It’s no secret that traditional news and media outlets mainly focus on negative stories. According to the Good News Network, as homicide in the US decreased by 42 percent in the 1990s, television news coverage of murders shot up by more than 700 percent. To combat the media bias toward negative news, Geri Weis-Corbley founded the Good News Network, GNN, a website that seeks to balance out all the negativity with positive, happy news that most mainstream media outlets ignore.
Weis-Corbley isn’t the only one who has tired of hearing only bad news. Over the past decade, many good-news websites have been created to meet the public’s growing need to stop imbibing only negativity and to start learning about all the positive things that are going on in the world.
Today, you can have your pick from several news websites, each with their own unique style, slant, mission, and vision. These sites range from publicly-traded companies to nonprofits to personal blogs. They include news articles, stories, inspiring quotes, videos, pictures, and jokes. What’s more — they are chock-full of content, proving that there really is a lot of good going on in the world, the trick is to focus on it.
Founded in 1997, GNN is an authority on positive journalism. The site posts multiple daily feel-good articles and has an archive of 21,000 positive, good news stories. The brand also has a mobile app, weekly podcasts, a newsletter, and a book entitled, And Now, The Good News: 20 Years of Inspiring News Stories.
The first mini-episode of SGN aired on Youtube on March 29, 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. The show is the brainchild of actor John Krasinski, who opened the episode by saying, “For years now, I’ve been wondering, why is there not a news show dedicated to only good news?” He then continued, “I thought, alright, enough is enough world, why not us? Why not now?” His Youtube channel currently has over 2.1 million subscribers, all tuning in to listen to the actor sharing positive stories and bring other actors on board.
A reader-funded, independent project that publishes positive stories and solutions so that readers can feel uplifted and ready to tackle the challenges facing society today. The Optimist Daily refers to itself as “An island of optimism in a sea of negative news.” Its mission is to create a shift in global consciousness through a positive outlook and daily solutions.
One of America’s longest-run television series ever, The Today Show debuted on NBC in 1952 and is still going strong. Its website includes clips from the show as well as a dedicated section for good news daily, Today: Good News. This section features inspirational, heartwarming content, including news, photos, videos, and more.
The seeds of DailyGood were planted in 1998 when college student Nipun Mehta started sending inspirational quotes to a group of half a dozen friends. From that point, the DailyGood became one of the projects under the umbrella of ServiceSpace, also run by Mehta. The DailyGood currently has a newsletter with over 100,000 subscribers and a site that covers the positive aspects of Generosity, Everyday Heroes, Nature, Work, Science & Tech, Mind & Body, and Business.
Founded by Shari Arison in 2011, Goodnet seeks to connect people around the world through their common desire to do good. As such, the site’s writers and editors are constantly on the lookout for positive and uplifting news, including stories about volunteering, creativity, green tech, charity work, mindfulness, and more. In addition to daily articles, Goodnet offers a weekly newsletter, a directory of like-minded organizations and websites, uplifting videos, active social media channels, and a gallery of free wallpapers and social posters.
Another site from Nipun Mehta, ServiceSpace aims “to ignite the fundamental generosity in ourselves and others, creating both inner and outer transformation.” The organization acts as an umbrella for many similar projects (like DailyGood) and is not simply a website, but a movement. As part of its mission, there is an Inspiration section on the site that focuses on uplifting and positive news. It includes stories about small acts of kindness, daily quotes, videos, and volunteer reflections.
Neil Pasricha launched 1000 Awesome Things in 2008 as a way to cope with his broken marriage and his best friend’s suicide. Every day, he posted 1 thing he thought was awesome. He continued for 4 years and grew a following, continuing on to give a Ted talk, publishing multiple books, and creating a podcast. Since the outbreak of coronavirus began, he resumed posting 1 awesome thing a day. He wrote, “I am doing it for my own mental health during the pandemic.” Readers enjoy Pasricha’s fresh and positive outlook on the world, especially during turbulent times.
Launched in 2012 by Chris Filippou, SunnySkyz features positive news with the goal of promoting “love, laughter, and kindness.” Articles are posted daily and admissions are accepted from anyone. In addition to news items, the site posts inspirational stories, videos, pictures, and jokes. The site has received 2 awards: Cutest Animal Pictures Ever! and Happiest Website on the Planet.
The idea for OnlyGood TV was born when founder Rick Fernandes simply had enough of watching negative news 24/7. To balance out the negativity, he launched OnlyGood TV, which offers a plethora of uplifting videos and covers a wide range of topics, including Family & Home, Pets & Animals, and LGBTQ Life. One of the great things about the site is that it offers content specifically geared toward children. Videos can be found on the site and on Youtube.
If you’re tired of seeing all the negativity put forth by traditional media outlets, finding a good-news website can be just the antidote. Instead of reading about things that induce anxiety, worry, and despair, you can enjoy uplifting messages that inspire hope and happiness. With our suggestions, you can have your choice of websites that deliver the positive content you crave.
