MC-Guide
Content Writing
Website 15: Solutionjournalism.org
How Can You Earn Money Writing For “Solutionjournalism.org” Website
This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to Solutionjournalism.org.
You will learn what Solutionjournalism.org wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.
Guide: How to Earn Money Writing Solutions Journalism
This guide teaches you the exact framework used by professional journalists to write stories that editors are desperate to buy. You will learn to use the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) resources to master this skill, and then how to pitch your articles to magazines, blogs, and news sites.
You don’t need to be a famous reporter. You just need to stop writing “fluff” and start writing rigorous stories about how problems are being solved.
Section 1 · The Concept
Why Editors Pay for “SoJo” Stories
Most freelance writers make the mistake of writing about “problems” (e.g., “The climate is getting worse” or “Schools are failing”). Editors are flooded with these stories.
Solutions Journalism (SoJo) is different. It is rigorous reporting on how people are responding to problems. It is not “good news” or PR puff pieces. It is critical investigative reporting that asks: “Who is fixing this? How does it work? What is the evidence that it works?”
- Hero worship: A story about one “magical person” saving the day.
- A silver bullet: Claiming a solution is perfect.
- Theory: Writing about an idea that “might” work.
- PR / Activism: Promoting a charity without checking facts.
- System-focused: How a process or method solves a problem.
- Evidence-based: Using data to prove it works.
- Critical: Discussing the limitations (what went wrong).
- Replicable: Teaching others how they could do it too.
Money Insight: Publications like The New York Times, The Guardian, BBC, National Geographic, and specialized trade magazines (e.g., education or healthcare blogs) often have specific budgets for these stories because they engage readers better than “doom and gloom” news.
Section 2 · The Framework
The 4 Pillars: Does Your Idea Qualify?
Before you write a single word, run your idea through the SJN 4 Pillars. If your story misses one of these, it is not Solutions Journalism, and editors might reject it.
A Response to a Social Problem
The story must focus on the response, not just the problem. The “character” of your story is the solution itself.
Bad: “Homelessness is rising in Seattle.”
Good: “How a ‘Tiny House’ village in Seattle reduced homelessness by 20%.”
Evidence of Effectiveness
You need proof. This can be data, qualitative results, or reliable observer testimony. You don’t need to prove the solution is perfect, just that it is having an effect.
Ask: “Show me the numbers. How do we know this is working?”
Insight (Lessons Learned)
What can others learn from this? Your article should be a “how-to” guide for other cities or people.
The takeaway: If a mayor in London reads your story about a project in Lagos, can they apply the lesson?
Limitations
This is what separates journalism from PR. You must report on what does not work. Is the solution too expensive? Does it only work in summer? Is it hard to scale?
Honesty helps: Editors trust writers who admit flaws.
Section 3 · The Research Tool
How to Use the “Story Tracker” to Learn
The SJN Story Tracker is a database of over 15,000 vetted articles. Use this to study successful pitches before you try to earn money.
Go to the link. Type in a topic you are interested in (e.g., “Education,” “Water Conservation,” “Mental Health”).
- Filter by “Success Factor” to see highly rated stories.
- Look at where they were published (e.g., Reasons to be Cheerful, The Tyee, Civil Beat). These are your potential buyers!
Open 3 articles. Identify the 4 Pillars in each:
- Where is the evidence located? (Usually the 3rd or 4th paragraph).
- How did they handle limitations? (Often near the end).
- Who is quoted? (Usually the people doing the work, not just officials).
Section 4 · Writing Guide
Step-by-Step: How to Write the Article
A standard “Solutions” story often follows a specific narrative arc. You can use this template for your guest posts or magazine submissions.
Start with the problem and the specific character
Don’t start with dry stats. Start with a person facing the problem.
Example: “Maria spent 3 hours every day walking to fetch water. The village well was broken, and no one knew how to fix it. But then, a new system changed her morning routine…”
Explain the “How” immediately
By paragraph 3 or 4, tell the reader exactly what the solution is.
Example: “This isn’t just about one well. It’s about a new community-payment model called ‘WaterSure’ that is keeping pumps running across 50 villages in Kenya.”
Show the data
Dedicate a section to the results. Use numbers, charts, or before-and-after comparisons.
Example: “Since adopting the model, pump downtime dropped from 40 days to 2 days per year. Disease rates in the village fell by 15%.”
The mechanics
Take the reader under the hood. How much does it cost? Who runs it? What is the step-by-step process? This is the “Insight” pillar.
The “To Be Sure” paragraph
Be honest. “To be sure, this model isn’t perfect. It relies on mobile signal, which is spotty in the north. It also costs $5 per family, which is high for the poorest residents.”
Section 5 · Money & Pitching
Where to Pitch & How to Earn
Once you have your story idea and research, where do you sell it? You generally don’t sell it to SJN (they are an educational non-profit, though they have grants). You sell it to publishers.
| Publication Type | Examples | Typical Pay | What they want |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solution-Focused Sites | Reasons to be Cheerful, Positive News, Next City | $0.30 – $0.50 / word | Pure SoJo stories about urban planning, climate, and social progress. |
| Trade Magazines | Education Week, Healthcare Dive, Civil Engineering | $0.50 – $1.00 / word | Technical details on how a specific industry problem was solved. |
| Mainstream News | The Guardian, BBC Future, Christian Science Monitor | $0.50 – $1.00+ / word | High-impact stories with strong characters and global relevance. |
| Local News | Your City Newspaper, Local Blogs | $50 – $200 flat | “How [Nearby City] fixed the pothole problem we have here.” |
“Dear [Editor Name],
I’m a freelance journalist. I’d like to pitch a solutions story about [Problem]. While most coverage focuses on the crisis, [Organization/City] has developed a response called [Solution] that has reduced the problem by [X%]. I have access to the data and interviews with the creators. This story fits your [Name of Section] section perfectly.”