Solutions based story idea

Solutions based journalism

Story idea: Not enough life skills taught in high school

Covers a response to a problem and how it happened

Response to a decline in students going into skilled trades, choosing college instead. There is a stigma at school, for students who are not going to a traditional college. 

Background articles:

• Choosing Trade School Over College, The Atlantic
• Why We Desperately Need to Bring Back Vocational Training
• Schools Turning From Teaching the Trades

Provided evidence of impact, looking at effectiveness, not just intentions

Evidence of impact is the lack of individuals going into the skilled trades. Students could talk to local trade unions to gather information and data about the amount of people joining the workforce, what kind of training is available, etc. They could also talk to a local construction  manager about how they recruit. Students could look for programs set up and partnerships across the state to see what is being done to fill the need of skilled trades.  

Co-ops created within the state

• Michigan Electric sets up co-op’s with area high schools 
• List of Apprenticeship Sponsors in Michigan

Showing need

• Skilled trades workers needed in Michigan
• Workforce training programs funded in Michigan

Produces insights that can help others respond too

Some of the insights found can be recognizing the need to create a partnership; reverse the stigma about vocational school; or reintroduce skilled trades into the curriculum. 

Points out any limitations or caveats of the response (“to be sure…”)

Some of the limitations to writing this story is to have any long standing data and the ability for the story to become too big (think small slices of SOJO).