Introduction
In today’s fast-paced and information-saturated world, traditional journalism often highlights conflict, scandal, and negativity, which can foster a sense of fear and hopelessness among audiences. Positive journalism, in contrast, emphasizes constructive news, focusing on solutions, positive societal developments, and human resilience. This approach aims to inspire, inform, and engage audiences by showcasing stories of innovation and progress. One particularly influential framework in this context is Appreciative Inquiry (AI). AI, with its focus on strengths, possibilities, and positive potential, has proven to be a powerful tool in transforming how news is reported and consumed.
This report explores the integration of Appreciative Inquiry with positive journalism, its implementation in Nepal, and the potential impacts on peace, harmony, and economic development in the region.
The Concept of Positive Journalism
Positive Journalism Defined: Positive journalism is an approach that emphasizes reporting on constructive news, highlighting solutions, and focusing on positive developments within society. It diverges from traditional journalism’s emphasis on conflict and scandal by aiming to inspire and engage audiences with stories of resilience and progress. Positive journalism does not ignore problems but rather emphasizes responses to these problems, offering a comprehensive narrative that includes both challenges and solutions.
Origins and Evolution: The concept of positive journalism began to take shape in the early 2000s as a response to the predominantly negative news cycle. Influenced by positive psychology and constructive journalism, positive journalism aims to provide a more balanced and hopeful perspective on the news. Pioneers like Cathrine Gyldensted integrated principles from positive psychology into journalism, advocating for a more constructive and optimistic approach to news reporting.
Appreciative Inquiry: A Foundation for Positive Journalism
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Overview: Appreciative Inquiry is a strengths-based approach to organizational and community development that focuses on identifying and leveraging what works well. Developed by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva in the 1980s, AI is based on the premise that organizations and communities grow in the direction of what they consistently ask questions about and focus on. AI employs a 4-D cycle: Discover, Dream, Design, and Destiny, to guide inquiry and action.
Linking AI with Positive Journalism: The integration of Appreciative Inquiry with positive journalism creates a powerful framework for transformative news reporting. Both AI and positive journalism emphasize strengths, possibilities, and positive potential. By applying AI principles, journalists are encouraged to focus on stories of resilience, innovation, and community success. This approach not only informs but also inspires, offering a more balanced view of societal developments.
Implementation of Positive Journalism in Nepal
Pioneering Efforts by Dr. RC Lamichhane: In Nepal, Dr. RC Lamichhane, an AI expert and Executive Director of the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (ACORAB), spearheaded the introduction of positive journalism. Dr. Lamichhane and his team innovatively combined AI principles with positive journalism, positive psychology, and emotional intelligence to transform news reporting. They organized several training sessions across Nepal to promote this approach, aiming to shift the media landscape from a predominantly negative focus to one that highlights positive and constructive stories.
Community Information Network (CIN) Initiatives: During the April 2015 earthquake, the Community Information Network (CIN) effectively implemented positive journalism to disseminate constructive messages amid the crisis. Recognizing the power of community voices, CIN pioneered community journalism and introduced “Buhari journalism,” a unique initiative that handed microphones to community members, particularly daughters-in-law, to report on local issues and speak out against social malpractices via community radio. By empowering these often marginalized voices, CIN aimed to foster greater community engagement and drive social change.
The Integration of Appreciative Inquiry with Positive Journalism
Core Philosophy Alignment: Appreciative Inquiry’s core philosophy of focusing on strengths, possibilities, and positive potential aligns seamlessly with the principles of positive journalism. Dr. Lamichhane trained journalists to look for and report on stories that highlight resilience, innovation, and community successes. AI’s emphasis on asking generative questions and exploring what gives life to individuals and communities resonated perfectly with the goal of positive journalism to present constructive and uplifting narratives.
Training and Outcomes: ACORAB organized several training events to promote positive journalism. In one notable training at Vaishali Hotel, Thame, 22 ACORAB/CIN staff members engaged in the AI 4-D cycle. They discovered positive cores and major successes in the Discovery phase, envisioned a 10-year dream in the Dream phase, developed strategies and tactics in the Design phase, and created major programs and action points in the Destiny phase. Remarkably, in 2024, CIN won the WSIS Champion Prize from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for its role in disaster management and community resilience.
Potential Positive Impacts of Positive Journalism in Nepal
Building Peace and Harmony: Positive journalism, by highlighting stories of resilience, cooperation, and success, can play a crucial role in building peace and harmony in Nepal. By focusing on positive developments and constructive responses to challenges, positive journalism fosters a sense of hope and possibility. This approach encourages communities to work together towards common goals, reducing tensions and promoting social cohesion.
Economic Development: Positive journalism can also contribute to economic development by showcasing stories of innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable practices. By highlighting successful initiatives and innovative solutions, positive journalism can inspire others to take similar actions, leading to increased economic activity and development. Additionally, positive news can attract investment and support for promising projects, further driving economic growth.
Enhancing Community Resilience: By focusing on stories of resilience and positive responses to challenges, positive journalism can enhance community resilience. This approach encourages communities to learn from each other and adopt best practices, strengthening their ability to cope with future challenges. Moreover, by empowering marginalized voices and promoting community engagement, positive journalism fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment, further enhancing community resilience.
Fostering a Balanced and Hopeful Media Landscape: The integration of Appreciative Inquiry with positive journalism creates a more balanced and hopeful media landscape. By focusing on strengths, possibilities, and positive potential, this approach offers a comprehensive narrative that includes both challenges and solutions. This balanced perspective fosters a sense of hope and possibility among audiences, encouraging them to engage positively with societal developments.
Promoting Social Change: Positive journalism, by highlighting constructive responses to societal challenges, can drive social change. By showcasing stories of resilience, innovation, and community success, positive journalism inspires others to take similar actions. This approach encourages communities to work together towards common goals, promoting social cohesion and driving positive change.
Participants Views
“This training has empowered us to develop a new and positive perspective. If we had undergone this training earlier, we could have achieved many positive results.” Govinda Khadka, The News Chief
“This training has shown us how to craft a vision rooted in our strengths and foster the growth of our organization in a positive, socially responsible manner.” Anil Khanal, Program Director
“This training has rejuvenated and inspired us to think positively and creatively. The visual process has expanded our perspectives, which could potentially transform the organization’s behavior and foster a more positive atmosphere.” Babur Ram Khadka, Chief Administrative and Account office
“This training has fortified our emotional resilience and sparked our creativity, transforming our newsroom into a vibrant and dynamic environment. We are now poised to achieve our dream of winning an international award, having fully unleashed our positive potential.” Usha Bista, Technician and Reporter
“The presentation on Positive Media Organization and Leadership Development was outstanding, offering valuable insights into creating a dynamic and impactful media environment. It emphasized the importance of positive leadership in fostering a thriving, innovative organization. By focusing on strengths and proactive strategies, the presentation provided practical approaches for driving organizational growth and excellence. The session effectively highlighted how positive leadership can transform media organizations and enhance their overall performance.” Deepak Acharya, CIN Manager
Conclusion
The integration of Appreciative Inquiry with positive journalism has significantly advanced the media landscape in Nepal. By focusing on strengths, possibilities, and positive potential, this approach has transformed how news is reported and consumed, offering a more balanced and hopeful perspective on societal developments. The potential impacts of positive journalism in Nepal are profound, with the potential to build peace, harmony, and economic development in the region. Through continued training and promotion of positive journalism, Nepal can foster a more resilient, innovative, and cohesive society.
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Published on 31 July 2024/2081/4/16. 11:32AM
