I haven't seen research. What I look at is pageview data on stories -- pageviews indicate what readers are reading -- and the stories that do well are solution oriented and pragmatic. And stories that include real people are more relatable and do better than data-only stories.

Environmental journalists have been pondering a related issue -- how do you engage readers/listeners in climate change stories? 1) break it down to an individual level that's relatable (ex. rising insurance costs) and 2) don't overwhelm with doom.