Pepperdine University Named Regional Hub for Solutions Journalism

The Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) has named Pepperdine University a regional hub for solutions journalism along with four other journalism schools.

Pepperdine launched SJN's university hubs program in 2022 to ensure that journalism focused on responses to problems is integrated into the teaching, research and service of leading journalism schools. Pepperdine, recognized as a leader in innovative collegiate journalism, was one of eight cohort schools in SJN's 2023-24 Student Media Challenge. Pepperdine student journalists dedicated a year to reporting on climate anxiety at the Malibu campus, threatened by the Woolsey wildfire in 2018, prompting the evacuation of 295,000 people and burning nearly 97,000 acres.

Pepperdine's hub will be led by Associate Professor Elizabeth Smith and Associate Professor Theresa de los Santos. Smith teaches journalism classes and directs Pepperdine Graphic Media, housed within the Seaver College of Liberal Arts. She is president of the Associated College Press and past president of the California College Media Association. She also serves on the teaching committee for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and is research chair for the organization's Scholastic Division. De los Santos teaches journalism classes and is an adviser to "NewsWaves," the university's broadcast TV news show, also housed within the Seaver College of Liberal Arts. She is the teaching chair for the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the research chair for the organization's Scholastic Division.

"Our program has long embraced solutions journalism," Smith said. "At its best, solutions journalism promotes rigorous reporting with evidence that points to what can be instead of only what is. At Pepperdine, our journalism students utilize this reporting approach to help tell stories that bring a community together."

Lauren Amaro, Divisional Dean of Communication, which is home to the university journalism program, wrote: "Our program has a long track record of commitment to journalism that inspires hope and motivates change. At Pepperdine, we want to develop students who lead lives of purpose, service and leadership. There is no better way to do that than to deepen our commitment to stories that help to promote a better world."

As hubs, the five journalism programs are building and convening a national conversation about the importance of rigorous reporting on what is working and the problems in bringing communities together to have a meaningful impact on society's issues and challenges.

"We are thrilled that Pepperdine will be joining our university hubs," said Francine Huff, SJN's director of training & curriculum. "Faculty there have already shown a commitment to teaching solutions reporting techniques to students, as well as working with other partners in the community to help them understand the importance of this rigorous, fact-based reporting."

SJN's other university hubs include Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; Stony Brook University's School of Communication and Journalism; and the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

 

 

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