I think most of us can agree that journalism just isn’t what it used to be. I vividly remember the nightly news playing in the background every single night at home with my parents. I also distinctly remember thinking that Ronald Reagan and Dan Rather were actually the same person but I was (maybe) four years old and I’ve learned some stuff since then, so don’t hold that against me. Nowadays, I can’t name a single adult under the age of 55 that actually watches the news. 

What happened? Simply put, watching or reading the news makes us feel like crap because it is crap. If you feel this way, you are not alone. You are actually the majority. 

So, it’s pretty obvious that our feelings indicate that we need more positive news stories each day, but there’s actually some logical reasons to back that up as well.

The “Minivan” Bias

I know “bias” is a dirty word in the journalism world, but stay with me. Last year we switched from an SUV to a minivan (I used to be cool) and for two months, every time we left the house, my kids would excitedly point out every single minivan we saw by yelling, “VAN!” at the top of their lungs. Yes, it got old real quick. But seriously, do y’all have any idea how many minivans there are in White House? A LOT!  We’d just never noticed because we weren’t specifically looking for them.  

When you think about positive news, or just having a positive outlook in general, it presents in a very similar way to our “VAN!” spotting.  Once you commit to consuming positivity, you’ll begin to see it everywhere around you. You just have to start noticing! But don’t take my word for it. 

Start your day with everything that is good and positive for an entire week. Change your perspective as much as you can and see how many “minivans” start popping up all over town. You might be surprised at what you find.

Science Says So

This won’t come as a shock to anyone, but consuming too much negative news does crazy stuff to your brain. I’m not saying you need to bury your head in the sand and avoid all current events; just be selective about story perspectives.  

In a study done by the University of Southampton involving over 2,000 students, researchers presented test subjects with two news stories covering the same  event. One story focused on the doom and gloom of the particular situation, and another highlighted the more positive aspects of the story. The study found that when readers were exposed to negative news, they reported increased feelings of anxiety and avoidance. In contrast, when those same readers were presented with the positive news story, not only did their emotional well-being stay intact, they also experienced greater motivation to be proactive or take action in regards to the subject of the story. 

Now, that sounds like reason enough to elevate the validity of positive news over negative news without any further proof, but I’ll give you more.

It’s Our Own Fault

We can’t completely blame the major news networks and social media sources for the type of news they crank out on the regular. Twenty years ago, when I was a young journalist, I learned the phrase, “If it bleeds, it leads” and that mantra has only increased with fervor. But we need to accept a big part of the responsibility! 

News outlets get more clicks on stories that contain tragedy, so from a business perspective, it only makes sense to highlight those. I propose that we, as consumers, have the power to change that. If enough of us only focus on the positive news stories, we can send a clear message: No trash. No click bait. No sensationalism or fear mongering. Give us the good stuff. 

Most of us genuinely want to be informed, but what exactly are we gaining by allowing negative news stories to take center stage in our communities, across our state, and across our nation? It’s not getting us anywhere, and it’s time for a change.  

Now What

I strongly believe that human beings are not meant to know about every single bad thing that happens in the world. I know, at first glance, that statement reeks of willful ignorance, or, at the very least, whiffs of uncompassionate selfishness, but I’d argue that it's the exact opposite. 

I’m not suggesting that we turn a blind eye to the daily travesties, but rather that we shift our focus to our own spheres of influence. While I don’t have the capacity to change the entire world, I do have the power to positively affect my world and those in it. Everyone I come in contact with can be impacted by my mindset, whether positive or negative. 

What comes out of our mouths is rooted in what we have in our hearts. What we have in our hearts is cultivated by what we see and read. 

It really just boils down to one simple fact: positive in, positive out, y’all. 

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