Solutions and evidence

What is a solution?

A solution is a systemic response to a problem in society. A solution can succeed or fail or do both at the same time. Solutions attempt to combat societal issues; but, they don’t act as cure-all fixes.

What is evidence?

Evidence is information that backs up a claim. Journalists should put forth evidence to show a solution is working or to show how it’s failing. Evidence can come from compelling data trends or directly from sources involved in providing or receiving said solution.

What’s an example of an evidence-based solution to an addiction-related issue?

Gabrielle’s Glaser’s 2014 piece in The New York Times covers an evidence-based solution to rehabilitation for alcoholism. The piece examines how abstinence approaches to recovery (promoted by A.A. programs) may not be the best approach for people struggling with addiction to alcohol. Instead, the evidence-based reporting shows that recovery that allows for moderate alcohol consumption can produce positive, long-term results, especially for younger people. Some evidence that the article notes, includes expert comments from practicing psychologists, opinions from those in recovery and data from studies, such as a 2002 study out of the University of New Mexico that was published in the journal “Addiction.”

Jenny Roberts

Jenny Roberts is a senior journalism and political science double major at Temple University. She works as the Supervising Editor at her university's editorially independent student newspaper, The Temple News. In the past, she has interned at the Reading Eagle, a newspaper in Berks County, and the online publication Talk Media News, for which she covered the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Some of her favorite topics to report on include politics, education, art and culture. She is also interested in social justice issues and the U.S. criminal justice system. Jenny currently interns at the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, a nonprofit that works to exonerate those convicted and incarcerated for crimes they did not commit. She also is a student leader for Temple's chapter of The Petey Greene Program, which places volunteer tutors in GED programs at correctional facilities. When she isn't reporting on what's going on in the world, she's spending her free time trying to change it for the better. Through Covering Addiction, she hopes to blend these two interests. Contact Jenny at [email protected].