PBS recently announced a novel news literacy initiative that will excite journalism educators and practitioners alike. Titled EducationShift but nicknamed “EdShift,” this project launches with the hopes of “becoming the central hub for journalism educators, students and professionals to find resources, tools and support for transforming their work,” writes Kathleen Bartzen Culver, the Education Curator of PBS MediaShift.

But this movement isn’t just about starting new conversations on journalism; it’s about action. EdShift focuses on moving journalism education forward through what they term “solutions-based journalism.” Buoyed by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, EdShift wants to present answers to common problems such as access to technologies, lack of funding for training and curriculum structures that don’t facilitate innovation.

Culver also attributes the cultivation of EdShift to news literacy guru Eric Newton. Newton is a 2013-2014 Reynolds Fellow at the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute. To draw attention to the digital transformation of journalism and journalism education, Newton’s fellowship has focused on creating Searchlights and Sunglasses: Field Notes from the Digital Age of Journalism, a new type of teaching tool for educators. A group of RJI-selected educators and journalists helped produced learning layers and activities for the book. Based out of the University of Missouri, RJI strives to create and promote pioneering ideas to improve journalism practice and education.

EdShift proffers a medley of solutions to the current problems faced by journalism educators. These solutions include finding and covering training opportunities, offering up new resources and even conversing digitally twice a month via #EdShift chats.

For more details about EdShift, visit the PBS site under Education.