Solutions Journalism Hub

Solutions Journalism Hub

Solutions Journalism at the University of Georgia

Telling the whole story in the South

That’s the mission and purpose of the Solutions Journalism Hub of the South at the University of Georgia—to support storytelling that covers both the problems and the actions being taken to address them.

We are committed to advancing education, research and industry collaboration and innovation to improve the understanding and reach of solutions journalism, with a special focus on the southern United States.

As one of four inaugural Solutions Journalism Hubs named in 2021, the University of Georgia’s hub is uniquely positioned in the South to help newsrooms, students and researchers tell the whole story of our region. There are many problems here that we need good reporting on, but we want to also train storytellers to cover the responses — as a way to not only balance the narrative but provide audiences a way to engage.

We accomplish this in three main areas: teaching, research and service.

“Solutions journalism is rigorous and compelling reporting about responses, which includes how that response has worked, or why it hasn’t; insight (what can be learned from a response and why it matters); evidence (providing data or qualitative results that indicate effectiveness); and limitations (placing responses in context).”

View ways Grady College faculty are teaching solutions journalism to students.

STUDENT WORK

How Athens is Prioritizing Support for Underrepresented Groups, Individual Needs

BY GRADY MULTIPLATFORM JOURNALISTS

TANKER TASK FORCE HELPS WITH LACK OF HYDRANTS

Growing Solutions: Documentary on Addressing Environmental Issues Through Communities

Teaching

Teaching

Our teaching supports collegiate solutions journalism education in the region, offering fellow educators another source for community. We incorporate solutions journalism in our own curriculum, especially in the capstone courses where students produce and publish solutions-oriented news. We are interested in hosting and facilitating pedagogical discussions and resource sharing in order to make solutions journalism a core element of journalism curriculum.

Photo: UGA Marketing and Communications

Research

Research

With an additional focus on solutions visual journalism, our research supports scholarship studying the production, presentation, distribution and reception of solutions journalism. We welcome graduate students who wish to incorporate this as part of their studies and thesis work, as well as outside scholars who are interested in collaboration.

Service

Service

Our service supports training and outreach for professional journalists and newsrooms. We serve as a home base for tools and techniques within the industry, and work to establish collaborative connections between newsrooms in the South doing this type of work. We often send our faculty and students out into the region to support solutions journalism initiatives and practices.

Solutions Journalism Primer

Additional Resources

Solutions Journalism Story Tracker

Solutions Journalism on Grady Newsource

Solutions Journalism in The Oglethorpe Echo

Also visit https://constructivesouth.us, an open collaborative exploring the value of constructive reporting in the South.

Directors

  • A headshot of Amanda Bright.

    Amanda Bright

    Clinical Associate Professor; Director, Cox Institute Journalism Innovation Lab

    ABOUT Amanda Bright, PhD, MJE, is a clinical associate professor specializing in community journalism, news product innovation, design and pedagogy. She is the managing editor of Grady Newsource, assistant editor […]

  • A headshot of Kyser Lough.

    Kyser Lough

    Associate Professor; Director, News Literacy Certificate

    About: Dr. Lough studies visual communication and solutions journalism, with an emphasis on photojournalism. He teaches graduate-level visual communication method & theory, as well as undergraduate photography and journalism ethics […]

  • Headshot of Ralitsa Vassileva

    Ralitsa Vassileva

    Senior Lecturer

    About: Ralitsa Vassileva teaches undergraduate students through hands-on learning and personalized feedback. She leads courses in live and breaking news for TV and digital dissemination, social media content creation, environmental […]

Contact Us

Questions about Solutions Journalism Hub?

Dr. Kyser Lough, Co-director, Research Lead
KyserL@uga.edu

Events

GSPA Spring Workshop and Awards

The Georgia Scholastic Press Association and its middle and high school members from across the state will celebrate the best in scholastic journalism at the Spring Workshop and Awards. The event will be held at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. A workshop will lead the event, 9-11:45 a.m., followed by a banquet-style awards luncheon at noon, catered by the Georgia Center. Professional dress is suggested. The 2026 program will be a available closer to the event. Visit https://www.ugagspa.org/workshop-awards for more.

Prospective Student Day

Register here to join us at Grady College Prospective Student Day!

Male student sits in a chair and talks with other students. A sign in front of the student reads Featured Intern.

Intern Hours

Join us for Intern Hours, a peer networking event for Grady College students. Each session will feature a group of current Grady students who had or have internships in Summer or Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. Get tips on how they found their internships, how to prep for your own internship applications, what they did in the role and more. See details on this month’s featured interns on Instagram @UGAGradyCareers.

2026 Grady Salutes

We look forward to recognizing our Alumni Award honorees and Grady Fellowship inductees at Grady Salutes on March 27, 2026. The 2026 Grady Salutes event includes a catered luncheon on the Schnitzer Family Media Lawn. Our 2026 Alumni Award honorees include:

  • Sarah Karges (ABJ ’15)
  •  Eric NeSmith (ABJ ’02)
  • Tracy Brown (ABJ ’88)
  • Wilson Lowrey (MA ’90, PhD ’00)
We also honored our 2026 Grady Fellowship Inductees:
  • Tracy Brown (ABJ ’88)
  • Maureen Clayton (ABJ ’80, MA ’84)
  • Alan Griggs (ABJ ’72)
The cost is $50 per person, and reservations should be made by March 18. Reservations can be made here.

A girl with a graduation stole smiles as she crosses the stage.

Spring 2026 Grady Convocation Ceremony

Grady College’s Spring 2026 Convocation Celebration will take place on May 6, 2026.

  • The ceremony will start at 2 p.m.
  • Graduates will have their names read in front of family, friends, faculty and staff as they cross the stage.
  • Dress is professional; caps and gowns are not worn for Grady Convocation.
  • Guests are asked to remain in their seats and not take pictures at the stage. Photos will be taken of each graduate crossing the stage and will be available free of charge after the event on the UGAGrady Flickr account.
  • The ceremony will be recorded and posted within 24 hours on the UGA Grady YouTube channel.
  • Students must register for convocation. Registration will open in April.
  • Tickets are not required for Spring Convocation.
  • Parking is available at one of several downtown parking lots. Please allow plenty of time to park and arrive as there will be convocation ceremonies downtown for other UGA units that same day.
More information can be found at https://grady.uga.edu/graduation/

A professor and students with graduation gowns and stoles pose for a picture in front of Grady College.

Spring 2026 Grady Graduation Celebration

Graduates and their parents are invited to celebrate with other graduates and faculty/staff at this drop-in celebration from 5 to 6:30  p.m. on May 8, 2026. Guests will enjoy light refreshments and photo opportunities with Dean Davis and others. Tickets are not required for the celebration at Grady College.