Meenal Thakur

Project manager & solutions journalism trainer, Czech Republic

Meenal Thakur is a project manager, solutions journalism trainer and former journalist. She currently divides her time between Prague-based Transitions where she is developing and managing solutions journalism programmes in Central and Eastern Europe and Dart Center Europe where she is supporting the growth and new partnerships of the organisation. Prior to this, she was a Project Manager at Maastricht-based European Journalism Centre where she managed multiple European journalism grants programmes focused on solutions journalism, cross-border investigations and development reporting. She is experienced in working with journalists and freelancers in Europe, South and SouthEast Asia and Africa on different solutions journalism related projects and training. Meenal has also worked on press freedom advocacy at Amsterdam-based Free Press Unlimited and as a politics and policy journalist in India.

All Sessions by Meenal Thakur

13:45 - 14:30
Track 2

Increase news engagement (and revenue!): The case for solutions journalism

We are witnessing a worrying trend of increasing news avoidance and decreasing trust in media across the globe, made worse by news fatigue exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. What can the news media industry do? This session will explore how solutions journalism aims to inspire audiences and create real-world impact by reporting on responses to social problems. Evidence shows that this approach to reporting leads to increased audience engagement, positive attitude towards news and renewed trust in media.