The Hero as an “Agent of Change” in Video Storytelling for Solutions Journalism: Selection Criteria, Ethics, and Visual Representation Strategies

Abstract

The article presents a detailed analysis of the role of the hero in video content within the format of solutions journalism in a cross-media dimension. It is argued that within this approach The article presents a detailed analysis of the role of the hero in video content within the format of solutions journalism in a cross-media dimension. It is argued that within this approach, the hero functions not merely as a passive carrier of a personal story or as an object of empathy, but primarily emerges as an “agent of change”. Through the experience of such a hero, the audience has the opportunity to closely observe the mechanisms of addressing socially significant problems, to analyse the conditions for the effectiveness of implemented practices, and to clearly perceive their internal limits, risks, and potential constraints. It is emphasised that audiovisual material in the format of solutions journalism should operate as a rigorous evidentiary and explanatory system. The video sequence does not merely illustrate an event, but demonstrates the procedural nature of the solution: it reveals causal relationships, highlights complex institutional contexts (interactions with authorities, communities, and businesses), and focuses on outcomes that can be verified and independently assessed. The study proposes and details criteria for selecting heroes that are crucial for content quality: the procedural nature of their involvement in change, representativeness (reflecting the broader social context), direct access to verified data, communication competence, ethical safety, and the principle of polyphony. At the same time, key ethical challenges faced by authors are identified: the risk of excessive heroization, the potential for stigmatization or secondary traumatization of participants, the threat of pseudo-evidence, and the temptation to “silence” failures. Visual strategies for representing the hero are systematized, including: clear depiction of the “mechanics of the solution” the use of a collective hero image, maintaining a balance between intimacy and distance, integration of explanatory graphics, and application of ethical editing principles. Cross-platform adaptation of video materials (YouTube, Shorts, TikTok, longreads) is separately considered as a strategic factor that fundamentally alters the tempo-rhythm and compositional structure of the narrative. It is demonstrated that distribution across different platforms creates specific risks of content simplification and directly affects the methods of verification and the architecture of data presentation in the contemporary media environment.