Haitian reporter Jean Samuel Mentor didn’t always want a career in journalism. Initially, he aspired to pursue medicine, but getting a medical degree in Haiti was prohibitively expensive. Mentor considered alternative paths as a result, and enrolled in journalism school. He did so despite resistance from family members who felt that journalism was both risky and unprofitable.
Audiences across the globe are avoiding the news, as people report feeling anxious and powerless from an overwhelming amount of negative news. Solutions journalism aims to offer an alternative through reporting that gives agency to communities by demonstrating what works and what doesn’t to solve problems.
In the leadup to Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election in February, award-winning journalist Hannah Ajakaiye led efforts to fight the vast amounts of electoral mis- and disinformation circulating online.