Constructive Institute

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The Constructive Institute is an independent organisation at the heart of the constructive journalism

ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTIVE INSTITUTE

The Constructive Institute is an independent organisation at the heart of the constructive journalism movement. Its mission is to combat trivialisation and degradation of journalism by emphasising reporting that is more accurate, balanced and solutions-focussed. The institute helps journalists and news organisations to apply constructive reporting in their daily w

ork through providing access to an inspiring best practices portal, a world-class fellowship programme, relevant training curricula, and rigorous academic research. We are situated in Aarhus, Denmark and work closely with Aarhus University, a young and modern university that has grown to become a leading public research university with international reach. ABOUT CONSTRUCTIVE JOURNALISM

Constructive journalism is a response to increasing tabloidisation, sensationalism and negativity bias of the news media today. It is an approach that aims to provide audiences with a fair, accurate and contextualised picture of the world, without overemphasising the negative and what is going wrong. While a healthy dose of negativity in the press is undoubtedly necessary, the chronic overexposure of negative constitutes a hidden media bias that has an erosive effect on the societies we live in. The aim of constructive journalism is to combat the trivialisation and degradation of journalism by media that often is more interested in entertaining and creating controversies than informing the citizenship. Constructive journalism is calm in tone, being less focussed on scandals, conflicts and outrage. It reports on important societal issues, setting them in the bigger picture and in their relevant context. Constructive journalism takes journalism’s democratic function seriously, building on the idea that journalism is a feedback mechanism that helps society self-correct. It holds, however, that awareness about a problem alone is unlikely to bring about corrective action. Constructive journalism, therefore, seeks to facilitate public debate not only around important problems, but also around possible solutions to improve the quality and the tone of public discussions. Constructive journalism is not about the “nice and cute”, nor is it positive or soft news that ignores problems. It is “two-eyed journalism”, balanced reporting on both good and the bad in society. Constructive journalism is not activism or advocacy and will never attempt to define the best solution to a problem. In short, constructive journalism can be thought about in two layers. The first one is the editorial aspect of picking a calmer tone and not giving into the excess of negativity and sensationalism. The other layer focusses on reporting on responses to social ills.

19/06/2026

Thank you for your curiosity, courage, generosity, and commitment to strengthening journalism, dear fellows of cohort 9 💚

Today is your last day of the fellowship. A day of goodbyes, speeches, reflections and looking ahead.

As one Fellow put it:

“I had forgotten why I became a journalist, but this fellowship reminded me.”

Another said:

“This fellowship has been an ongoing debate, a dialogue, and a constantly changing way of looking at the world and ourselves. It showed us that disagreement isn’t something to fear. It’s an opportunity to learn from how others see the world.”

We are so excited to follow your work as you return to your newsrooms and continue shaping the future of journalism 🌱

Ulrik Haagerup

18/06/2026

“Journalism, we need to talk…..”

This month, we had the pleasure of vistiting Kalø Folk High School to facilitate our workshop “Democratic Mobilization of the Next Generation” 💚

Together with the students, we explored how they engage with social media and news in their everyday lives - and how to think critically about the information they consume.

We then gave them an hour to create a short video: a modern love letter to journalism.

…and here’s their response, blending honesty, humour, and thoughtful advice for the profession.

Thank you, Kalø! 🌱
Nordea-fonden Nordjyllandsfonden Ulrik Haagerup

Photos from Constructive Institute's post

15/06/2026

Tak for et inspirerende Folkemøde, hvor borgere, medier og politikere mødtes i en strøm af samtaler om, hvilken retning vores samfund og demokrati skal bevæge sig i.

Netop dét var også hele kernen i det store mediesamarbejde ‘Dit valg. Vores Danmark’, som vi foldede ud i en paneldebat i Allinge til Folkemødet.

Panelet bestod af hele syv deltagere, hvilket tegnede et meget godt billede af, hvor mange aktører der i fællesskab gjorde en indsats for at hæve stemmeprocenten og klæde borgerne bedre på til at træffe et oplyst valg ved KV25 og RV25.

”For TrygFonden var det fantastisk at støtte et projekt, der bidrog til, at alle i højrere grad blev opmærksomme på kommunalvalget, og at borgerne oplevede, at de både havde et ansvar og en mulighed for at få reel indflydelse,” lød det blandt andet fra Laila Walther, underdirektør i TrygFonden.

Også tak for skarpe pointer og værdifulde input til udviklingsmuligheder fra de øvrige paneldeltagere:

➡️Kasper Møller Hansen , professor, Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen
➡️Martin Damm, Kalundborg-borgmester og KL-næstformand
➡️Camilla Kjems, adm. direktør, TV2 Bornholm
➡️Kristoffer Gravgaard, adm. direktør og chefredaktør, Bornholms Tidende
➡️Christian Fischer Vestergaard, senior director, Epinion
➡️Ulrik Haagerup, adm. direktør, Constructive Institute

Med Esben Seerup og Simone Kohsel Terndrup som moderatorer i skønne rammer i KL og Komponents telt.

Og ikke mindst tak til ‘Dit valg. Vores Danmark’s partnere: VELUX Fonden, TrygFonden, Tuborgfondet og Jyllandspostens Fond, KL og Danske Regioner.

10/06/2026

When a fellowship ends, that’s when constructive journalism truly begins.

More than 100 former fellows - and many other journalists embracing this approach - are putting constructive journalism into practice every day in their newsrooms.

Creating stories that are engaging, trustworthy, and meaningful.

One inspiring example is former fellow and Norwegian editor-in-chief Ingrid Tinmannsvik. First at NRK and now as a co-founder of .no Ingrid focuses on providing context, exploring possible solutions, and presenting multiple perspectives. By combining critical reporting with a forward-looking mindset.

Ingrid is the first journalist featured in our new series, Fellows in the Field, where we explore how constructive journalism is put into editorial practice around the world 🌍

Keep up the excellent work, Ingrid!

08/06/2026

Kom til paneldebat, når ‘Dit valg. Vores Danmark’ rykker til Folkemødet 🌱

Her deler vi erfaringerne og forskernes foreløbige resultater fra ‘Dit valg. Vores Danmark’ – det største mediesamarbejde i Danmark til dato.

Debatten tager afsæt i projektet, der samlede journalister, kandidater, kommuner og borgere gennem workshops, stormøder og valgfestivaler over hele Danmark. Samtidig satte en stor meningsmåling med svar fra 103.000 danskere fokus på borgernes ønsker til deres lokalsamfund.

Nu spørger vi: Hvad lærte vi? Hvad virkede? Og hvordan bygger vi videre på samarbejdet – også mellem valgene?

Det gør vi:
➡️ Lørdag den 13. juni 2026 klokken 12.00–13.00
➡️ I Kommunernes Telt (F9)

Sammen med panelet bestående af:

Kasper Møller Hansen, professor, Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen
Martin Damm, Kalundborg-borgmester og KL-næstformand
Laila Walther, underdirektør, TrygFonden
Camilla Kjems , adm. direktør, TV 2/Bornholm
Kristoffer Gravgaard, adm. direktør og chefredaktør, Bornholms Tidende
Christian Fischer Vestergaard, senior director, Epinion
Ulrik Haagerup, adm. direktør, Constructive Institute
Moderator: Esben Seerup, innovationschef, Constructive Institute

Det er naturligvis gratis at deltage. Vi glæder os til at se DIG!

31/05/2026

“Constructive stories often perform the best.”

That was one of the key takeaways when our fellows visited some of Australia’s most influential newsrooms - all of which are practicing constructive journalism at scale and with remarkable success:

➡️ At , Director of News Mandi Wicks shared how they always approach journalism through a constructive lens to address the issues dividing communities. Journalism, she said, should help move the nation forward and encourage people to participate in civic conversations.

➡️At , editor Ann Cordiner reminded us that constructive journalism is both valuable and essential to audiences. And how it’s necessary to be more thoughtful than ever about how we serve the people who trust us.

➡️At , climate reporter Bianca Hall explained how constructive environmental reporting balances individual action with systemic solutions. And how audiences are responding positively to that approach.

➡️And at , Pacific and New Zealand editor Virginia Harrison emphasized that engaging audiences is vital for democracy and a way to reduce news fatigue.

What makes this especially encouraging is how far the movement has come in Australia.

Back in 2020, Constructive Institute and Ulrik Haagerup was invited by Australian Associated Press to introduce constructive journalism through talks, debates, and workshops across the country.

Today, many of Australia’s leading media organizations have embraced the approach and are using journalism not only to inform, but also to strengthen democracy and improve public debate.

28/05/2026

“Journalism should build bridges. Facilitate public discussions. Be a helper to society.

That’s the new role for journalism at a time when anybody can tell any story. To anybody. All the time. From anywhere.”

- Ulrik Haagerup today, at the “Countering Polarization: Rethinking Cultural Diplomacy” conference in Copenhagen, which brought together leading voices from across Europe to discuss how culture, media, and diplomacy can help counter division in an era marked by war and geopolitical tensions.

Speaking on the Directors’ Panel, Ulrik addressed why credible storytelling matters more than ever:

“AI might be faster and cheaper, but humans tell stories about who we are and who we might become together.”

The panel also discussed how, in a world where AI blurs the line between truth and falsehood, where algorithms shape what we believe and fear, and where societies are becoming increasingly easy to manipulate and divide, constructive journalism is part of the answer.

The conference was hosted by Dansk Kulturinstitut / Danish Cultural Institute, The Danish Foreign Policy Society, Dansk Kulturliv, and Constructive Institute.

28/05/2026

Say hello to our 10th class of Fellows! 🎉

For the 10th year in a row, and at a time when media and democracy are under increasing pressure, Constructive Institute is bringing together a new group of journalists and editors committed to strengthening and developing journalism:

Søren Aaes, DR Nyheder
Louise Guldberg Rosendal, DR Livsstil og Fakta
Runa Louise Bligaard Ammitzbøll, TV2 Østjylland
Brian Karmark, Freelance, formerly with Jyllands-Posten
Michelle Madsen, Vejle Amts Folkeblad
Mads Schmidt Hansen, TV SYD
Kirstine Lefevre Sckerl, stiften.dk
Lisbeth Davidsen, TV 2 News
Kristian Brøndum TV2 Østjylland
Sanne Nyland Christensen, DR Nyheder
Mathias Viby Sommer, Børsen
Signe Gru, TV2 Nord

With this new cohort of 2026/2027, a total of 120 Danish and international journalists, editors, and media professionals have now been part of the Constructive Institute Fellowship Programme since the institute opened in 2017 🌱

Thanks to TrygFonden, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Industriens Fond, Aarhuus Stiftstidendes Fond, Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond for supporting the 2026/2027 class of fellows.

21/05/2026

Our class of fellows is visiting Australia this week - and one thing has already become clear:

Constructive journalism is far from a fluffy idea Down Under. It’s being practiced at scale and with remarkable success.

That’s our biggest takeaway so far after visits to The Age, The Conversation Australia + NZ, and and Australia’s national public broadcaster ABC Australia.

We kicked the week off at our sister institute, Constructive Institute Asia Pacific at Monash University in Melbourne. A huge thank you to director Kate Torney and her brilliant team for the warm welcome.

Today, we also had the pleasure of visiting our Danish colleagues Caroline Christensen at DR Sydney. Thank you for welcoming us and for the insightful conversations.

Ulrik Haagerup

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