodic check-ins)
Eligible Regions: Open For All
Bukola Owo-Bello is a spirited storyteller, content creator and YouTuber who loves sharing amazing opportunities, inspiration, and ideas with forward-thinking African youths.
Follow her on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram on @BukkiTalks
