Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 43 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

Australia Tells America: Here's How to Fix Your Voting System

Tacey Rychter

October 22, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Australia

Australia maintains a high voter turnout by making voting both easy and mandatory. Election day is always on a Saturday, and community groups host barbeques to mark the occasion. If an eligible voter still doesn’t cast a ballot, they can face a fine of up to nearly 80 Australian dollars.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Mass tourism is ruining historic cities. Only government can stop it

Jennifer Guay

October 11, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Spain, Barcelona

With tourism on the rise, governments are figuring out how to limit overcrowding and environmental damage. Replicable ideas include marketing beaches and other attractions off the beaten path, regulating hotels and vacation rentals, and even requiring that every tourist must be accompanied by a local guide.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Recreation revolution: Why Wales enshrined kids' playtime in law

Burton Bollag

September 07, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Wales

Wales is the first country in the world to recognize playtime as a children’s right. Local authorities must access and promote playtime opportunities for children in their area. Sometimes, this means simply removing “no ball games” signs from parks.

Read More
Go to Original Story
As a teen he killed a man. A new law has given him a second chance.

Keith L. Alexander

September 06, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

The Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act was passed is a D.C. law that allows people who commited a crime before the age of 18 to have their sentences reduced if they’ve served at least 20 years in prison. The law was built on the idea that youth, whose brains haven’t even fully developed yet, should not receive adult sentences. ““This isn’t about giving people a slap on the wrist,” he said. “It’s about giving people consequences that are age-appropriate.”

Read More
Go to Original Story
Helping Tenants Register to Vote

Alex Braden

August 29, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

Know how to register to vote? In St. Paul, your landlord is required to tell you. The city passed the ordinance to keep voter turnout high as the number of renters grew.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Go Home, South Korea Tells Workers, as Stress Takes Its Toll

Su-Hyun Lee Tiffany May

July 28, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: South Korea

To change its culture of overwork, South Korea passed a law capping the workweek at 52 hours for many employees. The move follows the introduction of the five-day workweek in 2004. Young people are especially supportive of the changes, but some issues remain unclear such as how to record the hours required for business trips and entertaining clients, as well as how to prevent bosses from giving their employees work to do from home.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The Urbanist Case for Trailer Parks

Nolan Gray

July 26, 2018 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Manufactured housing—including trailer homes and tiny houses—is a low-cost, small-footprint way to increase affordable housing. However, strict zoning requirements and even outright bans limit its impact.

Read More
Go to Original Story
'It's the New Form of Affordable Housing': More People Are Living in Their Cars

Mattie Quinn

July 24, 2018 |

Governing |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

With vehicular homelessness on the rise along the West Coast, safe parking programs provide much-needed privacy and a sense of community. San Diego and Santa Barbara are models.

Read More
Go to Original Story
German women can now find out what men earn — why don't they?

Natalie Holmes

July 02, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Germany

The early impact of Germany’s wage transparency law has been limited because it only applies to large companies and, while it permits an employee to inquire whether she is paid differently than her male colleagues, she must still sue her employer herself in order to rectify the situation. In the fight for fair pay, it’s more effective to put the onus on companies to demonstrate responsible behavior rather than leave individuals to battle entrenched power structures by themselves.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Maine Tests a New Way of Voting, and Opts to Keep It

Daniel C. Vock

June 13, 2018 |

Governing |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Maine

After trying ranked-choice voting, citizens in Maine decided to keep the system, even fighting court battles on the issue. The system allows voters to rank candidates running for an office from most desirable to least desirable. This makes it possible for voters’ choices to be taken into account even if their top pick candidate falls out of the running in an election in which no candidate wins the majority of the vote outright.

Read More
Go to Original Story