Promoting solutions journalism in Palestinian Territories

The political, economic and health crises situations in Palestinian Territories are creating situations of great social fragility and offer themselves as subjects of major interest to journalism. However, the news coverage offered by the Palestinian media only partially meets audience expectations, particularly those of young people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 

Solutions journalism is a relevant approach that considers the world as it is, analysing and reporting on problems, challenges and issues while also disseminating knowledge of initiatives that have been implemented on the ground and can be reproduced. It inspires and stirs people's engagement. The development of this form of journalism allows media outlets to strengthen their editorial offering and respond to the changing expectations and needs of their audiences. It is also a methodology: analysis of the problem situation, exposure of concrete and conclusive aspects of the response and observation of the successes and limitations of the initiatives put in place.

A specific manual dedicated to solutions journalism

In March 2021, the Media Center Development (MCD) of Birzeit University was supported in defining, producing and distributing, via its website and social media networks, its own Solutions Journalism Manual.

Using this tool, two training sessions were held, in March 2021 in Ramallah and in July 2021 in Gaza, to train coaches in solutions journalism. Around 20 journalists, half of whom were women, took this 30-hour training course, the goal of which was twofold: to enable provision of training in the production of solutions journalism editorial content and to provide the skills required to supervise journalists in producing content, using the appropriate methodology.

These two sessions achieved some significant initial results: 89% of participants said they had the capability to train other journalists in solutions journalism and 86% confirmed that they had the skills to supervise the production of solutions journalism content. A Facebook group bringing together the beneficiaries of the two sessions was set up with the aim of sharing experiences and expertise.

This discussion will continue during the capitalisation workshop which will estimate the initial impacts of the activities put in place.