Thursday, April 24, 2025

Not all news is bad! Check out these 15 positive news sources.

Good news is out there. These sites serve it up daily!


Why We Need to Proactively Seek Good News

"Why does the media concentrate on the bad things in life, rather than the good? And what might this depressing slant say about us, the audience?  It isn't that these are the only things that happen. Perhaps journalists are drawn to reporting bad news because sudden disaster is more compelling than slow improvements. Or it could be that news gatherers believe that cynical reports of corrupt politicians or unfortunate events make for simpler stories. But another strong possibility is that we, the readers or viewers, have trained journalists to focus on these things."  - Psychology: Why bad news dominates the headline (from BBC)

"Humans exhibit this attraction to bad news thanks in large part to what is called the negativity bias...This bias helps humans scan their environment for potential dangers so they can learn how to avoid them, but this attraction to negativity can backfire if we allow it... The brain reacts to negative stimuli with a greater surge in electrical activity. It takes five positive experiences to counter one negative experience.  It’s for this reason, in part, that many people struggle with pessimism, anxiety, discouragement and other symptoms of depression. If you want to learn how to stay positive in a negative world you must expose yourself to as many positive experiences as you can while minimizing exposure to the negative... " - Why Bad News Grabs Our Attention

But if most media defaults to negative stories where can we find positive news? It can take a bit of effort, but once you find positive news sources that are updated daily you can bookmark them and return to them frequently to build up your immunity to the negative stuff. 

15 Positive News Sources

Here are some websites that aggregate good news stories. (Suggestion: Why not bookmark some of these so you can return to them whenever you need some positive energy? And check out any links from within the websites' articles to other potentially uplifting websites.)

  • Good News Network - "The website, with its archive of 21,000 positive news stories from around the globe, confirms what people already know—that good news itself is not in short supply; the broadcasting of it is." 
  • Positive News - "We report socially relevant and uplifting stories of progress – ranging from the global boom in renewable energy to cities that are solving homelessness – joining the dots between how people, communities and organisations are changing the world for the better."
  • Good Good Good - "Good Good Good has been highlighted by The New York Times, Mashable, The Washington Post, Miley Cyrus, and more... In an effort to help their audience feel more hopeful and do more good, Good Good Good’s team of journalists reports on positive news happening in the world and creates helpful resources about the most impactful ways to make a positive difference."
  • The Optimist Daily - "Our mission is to provide a daily dose of optimism in the form of solutions-focused, good news that you can enjoy and share with those you care for. The ultimate goal is to elevate, motivate, and reignite each individual’s innate reservoir of intelligent optimism as a way of catalyzing the evolution of human consciousness."
  • Upworthy - Upworthy is a media brand on a mission to share uplifting stories that foster positive connections — with the community, the world and our partners... Experiencing stories about good things happening in the world can shape how we perceive and interact with the people around us. We're proud to play a role in creating a world rooted in decency, love and compassion."
  • Goodable - "We use proprietary AI technology and science to create daily content feeds filled with wholesome, healthy programming that you'll love. It's the cure to doomscrolling that you deserve." (Note: The Goodable app is free to download but offers in-app purchases for Goodable Plus subscriptions.)
  • YES! Magazine - "Through rigorous reporting on the positive ways communities are responding to social problems and insightful commentary that sparks constructive discourse, YES! Media inspires people to build a more just, sustainable, and compassionate world."
  • Goodnet - "Goodnet connects people around the world with opportunities for doing good - it’s that simple. ... our writers and editors have eyes and ears across the world of good doing - from volunteering, charity work, microfunding and creativity to green tech, water conservation, collaborative consumption and mindful living."
  • The Happy Broadcast - "Over the years, we have explored ways to bring positivity and better mental health to our community. We do this mainly by illustrating positive news stories to try and counteract all the negativity in todays news cycles. We have also, however, spent considerable time and resources experimenting with tools that can help improve happiness."
  • Only Good News Daily - "In today's world it's almost impossible to avoid being bombarded with bad news. Obviously, you have to tune into it occasionally to keep up to date with the reality of daily life around you, but why not give yourself a break? And ensure you enjoy a healthy daily dose of good news. Only Good News Daily is designed to lighten your day, refresh your enthusiasm for life, make you smile, and enhance your general well being."  
  • The 89 Percent Project - Ever get the feeling that nearly everyone's given up on trying to win the battle against climate change? The 89 Percent Project tells us that "Between 80 and 89% of the world’s people want their governments to be doing more to address climate change." And its website presents good news stories of those who are fighting (and winning battles) on behalf of Mother Earth. 
  • Major Network Good News Sources: -- Most of the time it feels like the major commercial networks are unable to bring us anything but doom, gloom and "watch out!!!" stories. However, if you look for it, they do provide some good news exceptions:

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