A major misconception about Solutions Journalism is that it serves as positive PR for NGOs or government schemes. True SoJo requires absolute rigor, heavily relying on its fourth pillar: declaring a solution’s limitations. Finding out what is not working correctly is just as important as promoting successes. If a solar-powered irrigation scheme is too expensive for marginal farmers, a reporter must explicitly document that financial gap.

The Bharat Media Association emphasizes this critical boundary. Honest reporting on what fails to work ensures that the media remains an objective watchdog.