Solutions Journalism
Solutions Journalism is rigorous reporting on responses to social problems. The Solutions Journalism Hub of the South, housed at UGA’s Cox Institute, trains students to tell “the whole story” by applying the same investigative and thorough reporting skills to ways in which people and organizations are responding to the challenges and obstacles in our communities.
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‘Better Recycling Practices’: Behind the Scenes of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Stephen Spillers, the general manager of Recycling and Disposal Solutions (RDS), stood in front of a pile of recycled waste that was 25 feet high in March 2022. Along with standard recyclables such as glass bottles and cardboard boxes, the pile was filled with extension cords, tires, plastic bags…
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From Waste to Waves: How Shell to Shore is Working with Restaurants to Save Georgia’s Coastline through Oysters
When Hunt Revell and Tyler Leslie worked at Seabear Oyster Bar in Athens, they were struck by how many oyster shells they threw in the trash each day. The duo didn’t yet know that these shells could be tools for coastal restoration, but they knew throwing them away seemed wasteful. …
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Cheers! Beer is Brewed Sustainably in Athens
All around the town of Athens, Georgia, people sit with cold beers clutched in their hands. From football fans flipping burgers and laughing at a tailgate, to close friends unwinding at a brewery over a casual game of cornhole, love of a beverage can be a uniting factor among very…
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From Beans, to Brew, to Buyer: How 1000 Faces Makes a Sustainable Cup of Coffee
This week’s pour-over roast at 1000 Faces Coffee features a Red Caturra variety courtesy of La Familia Ortega-Gomez, a multi-generational family producer from San Agustin, Huila. 1000 Faces, who has been serving coffee in the Athens area since 2006, does not try to hide the origin of this Columbian-based brew…
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Sustainable Boutique Tackles ‘Battle Scars’ of Georgia Football Jerseys
When a football player makes a tackle or game-winning catch in the end zone, they may walk off the field with a damaged jersey. However, the next week, the players return with jerseys that have been sewed up and repaired. The seamstresses at Community are behind the stitches. Community is…
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From Pollination to Plate, Bees and Beekeeping Play an Irreplaceable Role in Food Production
The bustling aisles of a grocery store offer rows upon rows of food to choose from. In this space, the freedom of choice appears endless, though insight into where and how exactly a product originates may not be as readily available. Peering beyond the confines of the supermarket’s shelves can…
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Northeast Georgia County Representatives Discuss Population Growth
Grady Newsource brought in representatives from the surrounding counties to address the issue of population growth — during a special solutions journalism broadcast on Nov. 15. Recently, Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Jackson, Oconee and Madison counties have all seen an influx in population. The Solutions Journalism Network defines solutions journalism as rigorous reporting…
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How Student Entrepreneur Chloe Lahr Balances Schoolwork, Sustainability
From monetary uncertainties to consumer expectations, the risks that come with launching a small business pose a challenge. And when a business owner also happens to be a full-time student, juggling the roles of entrepreneur, accountant, marketer, designer and scholar, to name a few, is a continual undertaking. In the…
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Student Organization Works with UGA, Athens Community to Reduce Plastic Waste
Bag the Bag is a student-run organization at the University of Georgia that works with the Athens community to promote sustainable practices. One way that Bag the Bag connects with the Athens area is through community clean-ups and helping businesses with handling their old plastic bags. On the University of…