WGME (Working Solutions)
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I. Introduction (15m)
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II. Storytelling (40m)
- Introduction
- Opoids in prison: How one state's success could work in Maine
- Wickenburg district using 4-day week to woo, keep teachers
- School suicide screening program in Ohio leading to fewer deaths
- Police business checks lead to drop in crime
- Land Bank discussing its impact on Cleveland over the last 10 years
- More restaurants seeking to appeal to your eardrums as much as your taste buds
- Plan G: How Georgians are taking control of the climate conversation
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III. Engagement (25m)
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IV. Case Studies (35m)
- KSHB (Safe KC)
- KXAN (Save Our Students)
- KPHO/KTVK (State of Our Schools)
- KGTV (Transparency Project)
- WGME (Working Solutions)
- WBBM
- WXIA
“As Maine goes, so goes the nation” may be an outdated slogan when it comes to politics but right on point for employment trends. With an aging population, Maine is facing a worker shortage that is driving up costs and may foreshadow a nationwide trend. WGME, the CBS affiliate in Portland, spent six months in 2019 reporting on Working Solutions to the labor squeeze.
This story looks at an unusual temp agency.
The Sinclair-owned station gave the assignment to a reporter who worked alone as an MMJ. The franchise aired two stories each week but got little promotion. It was not the only solutions journalism effort at WGME, however. Reporters examined other topics through a solutions lens, including opioid addiction and prescription drug costs. WGME also had some success working with other stations in its ownership group to get video and interviews for solutions stories.
“We’re always looking for a different way to tell a story to make our stories stand out,” said assistant news director Amanda Post. “Solutions journalism training gave us a valuable perspective change to make us look at things in a different way.”
LESSONS LEARNED
