CONSTRUCTIVE JOURNALISM TOOLKIT

Telling Constructive Stories

Adapt the inverted pyramid — or take the audience on a narrative “journey” from problem to solution.

A graphic highlighting the inverted pyramid writing method.

And finally: What now?

Use the classic inverted-pyramid structure for a brief, clear news report about something that just happened. To add a constructive twist, finish the story with a forward-looking answer to “What now?” This gives your report a sense of anticipation and a note of hope that progress is possible.

CDP: A Constructive format

As a pioneer in applying Constructive Journalism throughout an organization, the Danish network TV2 Fyn developed this model for telling news stories in a constructive way.

The Danish network TV2 FYN's logo.

Core-Development-Perspective (CDP) is particularly suited to the personal, formative story with a focus on solutions, or the success story that shows how an individual or group has solved a societal problem. This model also works for non-linear narratives, with the need to include crucial nuances and different perspectives.

  1. Core: Present the core problem and its consequences.

  2. Development: Show the historic development of the problem. This might include a person’s “journey” in understanding or a problem’s path to resolution. In this development stage, there may be a turning point (T) or several turning points (T1 + T2 + T3), where things get difficult yet are overcome step-by-step. Often, a turning point is where an individual or an idea faces resistance. There may be up to three such turning points; the task in storytelling is building them to a climax.

  3. Perspective: What lessons does the story offer? What additional perspectives could add inspiration or new information? Look for opportunities to add perspective to each turning point as the “journey” unfolds from problem to solution. The inspirational elements and additional perspectives help keep the narrative dynamic and interesting.

Adapted from “A Handbook for Constructive Journalism” (2022) by Kristina Lund Jørgensen & Jakob Risbro. Produced by the Constructive Institute and International Media Support (IMS).

GROUP EXERCISE

Is CDP the right model?

Find a story where a source relates a personal experience. Based on the CDP model:

  • Draft a new script or storyboard that emphasizes the turning points in the story.

  • Discuss the story’s original structure.

  • Discuss how the CDP model affects the narrative.

Solutions Story formats

As part of its Basic Toolkit, the Solutions Journalism Network offers four ways to structure stories. Each involves rigorous reporting on efforts to solve social problems.

  • Positive Deviant: This type of data-driven story hunts down the “secret ingredient” that makes one effort successful while others continue to struggle.

  • Big New Idea: This format about a surprising or innovative approach opens with a taste of it offers, then backs into what the problem is and how the approach addresses it.

  • Experiment in Progress: In this type of story, reporters cover an effort while it’s underway. It shows what’s working and what’s not so far, highlighting both promise and limitations.

  • Location Transformation: This story draws out how local people or organizations were able to have an impact around a specific problem, offering lessons whether or not it qualifies as a “positive deviant.”

Guidance and examples from the Solutions Journalism Network >>