Phone hacking, hatchet jobs, shock jocks: the public has recently been reminded of all that the media can do wrong. And when its power is abused, the list of possible wrongs is endless.

But in a very small way, the last week has also helped demonstrate what can be achieved when the media's power is used for good.

On Sunday, the ABC ran a story about Solomon Tessaye - a 16-year-old Ethiopian born refugee who has dreams to design, build and fly his own aeroplanes.

Without the financial resources of some other families, Solomon is building an ultralight plane in his family garage.

It is being constructed largely out of scrap materials and what he can pick up at garage sales and hardware stores.

The story was a smash hit on Twitter and the ABC website, with the link shared around Australia's thriving aviation community.

On Monday afternoon I was contacted by a representative from Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus), a group which had featured in the story praising Solomon.

He in turn had been contacted by a RAAus member who operates a flight school at Jasper's Brush, south of Sydney.

"They're willing to offer Solomon free flying lessons normally worth thousands of dollars," he told me.

This training would allow him to obtain his pilot's certificate, the qualification just one rung below a formal pilot's licence.

"That's fantastic," I gushed on Solomon's behalf, while wondering how the teenager would get the time and money to spend a week on the New South Wales south coast.

As if reading my thoughts the man continued:

"And they seem keen to pass the hat around and pay for him to get up there."

I immediately rang Solomon's home and broke the news to his mother, Mary Alemnehe.

She was blown away and, overcome with excitement, passed the phone to Solomon.

He was quiet and understated, but the slightly raised pitch of his normally deep voice betrayed his excitement.

Like most interviews conducted for television, much of my discussion with Mary the week before had ended up on the cutting room floor.

Here's what she told me, that didn't get to air.

"As a mother, I am always there for him, to help him. But ... my income is so little, I can't help him a lot."

"I want someone at least to encourage him or to help him with his dream, to be successful."

It seems her prayers may have been answered.

Ryan Sheales is an ABC News reporter based in Melbourne. You can follow him on Twitter @ryansheales