Engaging Audiences Through Solutions Journalism, Effects on Mood, Behaviour and Attitude Toward the Newspaper

Solutions journalism has recently seen a surge of interest due to audiences and journalists’ disinterest for the prevalent negative and problem-focused news. Practitioners hope solution-focused stories can positively impact readers’ engagement with the news and mobilization around societal problems. In this study, an experiment is conducted to explore the effects of two reporting styles – problem-focused (traditional journalism) or solution-focused (solutions journalism) – on readers’ mood, intent to support the cause and appreciation of the newspaper. Results revealed that solutions journalism enhanced readers’ positive affect, preference for similar stories, and attitude toward the newspaper. No significant impact was found on readers’ arousal, intent to support the cause and perceived credibility of the newspaper. These findings support the argument that solutions journalism has a positive impact on audiences’ mood and newspapers’ brands.