Roger Williams University: Communities Of Hope Selected For National Solutions Journalism Challenge

Press release from Roger Williams University:

By Jordan J. Phelan '19

May 21, 2025

BRISTOL, R.I. – Roger Williams University’s Communities of Hope Civic Media has been selected for the Solutions Journalism Network’s (SJN) prestigious Student Media Challenge IV Cohort, earning a $7,500 grant to support student-driven reporting on solutions to pressing social issues.

The national initiative, launched in 2022, empowers college newsrooms to produce in-depth, equitable reporting that highlights responses to community challenges. With this funding, RWU students in the Department of Media + Design + Communication will receive specialized training in Solutions Journalism, a rigorous, evidence-based approach to reporting that centers on how people are addressing problems.

Communities of Hope, RWU’s civic media outlet, is committed to elevating local voices, repairing harm, reclaiming history, and collaborating on solutions that matter most to marginalized communities. As part of the SJN cohort, RWU joins a growing network of student newsrooms working to fill information gaps and restore trust in local media.

Now in its third year, the Student Media Challenge has evolved into an incubator for student-led journalism, fueling award-winning projects across the country and preparing students for impactful careers in the media industry.

This press release was produced by the Roger Williams University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.