Creating a constructive news culture of solutions, not division

In an age of echo chambers, outrage and collapsing trust in media, the need to radically transform our public discourse has never been more important and a new approach to journalism must be at the heart of that.

Constructive journalism reimagines news by rejecting the noise, cynicism and extremes that dominate so much of our reporting, instead focusing on nuance, evidence, empathy and a radical belief that truth and progress are not found in the loudest voices, but in the most thoughtful.

A constructive approach to news seeks not only to report the problem, but to also explore solutions. It avoids sensationalism and click-bait negativity, prioritising context, evidence, balance and curiosity.

Like radical moderation, constructive journalism elevates complexity and nuance above simplification; it promotes evidence-based information over ideology; it focuses on solutions rather than problem-admiration. It fosters listening, learning and curiosity, over grandstanding.

And importantly both celebrate constructive community dialogue and engagement, with the aim of rebuilding our ability to disagree agreeably and to benefit from the vast opportunities that this affords in democratic decision-making and problem solving.

In Scandinavia, constructive journalism has been rolled out in dozens of newsrooms in various ways. In some cases, the principles apply to the commissioning of all news stories; in others, they’re used in specific rounds like environmental reporting or local government coverage.

This doesn’t mean sugar-coating news; it means reporting with a focus on the future, always asking – what next?

Emerging in Denmark over a decade ago, constructive journalism recognises that journalism has contributed to both our deepening social divide and the erosion of respectful disagreement.

The 24-hour news cycle is a hungry beast, and polarisation and sensationalism are quick, easy fuel. The "us vs them" narrative, urging us to pick sides, is the easiest – and laziest – way to fill bulletins, papers, and feeds.

Unsurprisingly, people worldwide are turning away from news. In Australia, Canberra University’s Digital News Report Australia 2025 shows 69 per cent now actively avoid it – rising to 72 per cent among women.

The most common reason? News feels overwhelming and leaves people feeling helpless.

When we turn away from trusted sources, there’s no shortage of content to fill the void – fueling misinformation, echo chambers, and deeper polarisation. Strong democracies rely on informed citizens, actively engaged in helping shape the future.

It has shaped debate formats where the aim is not domination and a winner-takes-all approach, rather a shared commitment to a set of outcomes for which participants are jointly accountable. And that accountability is tracked – they report back to the community on progress.

On learning about this particular format, my first reaction was "Imagine that kind of debate happening in Australia!". And then my constructive brain kicked in: "Why not?".

If we want to model constructive problem-solving and discourse, inviting political, industry, and community leaders to lead is a great start.

By having forums where the only aim is a shared outcome and where listening, empathy, and collaboration on shared solutions are rewarded, we move away from the cynicism and hostility that pervades public life.

When we witness people working together across social, political, and cultural divides we are far more likely to believe that progress is possible and participate in making it happen.

Hope and collective agency are fundamental to a healthy democracy. Australia has a proud history of strong, independent journalism – newsrooms that have consistently served communities big and small, shaping our democracy. That tradition is not broken; it is at a crossroad.

We can keep amplifying division, or choose to report, lead, and engage with courage, curiosity, and collaboration. This isn’t just about reframing journalism – it’s about changing what we reward in public life: thoughtfulness over theatrics, progress over point scoring.

When constructive journalism lifts the conversation, democracy rises with it.

Kate Torney, OAM, is Director of the Constructive Institute Asia Pacific at Monash University. A former ABC News Director, she led 1,400 staff over two decades. She has also served as CEO of the State Library of Victoria and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.