Positive News: How It Affects You and Where to Find It

We rarely see positive news headlines, and it’s not just a symptom of the modern age. Reporters have been faced with the same question for hundreds of years: why is the news always so negative? It’s not hard to see that terror, crime and extremism sell papers. These stories stir up feelings of anger, compassion and horror – all of which keep us firmly engaged with the world’s happenings. The trouble is, all this bad news gives us a skewed image of the world. Believe it or not, there is positive news out there in the world, and we know where to find it.

Positive News vs Bad News: How It Affects Us

It’s important to remind ourselves that journalism does not accurately represent the world we live in. Bad news incites fear and desperation in all of us, but for those of us prone to anxiety and depression, it really can feel like the end of the world (The Power of Positivity When You Live with Mental Illness).

This is hardly surprising. We evolved in tribes and rural communities where we only would have known what was happening locally. Up until recently, there were no international broadcasts or social media to inform us of all the world’s suffering.

There are benefits to our hyper-connected world, of course – we can raise money for refugees and donate unwanted clothes and food to homeless charities at the click of a button. But there’s no denying the 24-hour news cycle is damaging our health.

According to Susanne Babbel, a psychotherapist specializing in trauma recovery, our brains are hardwired to process stress relating to trauma by entering what is known as "fight, flight, freeze" mode before returning to a restful state. In modern times, however, we are constantly exposed to trauma, which prevents us from returning to this relaxed state our bodies need. She writes:

"Every time we experience or hear about a traumatic event, we go into stress mode. We might go numb or have an overactive fear response to the perceived threat. Our physiology is triggered to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.”

Positive news, on the other hand, has the opposite effect, in that it makes us feel connected, joyful and empowered. So how do we get more of it and the positive examples it provides?

Where to Find Positive News Stories

Believe it or not, there is positive news in the world – you just have to know where to find those positive words. Here are some positive news sources to help restore a more balanced view of the world.

Positive News

The brains behind the Positive News website describe themselves as “pioneers of “constructive journalism– a new approach in the media, which is about rigorous and relevant journalism that is focused on progress, possibility, and solutions.” There’s no doom and gloom here, just factual, high-quality reporting covering the positive news that’s glossed over by mainstream media.  

The High Low

The High Low is a weekly current affairs and pop culture podcast hosted by British Journalists Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes. The podcast gives listeners both highbrow and lowbrow reporting in a relaxed, informed and considered manner. It doesn’t shy away from important topics, but it does not engage in negative or salacious reporting.

Good News Network

Good News Network is an international positive news website covering topics such as Animals, Health and Heroes. The website operates under the motto and quote by Helen Keller, “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

Upworthy

Upworthy is a positive news website specializing in fact-based reporting and uplifting content. Categories include Being Well, Women of Worth, Breakthroughs, Culture and Beauty Responsibly.

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