We are living in an age where negativity dominates the headlines—wars, crises, and conflicts flood our screens daily. According to the latest Reuters Institute Digital News Report, nearly four in ten people worldwide now actively avoid the news, saying it leaves them feeling overwhelmed and emotionally drained. “I have stopped following the news because it´s just too much negativity all the time”, says Luna, a 23-year-old education student from Copenhagen. “It feels like no one is trying to do anything about it – why doesn’t someone change the way news is reported?”
Luna is not alone in her thinking. Her opinion is shared by millions. This phenomenon, known as news avoidance, is a serious threat to the future of democracy. When people disengage from the news, trust in the media erodes, and the foundation of democracy—an informed citizenship—weakens.
But could there be a way to re-engage audiences and rebuild trust in journalism? Denmark, a country often praised for innovation and its high levels of media trust, may have an answer. With their approach to Constructive Journalism, Danish media outlets are rethinking how they report stories, focusing not just on problems but also on solutions and context. Could Denmark’s constructive approach be the key to addressing global news avoidance?
Constructive journalism: Redefining how we tell stories
On my visit to Denmark, I met a journalist from Verdens Bedste Nyheder, a newsroom that only focuses on constructive journalism and underreported progress around the world. He shared a story about how they reported on climate change – not by highlighting the alarming data but by showcasing an innovative approach to heating pumps in Denmark. This method gives a glimpse of the future, with a clear focus on the progress that is happening right now.
Constructive journalism embraces this philosophy. It aims to inform people while also explaining the situation and offering possible solutions. Unlike traditional journalism, which often emphasizes conflict and sensationalism, constructive journalism seeks to provide a fuller, more balanced picture. It doesn’t shy away from challenges or critical stories but includes potential solutions and forward-looking perspectives.
To get a better understanding of what constructive journalism is and how it works, watch the video below.
The evolution of constructive journalism can be followed back to Aarhus, Denmark, where the Constructive Institute was founded in 2017. Its mission is challenging: to rethink journalistic practices in ways that address societal challenges while upholding core principles of truth and accountability.
Ulrik Haagerup, founder of the Constructive Institute, reflects on how his experiences as an investigative journalist shaped his vision: “Journalism, as I knew it, often focused on what went wrong—scandals, conflicts, and extreme drama. That’s what we were taught to pursue because it grabbed attention and fit the culture of newsrooms. But I began to wonder: at what cost? By constantly highlighting the negative, we were unconsciously encouraging polarisation, strengthening extreme voices and even promoting a twisted view of reality”.
Haagerup’s turning point came from questioning the consequences of this approach. “We were part of the problem,” he admits, “but could we also be part of the solution? Journalism needs to document problems critically, yes—but also ask, ‘Now what?’ and ‘How can we move forward?’ That shift in focus, from blame to progress, is the essence of constructive journalism.”
Shaping journalism’s future: A generational shift in reporting
A closer look at the Reuters News Report highlights a clear trend: younger generations are increasingly distancing themselves from traditional news outlets. This shift is also reflected in Aarhus, where Henrik Berggren, head of the Journalism Department at the DMJX (Danish School of Media and Journalism) sees a growing interest among his students in constructive journalism. Despite this interest, the school has not introduced a specialized program in the field. “We do not see constructive journalism as a new kind of journalism,” explains Berggen. “It is a tool that we need to use more often, but the idea behind constructive journalism should always have been part of journalism”, says Henrik Berggren, head of the journalism department at DMJX.
While the school continues to focus on providing students with a broad range of journalistic skills, it is also working to incorporate constructive approaches into the curriculum. “We don’t want to create a division between traditional and constructive journalism,” says Berggren. “It’s about combining both methods.” For Berggren, the solution isn’t about offering a specialized program but about ensuring that constructive approaches are part of the curriculum. “We need to implement these principles in the journalistic mindset of our students so that they graduate from this school ready to engage with the world in a more thoughtful and informed way,” he concludes.
A closer look: How does the approach work in practice?
Walking into the small newsroom of Verdens Bedste Nyheder is immediately welcoming. Friendly faces greet you and the room, though compact, bubbles with the familiar energy of a traditional newsroom. Stories are discussed, angles are debated, and assignments are given – but the editorial focus here is different.
“We only cover stories where there’s progress, solutions, or results,” explains journalist Anders Seneca Bang. “If there’s nothing happening right now, we don’t cover it. That’s one of our guiding principles.” While the newsroom only focuses on constructive reporting, it doesn’t ignore problems. “To highlight progress, you need to fully understand the issue. It’s something I emphasize to our interns. Constructive journalism isn’t about wearing rose-colored glasses—it’s about presenting the bigger picture,” Bang adds.
This approach also helps to counteract the blurred perceptions created by the constant focus on crises in traditional media. “People often have a distorted view of issues like poverty or migration because of the way they’re covered. For example, global poverty is decreasing, but the narrative is still dominated by disasters – refugees here, hunger there,” says Bang. Verdens Bedste Nyheder tries to balance this by highlighting long-term improvements, helping viewers to see decades of progress rather than just today’s crisis. However, Bang is not afraid to acknowledge the limitations of their approach. “If you only consume our stories, you’ll still end up with a distorted view. Progress has to be seen alongside challenges, otherwise you don’t get the full picture,” he warns. He hopes their stories will complement, rather than replace traditional outlets.
Since its founding in 2016, the newsroom has grown steadily, supported by government funding that makes their unique mission possible. Bang admits that they can’t fight news avoidance on their own, but still hopes that their work will reconnect audiences with journalism. “For those who have turned away from traditional outlets, we could be a starting point. And maybe once they’re re-engaged, they’ll turn to other media too,” he says.
Promising but not a one-size-fits-all solution
Constructive journalism began as a theoretical concept, but outlets like Verdens Bedste Nyheder demonstrate how it can work in practice. However, a significant challenge remains: there is no standardized definition of constructive journalism or guidelines for its application. Broadly, it is understood as an approach that emphasizes developments, solutions, and perspectives. Nevertheless, this has resulted in a number of misconceptions, with critics often characterizing it as nothing more than “happy news”. Skeptics argue that focusing on solutions risks ignoring harsh realities.
“The world is full of shit. I don’t believe journalism needs to change at its core, which is why I don’t think constructive journalism is the solution,” says Knud Brix, editor in chief of Ekstra Bladet, one of Denmark’s leading media outlets. “If I had the answer to news avoidance, I’d be rich by now,” he adds, reflecting the complexity of addressing disengagement with traditional news.
While Denmark is often seen as a pioneer of constructive journalism, the approach hasn’t been adopted across all newsrooms. While Brix acknowledges the value of outlets like Verdens Bedste Nyheder, he points out that such initiatives often rely on government support and can only coexist with traditional outlets that focus on critical reporting.
Is constructive journalism the answer?
At a time when people are turning away from the news, it is all about experimenting to bring them back. The way forward may be complex, but Denmark’s efforts offer a chance to reconnect with audiences. Research has shown that while such articles may not generate as many clicks, readers tend to engage more deeply, finish the stories and feel better informed. Constructive journalism could serve as a bridge to re-engage audiences that have turned away from traditional news because of its overwhelming negativity.
As Ulrik Haagerup puts it, “Why do we only cover the holes in the cheese and not the whole cheese?” While there is no guarantee that constructive journalism will solve the problem of news avoidance, it allows us to see the bigger picture.
