Ch-ch-ch-changes

In the previous "How to SoJo," we promised some big changes. And they're here! Peek into Above the Fold and you'll no longer see the "Big Thought of the Week"—style intro. Instead, you'll now see a journalist and/or newsroom doing notable solutions journalism. We'll be exploring what they do, how they do it, and what you can learn from them to bring into your own work. Plus, we'll share some of their stories, complete with a quick blurb about something the story does well. (It may do many things well, but we're keeping it brief.)

So dig into the new format, subscribe, and — while you're at it — snag a few solutions stories. We're guessing they'll be a welcome addition to your news diet.

In the May 7 edition of Above the Fold, the changes peeked through, starting with a reflection from the Rhett Ayers Butler and Mongabay. Butler looked back on 20 years of climate reporting, growing from a one-person team to an outlet that's truly global. Suffice it to say he's got some lessons to share — and nearly 200 solutions stories, which we link to if you're curious. Then, you can explore SJN's collaboration with Public News Service, in which we teamed up to create radio versions of 100 climate solutions stories. They reached tens of thousands of people, many of whom live in news deserts. After that, dig into some fresh climate solutions journalism research from Willow Beck and Amélie Daoust-Boisvert, who explored its spread in Canadian alternative media. You can also see the recording of our LinkedIn Live with Alex Segrè Cohen, who co-authored some fascinating research on climate SoJo, agency, and action. Last but certainly not least, Maher Nasser of the United Nations spoke about the value of SoJo! Not a bad week. Read it here.

The full new-look Above the Fold was in effect in the most recent edition. We kicked off the new feature (that we're calling The REIL ones — go find out why) with the fantastic Dina Aboughazala. You'll have to read to find out how they approach spreading SoJo in and about the Global South. Same goes for how she became a champion swimmer! Like Mongabay in the last edition, 9 Millones had an anniversary to celebrate. Camille Alexandra Padilla Dalmau shared some heartfelt wisdom to commemorate it. If you're craving more research, Sue Robinson, Joshua Darr, and Margarita Orozco looked into the effects of rethinking democracy reporting with Hearken, Inc, Trusting News, and SJN. (It went well!) You can also get some serious solutions-focused climate training with folks from Project Drawdown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and more. Tiny News Collective and LION: Local Independent Online News Publishers have jobs, iMEdD - incubator for Media Education and Development has a huge fellowship opportunity, and Yessenia Funes has practical ideas for battling burnout among climate journos. There's a lot in this edition to love.

The newest Response examines the ways clean energy continues its march despite recent policy changes. You'll find that march in Alexander C. Kaufman's story about how Florida has quietly become a global force in solar power; in Stuti Mishra's look at how Pakistan has grew to the world's world's biggest solar importer without significant policy changes; and in will atwater's piece covering North Carolina's microgrid aspirations and successes. Get all three in one place.

In Solutions Worth Sharing, you can get even more climate solutions coverage, thanks to a fascinating and insightful story from Matilda Hay about efforts to reduce methane by feeding cows seaweed. Is it working? Seems like it. Can it scale? No one quite knows yet.

You can also get some democracy coverage, courtesy of Sujata Dand's nuanced look at Texas' policy allowing residents to vote anywhere in their home county with the goal of increasing turnout. But success has been mixed across the state. Read it and learn about why that seems to be.