By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
Journalists covering the Oyo State House of Assembly were on Thursday trained on the principles and practice of Solutions Journalism as part of efforts to bridge gaps in mainstream news reportage and strengthen media leadership.
The capacity-building workshop was held at the Correspondents’ Chapel Secretariat, Ibadan. It was facilitated by Isaac Olufemi Ojo, a participant in the Solutions Journalism Network, SJN, March 2026 Train-the-Trainer cohort.
Speaking on the theme, “Introduction to Solutions Journalism”, Ojo engaged reporters in an interactive session on how contemporary media practice in the state remains largely dominated by “problem-screaming” reportage.
He noted that the constant emphasis on negative narratives has led to news fatigue and is taking a toll on the mental health of readers.
To underscore the need for a paradigm shift, the facilitator cited a viral editorial note by a 5-year-old reader, Maya, who detailed the psychological burden of relentless bad news and called for more constructive stories, features, and lighthearted content to ease reader fatigue.
Ojo drew from the field experiences of the attending journalists to highlight the core pillars of Solutions Journalism and its benefits to writers, newsrooms, and society.
The facilitator highlighted response, evidence, insight and limitations as the pillars of Solutions Journalism
He urged media practitioners to strictly adhere to the pillars, stressing that doing so clearly distinguishes the practice from public relations, hero-worship, and propaganda.
During the interactive session, Mr. David Bello of Lagelu FM and Mr. Adekunle Adegboyega of Parrot Xtra Magazine raised concerns about practical challenges that could hinder the adoption of the model in daily reporting.
Responding, Ojo clarified the grey areas and assured participants that applying the core elements of Solutions Journalism elevates routine coverage into high-impact, evidence-based reporting.
Participants include Mosope Kehinde from FRCN, Ibukun-Jesu Adeogodiran from Noble FM, Mubarak Abimbola from Prince FM, Ishola Ridwan from Apollo Media among others.
