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Issue #202: climate denial as a coping mechanism, expanding accessibility in video games, and the history of bento boxes
By Carly Rose Gillis
Yesterday, we highlighted a story about a potential reckoning in the media industry after an election cycle full of threats, misinformation, and dissatisfaction. Indeed, according to recent polling by Gallup, almost 70% of U.S. adults have either little trust in newspapers, TV, and radio, or none at all:
What could be done to improve trust? Especially after yesterday, I feel like what we’re craving is less one-way broadcasting and more hard conversations. Damian Radcliffe, Chambers Professor in Journalism at the University of Oregon, explores this question in his new report, “Advancing Community-Centered Journalism.” (He’s publishing chapters from it on Medium.) Instead of the traditional “top-down” approach where power-holders (editors and advertisers) direct the conversation, he outlines specific ways news organizations can give more power to their readers to direct story selection and rebuild connection with their communities. A few ways:
- Literally asking. One example is from Seattle-based KUOW Public Radio, who “used votes on social media to determine which stories to explore. The winning question led them to the bottom of Lake Washington and its findings went viral.”
- Discovering the non-traditional sources where their communities get information — and then collaborating.“This may include physical and digital spaces (such as libraries and barbershops), as well as key influencers and community leaders.”
- Serving important information in channels their communities actually use regularly. Newsrooms are adapting their messages into text messages or WhatsApp posts.
The Solutions Journalism Network, which runs The Whole Story publication on Medium, is approaching trust from a different direction: promoting storytelling that goes beyond just reporting on problems, but includes what’s being done to solve them. Why?
“We call solutions journalism ‘hope with teeth.’ Research shows that when news reveals what’s working (or promising), it elevates the tone of public discourse, making it less divisive and more constructive, allows communities to see better options, and builds agency and hope.”
What else we’re reading:
- Ironically, an increase in powerful hurricanes could strengthen some people’s skepticism of climate change, not weaken it. Terror management theory suggests climate denial is a coping mechanism — one that only grows stronger when challenged. (The Conversation U.S.)
- One way video game developers can expand accessibility support: roadmapping sprints where they specifically focus on inclusive design. (Liana Ruppert)
- A real palate cleanser: The origin of the bento box goes back over two millennia; its first form is as the humble onigiri (aka those mouthwatering rice balls in Spirited Away). Recommendations for making your own bento box: specifically using Japanese rice and including the five fundamental colors of Japanese cuisine (red, yellow, green, white and black) in your meal. (Yuri Minamide)
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