From Doomscrolling to Civic Joy: Centering Solutions in Local Storytelling

What if local news could do more than report problems—what if it could inspire action and connection?

In this episode, host Liz Cochrane speaks with Nari Han about the growing disconnect many people feel when faced with a relentless stream of bad news. Together, they explore how the concept of "civic joy" offers a new path forward: storytelling that builds trust, reflects community resilience, and invites meaningful engagement.

We explore:

• How constant negativity fuels disconnection
• The shift “upstream from news” toward actionable, human-centered information
• What “solutions journalism” looks like in local practice
• How storytelling can foster trust, civic pride, and agency
• Real-world ideas: community spotlights, story skill shares, and neighborhood idea labs

Tune in to hear how reimagining the role of news can transform doomscrolling into a shared sense of purpose.

Creators and Guests

Host

Liz Cochrane

Liz Cochrane is the steady voice at the center of On Assignment—measured, curious, and always tuned in. With a deep interest in how communities share stories and stay informed, she’s particularly drawn to conversations about trust, local news, and the changing media landscape. Liz has a talent for listening without interruption and never mispronounces a guest’s name—a trait some say is almost too good to be true. Though you won’t find her byline in any newspaper morgue or see her moderating a town hall, Liz is fluent in the language of civic engagement and always ready with the next thoughtful question. She might not blink, but she gets it.

Guest

Nari Han

Nari Han studies the emotional and behavioral contours of news disengagement—why people turn away from journalism, and what might draw them back. Based in the Cincinnati area, she brings a nuanced, pattern-based perspective to audience behavior, with special attention to emerging re-engagement strategies by local and national outlets. Han is especially attuned to moments where information fatigue meets innovation, often identifying trends others overlook. While she doesn’t always show up in the usual databases, her insights have a way of surfacing right when they're needed most.

What is On Assignment by The Assignment Desk?

On Assignment is a podcast about the people, practices, and ideas shaping the future of journalism. Produced by The Assignment Desk, each episode dives into the evolving world of local media, journalism education, news innovation, and the urgent fight against disinformation. From conversations about newsroom funding and emerging technologies to rebuilding public trust and reimagining community storytelling, On Assignment explores the challenges and possibilities facing today’s news landscape. Whether you’re a journalist, student, educator, or simply someone who cares about credible information, this podcast is your place to listen, learn, and stay connected to the mission of public-interest journalism.

Welcome back to "On Assignment." I'm your host, Liz Cochrane. In previous episodes, we've talked about the challenges facing local news and how people in our communities get information. Today, we're going to focus on a feeling many of us experience and what we can do about it: moving from "doomscrolling" to "civic joy" by looking at how local stories are told.

Joining me is Nari Han, an expert who has been studying these trends and community insights. Nari, thanks for being here.

Thanks for having me, Liz.

So, Nari, let's start with this idea of "doomscrolling." I think many of our listeners know the feeling – getting overwhelmed by bad news when you're looking at your phone or watching TV. What is the impact of this constant stream of negative information?

That's a really common experience today. We know how the dominance of bad news in the information space is actually leading to burnout and disconnection. The news can feel perpetually "depressing" with stories about "crime, corruption, and when you turn on the Sunday political shows or cable news in the evening, it's often just people yelling at each other."

And what happens when people feel that way?

Well, in the best case, it leads to disconnection and disengagement from news. But at its worst, it can actually lead to distrust in our neighbors, our communities, and our institutions. When we're constantly seeing problems and conflict, it erodes that sense of shared community.

So, if the news is focusing so much on problems, how can local journalism evolve to counteract this?

Well, I was at a community session hosted by the Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement and Press Forward. They're working really hard to gather data and bring together civic-minded individuals and news organizations. Their work is still in the early stages, but I'll share what they've learned so far. It's simple. We need to make a shift. We can't just keep trying the "old ways". We need to look "upstream from news" looking at information not just as formal reporting, but as lived experience, personal connections, and people's curiosity about solving local problems.

"Upstream from news" – that means thinking differently about what information is valuable?

Exactly. It's about recognizing that news needs to be about more than just what happened or just reporting on problems. There's an insight that suggests "News you can use" – information about the ways our community is working well. This type of information can actually help build civic connection and trust.

So, it's not just ignoring the bad things, but finding ways to show how the community is responding or solving issues?

That's right. A former local TV news manager mentioned that "good news doesn’t have to be happy news". The core of what the community needs is often stories that show ways our community is working well, or highlight collaboration to solve problems, or proactively seek out ideas that are working. It's a shift from just "highlighting problems" to prioritizing centering solutions. This is an emergent finding: that centering solutions, rather than problems, allows communities to develop a stronger sense of place and cut through pessimism and cynicism.

And how does this connect to "civic joy"?

This is where it gets really hopeful because "building civic joy," well, they described it as the sense of satisfaction and agency that comes when community members can meaningfully engage, and to do it with others. It's that feeling of personal connection, pride, and shared impact that happens when people see themselves reflected in local stories and events. By focusing on solutions and how people can get involved, news and information can empower people to experience this "civic joy".

It sounds like a more active, participatory role for news. What are some concrete ways the research suggests local news and communities can do this?

The big one was that this work needs to be more community-centered.

One concrete idea is creating a "Neighborhood Heroes" spotlight series to celebrate small acts of civic goodness. Another is building a StoryCorps-style project to capture and archive personal stories of local impact and collaboration.

So, making it easier for the community's positive stories to be seen and heard?

Yeah, many community collaborations are happening but aren't always amplified. Stories of success often go unreported. Thre's a need for communities to have stronger tools to tell their own stories. This could involve storytelling skill shares or "positive gossip" workshops to help residents amplify uplifting stories using tools they already have. It also means news organizations making it easier for people to submit their stories effectively.

Are there other approaches?

Yes, there's talk of creating community idea labs – safe spaces where people can test and develop new ideas together. Also, embedding storytelling into community events, perhaps even paired with food, to create those spaces for connection and shared reflection. The goal is to shift the narrative from "what is my organization doing?" to "what does our community need—and how can we work together to meet that need?".

It really emphasizes collaboration and community ownership, doesn't it?

It does. Local news can serve as a platform for building trust and a launchpad for civic action. They have a unique opportunity to reposition themselves as conveners and resources for people who want to experience that civic joy. It's about helping people move from just being aware of problems to feeling equipped to take action and getting involved with others.

This shift from focusing on problems to centering solutions and civic joy seems like a vital path for local news to become more relevant and essential to communities today.

Absolutely. It's about reimagining what local news can be, making it more participatory, and powered by community trust. The old style idea of "if it bleeds, it leads" just doesn't connect anymore. We've got to innovate or die.

Nari, thank you so much for sharing these insights and highlighting the potential for local news to foster "civic joy."

My pleasure, Liz. It's an exciting area to explore.

And thank you for listening to "On Assignment." Join us next time as we see how journalists and newsrooms can leverage The Power of the Crowd by Reimagining Community news Submissions.

"On Assignment" is produced by Robert Sterner. Stay informed, stay involved. Goodbye.