So much happening, so much to be done

This newsletter ideally acts as a way of celebrating the world of solutions journalism. While doing that, we want to inform you about what's happening in that world AND invite you into it. So much is happening, and at the same time it feels like it's not enough. Maybe you've felt that recently? Well, maybe you'll find a little bit of magic in here ...

Above the Fold on February 5 started with a job opportunity at SJN. Applications are closed for that now, but if you want to stay up to date on future openings (and fellowships, and lots of stuff around solutions journalism that isn't even from us), the best way to do that is to use this newsletter to subscribe to those. But that wasn't all that was in this edition. You can also learn about Transitions Media gathering info on how the U.S. funding freeze has affected European news outlets; get advice for keeping immigrant communities safe while reporting from El Tímpano ; and the new solutions-focused climate initiative from Covering Climate Now . You can also learn about "100 Days of Dignity," a project for your newsroom conceived by Joy Mayer , John Hernandez , Bridget Thoreson , Joe Amditis , and Jaisal Noor . Last but not least, you can get great SoJo advice from Africa via Oluwafolakemi Ajala , Chibuike Alagboso , Caroline Karobia , and Social Voices . Want to make sure you never miss one? Read it and subscribe.

In the February 12 edition, SJN announced the 2024-25 European Media Leaders Climate Solutions Journalism Fellows. We're excited! Led by Kevin Burden , these 12 journalists will help their newsrooms fully integrate climate solutions into their reporting. After that, we share Mohammed Taoheed 's piece about Prime Progress ' fellowship for covering religious conflict through a solutions lens. (Essential, by the way.) A new solutions journalism book dropped thanks to Oscar Perry Abello, and Alfredo Casares can help you merge sociology and solutions reporting. There are also fellowships from The Carter Center and Albritton Journalism Institute; emergency grants open in the U.S. from International Women's Media Foundation ; a training in Amsterdam from Sanne Breimer ; and safety trainings from the Center for Journalism & Democracy . That's a lot! And it's all available here.

A very important Making the Grade came out last week. In it, Michael Davis announced the opening of applications for the 2025-26 Student Media Challenge. Eight U.S. student newsrooms will be selected for this cohort. It comes with funding, in-depth training, consulting and more. Over the course of the project, these newsrooms will report on youth mental health through a solutions lens. If you want to learn more about it and get the application, read the full edition here.

Now, if you need solutions stories (and wow, do we), check out The Response and Solutions Worth Sharing. The latest Response covers solutions not just for the earth, but from the earth. You'll get Robert Bociaga 's story about the efforts of refugees to replant war-torn land; tanka dhakal 's story covering how government-supported tractors help women farm and become financially stable; and Nicole J. Caruth 's look at the individual and climate benefits of a difficult rice farming technique. Get all three here.

And in Solutions Worth Sharing, catch Sarah Shemkus ' vital story about a coalition of states charging for emissions while using the funds to power green energy projects. The democracy edition features a story from Robert Davis and Next City about a successful federal program (which may or may not survive) that has helped Denver, Colorado, maintain affordable housing for seniors.