Solutions Journalism Revenue Accelerators
Program Years: 2025-26
The Solutions Journalism Network (SJN) and Blue Engine Collaborative are inviting 40 U.S. news organizations to participate in hands-on accelerator programs designed to leverage solutions journalism into sustainable revenue streams.
SJN and Blue Engine are leading four accelerators, each supporting eight to 12 U.S. news organizations and focusing on a specific revenue stream, including sponsorship, consumer revenue and philanthropy. By combining editorial excellence with revenue growth strategies, the accelerators aim to:
- Establish a direct connection between solutions journalism and increased community support through sponsorships, consumer revenue (subscriptions, membership and donations), and philanthropy (major individual gifts and grants);
- Strengthen newsrooms' capacity to generate and sustain solutions journalism coverage alongside effective revenue strategies;
- Foster cross-functional collaboration to embed editorial and revenue innovation into long-term practices.
Each accelerator focuses on actionable outcomes, with participants sharing insights within their cohort and the broader journalism community.
Meet the First Cohort of the Solutions Journalism Revenue Accelerator
Eight small- to medium-size newsrooms will build their solutions journalism skills and translate that into newsroom sponsorships.
The first accelerator, starting in early April 2025, focuses on attracting sponsorship revenue tied to solutions journalism. Newsrooms will develop bold, creative content ideas — such as series, packages, beats, events or newsletters — that align with their top editorial and financial priorities. This work must be a central part of the newsroom’s goals, not an add-on or side project. Newsroom teams will work in alliance with business colleagues who will be creating specific sponsorship revenue opportunities to support the work.
Selected news organizations will form a project team and receive the following:
- Nine months of support to build expertise in solutions journalism and revenue strategies;
- Coaching and training from SJN and Blue Engine experts;
- Promotion of participants’ work among our network of thousands of journalists around the world;
- The opportunity to apply for up to $10,000 in funding for solutions journalism and/or sponsorship efforts during the accelerator;
- The opportunity for staff to become certified solutions journalism trainers.
