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Experts Advocate Solutions Journalism at Training Organised by CLA Lecturer

Experts in journalism have advocated solutions journalism at a training organised by Dr. Ridwan Kolawale, a lecturer in the Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan.

The training, which took place on Saturday, 6th December, 2025, at the Postgraduate Lecture Room of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, emphasised the benefits of solutions journalism to individuals and society.

In his opening message, Dr. Kolawale mentioned that the event was totally self-funded and that his main aim was for journalists to make a change by feeding people with more solutions-based news rather than the "war news" they hear every day.

Dr. Rasheed Adebiyi, a solutions journalist, journalism lecturer at Fountain University, Osogbo, and former Editor-in-Chief of Adh-Dhikr Press Organisation, who anchored the first session, provided conceptual clarification on the differences between development, peace, and solutions journalism.

He emphasised that solutions journalism, due to its peculiarity, is a rigorous, evidence-based reporting on responses to challenges.

Dr. Adebiyi clarified that development journalism supports development initiatives, while peace journalism helps to reduce conflict in society and encourages constructive negotiation.

He reiterated that a key benefit of solutions journalism is that it amplifies responses and also shows limitations, unlike the other two, which do not.

Facilitating the second session, titled “Art and Science of Doing Solutions Journalism", the training convener, Dr. Ridwan Kolawale, further defined solutions journalism (SoJo) and mentioned that its four pillars are response, evidence, impact, and limitations.

He emphasised his points with sayings from Joy Portella on solutions journalism and sample stories.

The last session, which discussed the business model of solutions journalism, was handled by Mr. Mutiu Iyanda Lasisi, a journalist-cum-economist.

He stated that the news media create value by providing journalism that contributes to an informed and educated public.

Mr. Lasisi continued that one can make money through writing solutions journalism if one is intentional about it.

He provided a strategy for making profit titled “Core Strategy,” which includes value proposition to sponsors, pitching the quality of the audience and product, understanding cost structure, channels, key resources, key activities, and audience relationships.

In his goodwill message, the Head of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, Dr. Bisi Olawuyi, celebrated the facilitators and promised to make the training a major solutions journalism workshop next year as part of the department's 50th anniversary activities.

He mentioned that there are differences between professionalism and professionalisation, and that sustainable progress can be achieved through the certification of journalists, among other measures.

Journalists from mainstream media such as Nigerian Tribune, The Guardian, Vanguard, Radio Nigeria, and BCOS, as well as campus press organisations like Adh-Dhikr Press Organisation and AFAS Press, were present at the training.

The training emphasised the notion that "where problems scream, solutions whisper."