DDRIG in DRMS: A mixed methods investigation of the barriers to and effects of solutions journalism for climate risk mitigation

应对气候不确定性带来的风险需要广大公众的参与。风险传播者往往关注气候不确定性带来的威胁，以激励行动。但如果人们感到过于恐惧或气馁，这种信息可能无法激发参与。解决方案新闻侧重于对问题的成功应对，为增强人们支持减轻气候不确定性的能力提供了另一种途径。然而，关于气候解决方案新闻的研究很少。本研究通过实验调查气候解决方案故事对气候行动参与的影响。此外，研究人员还探讨了记者的报道目标以及他们在报道气候解决方案时面临的常见障碍。总而言之，该项目的调查结果揭示了解决方案新闻在促进公众支持减轻气候不确定性方面可以发挥的作用。结果还突出了通过培训项目、资源和对记者的进一步实际适用研究来支持解决方案报道的机会。本研究使用两项研究来了解解决方案新闻如何有助于缓解气候不确定性。在社会认知理论和范例理论的指导下，研究1运用了解决方案新闻框架的要素，并测试了四个太阳能解决方案故事（与以风险为中心的气候故事和中性控制故事相比）对心理反应和行动意图的影响。在信息暴露两周后再次测量效果，以评估干预的持久性。结果提供了对解决方案、故事和驱动这些结果的认知机制的影响的见解。研究2包括对环境解决方案记者的采访，以确定关键的报道结果，并了解这种报道形式固有的挑战。研究结果应澄清解决方案新闻的概念界限，并确定未来解决方案新闻研究的机会。这两项研究的结果都为从业者如何定义解决方案新闻、它如何影响受众以及它如何支持减轻气候不确定性提供了见解。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Addressing risks posed by climate uncertainty requires the participation of broad swaths of the public. Risk communicators often focus on threats posed by climate uncertainty to motivate action. But this kind of messaging may fail to inspire engagement if people feel too fearful or discouraged. Solutions journalism, which focuses on successful responses to problems, offers another avenue for empowering people to support climate uncertainty mitigation. However, there is little research on climate solutions journalism. This research uses an experiment to investigate the effect of climate solutions stories on climate action engagement. Additionally, the researchers explore journalists’ goals in reporting as well as common obstacles they face to reporting on climate solutions. Altogether, findings from this project shed light on the role solutions journalism can play in promoting public support for climate uncertainty mitigation. Results also highlight opportunities to support solutions reporting through training programs, resources, and further practically applicable research for journalists.This research uses two studies to understand how solutions journalism contributes to climate uncertainty mitigation. Informed by Social Cognitive Theory and Exemplification Theory, Study 1 operationalizes elements of the Solutions Journalism Framework and tests effects of four solar power solutions stories (compared to a risk-focused climate story and neutral control story) on psychological responses and action intentions. Effects are measured again two weeks after message exposure to assess durability of the intervention. Results offer insights into effects of solutions stories and cognitive mechanisms that drive these outcomes. Study 2 involves interviews with environmental solutions journalists to identify key reporting outcomes and understand challenges inherent to this form of reporting. Findings shall clarify the conceptual boundaries of solutions journalism and identify opportunities for future solutions journalism research. Results from both studies offer insight into how practitioners define solutions journalism, how it affects audiences, and how it could support climate uncertainty mitigation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.