Soziale Verantwortung statt Resignation

Abstract

Konstruktiver Journalismus ist eine relativ neue Form des Journalismus mit dem Ziel, die aktuell überwiegend negativ orientierte Medienberichterstattung durch lösungsorientierte Elemente zu ergänzen. Mithilfe von Techniken der positiven Psychologie sollen dem Publikum gesellschaftlich relevante Informationen vermittelt werden, um zu einer mündigen Bevölkerung beizutragen. Dabei nimmt die Stärkung prosozialer Verhaltensintentionen eine zentrale Rolle ein.Die vorliegende Studie untersucht, inwieweit der konstruktive Journalismus dem eigenen Anspruch einer Förderung proaktiver Verhaltensweisen gerecht wird. In einer experimentellen Befragung wurden prosoziale Selbstwirksamkeitserwartungen, motivationale Faktoren und direkte Verhaltensintentionen untersucht. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass prosoziale Verhaltensintentionen durch die Rezeption konstruktiver Nachrichten gestärkt werden. Ein signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen der Rezeption konstruktiver Nachrichten und einer gesteigerten Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung ließ sich nicht erkennen.Constructive journalism is a rather new form of journalism aiming at expanding the currently mostly negative media landscape with the help of solution-oriented elements. Although people got used to sensational headlines and catastrophe pictures, they are not immune to (partly unconscious) emotional reactions. Due to increasing resignation and negative feelings towards news, people tend to avoid journalistic reports. The learned helplessness theory indicates that they also reduce the ability to act in a prosocial way. That is exactly the opposite of the original function of journalism: to inform citizens and empower them to participate actively in society and political processes.Utilizing positive psychology techniques, constructive journalists intend to convey socially relevant information to the audience aiming at contributing to a proactive population. Furthermore, they hope to counteract the journalistic problematics of growing resignation to and avoidance of news.For that, strengthening prosocial self-efficacy expectations and other motivational factors play a central role. In relation to increased trust in one’s own abilities, news consumers become aware of their options for acting. This serves not only psychological well-being, but also significantly promotes social commitment. Overall, by encouraging various recipient’s psychological patterns, constructive journalism intends to contribute to an enlightened, mature and prosocial society, in which citizens are aware of their social responsibility and participate in political or charitable processes.Prosocial behavior is an act that is defined as useful for society. Behavioral intentions are determined by one’s own attitude towards this behavior and assumed reactions from confidants. However, unconsciously prosocial behavioral intentions are also determined by expectations of prosocial self-efficacy. Only if someone is convinced that one himself can create the behavior that is useful for society, a real act will follow.Whether this new journalistic approach complies with its own set claim to contribute to a prosocial minded society, is the central theme of the present work. Accordingly, the superior question of the study, in which way constructive news influence recipient’s prosocial behavioral intentions, will be answered in the context of an experimental survey.Two fictitious online newspaper articles which deal with neighbourhood help during the corona pandemic served as stimuli. One version of the online article reflects constructive reporting including a positive example of how people can participate, and which measures must be taken to reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus. This particular article also explains which alternatives people have in case it is not advisable to help personally, substantiated by an interview with a scientist. Optimistic frames, graphics, direct addressing and a positively connoted picture were used to create this stimulus. The other version of the fictitious newspaper article represents the conventional reporting model. Thereby, a real newspaper article served as a template and only the mentioned place and persons were changed. The latter solely concentrates on the problem that hygiene regulations cannot be adhered to, and risk groups are not adequately protected against corona. In addition, the article made use of quotes from critics, a sensational headline, a negatively connoted image and dramatic frames.In an online survey, the two stimuli were randomly distributed to two groups of test subjects. The newspaper articles were distributed equally among the groups. Consequently, the probability of receiving the constructive newspaper article was 50%.The results of the two-week survey with a total of 182 valid cases show that constructive news had an influence on the motivation and willingness to produce an actual behavior that is useful for society. As a matter of fact, prosocial self-efficacy expectations were not promoted by them. This is an interesting issue as, based on Bandura’s theory of perceived self-efficacy, the conviction of being able to behave in a prosocial manner is the requirement of prosocial behavioral intentions and actual behavior. It should be emphasized that self-efficacy expectations are related to long-lasting personality traits and it is improbable to change such characteristics just because of a one-time reception of a constructive newspaper article. Nevertheless, prosocial behavior is not about convictions or feelings, but rather about actual willingness followed by concrete acts. Thus, the result of the statistical evaluation can be considered successful. Instead of problem-oriented, fearful news reporting that leads to resignation, constructive journalism concentrates on the journalistic core function of enlightenment and looks for solutions to social problems, whereby it strengthens prosocial behavioral intentions.To conclude, this study points out the tendence that constructive journalism encourages prosocial acts. It could also be proven that news with a solely negative perspective reduce the motivation for prosocial behavioral intentions considerably. Regarding the future, the results should be used as an opportunity to rethink the currently prevailing conviction in Germany of only sensationally negative news causing thoughtfulness and activism.