Finding the Good News in Tough Times
May 8, 2025
By: Scott Westcott
Good news – it seems hard to come by these days.
Yet inspiring and heartwarming stories haven’t disappeared — even in troubling times.
And when you find and share these stories, you can elicit hope, joy, or laughter – and even inspire people to action.
Of course, I am not suggesting that you ignore the present challenges and threats that are impacting the people and communities you serve. But sharpening your eye to spot and tell stories that inspire, entertain, or delight can generate positive ripple effects.
A good place to get in the groove is by spending some time on the Good News Network, which offers a daily dose of feel-good stories, positive research developments, and stories of people beating the odds. Who knew the amount of litter on beaches has plummeted over the last decade and a giant mystical eagle once thought extinct has re-emerged in Mexico?
These stories — and others like them — help show change is possible.
At a time when many organizations are rightfully creating and sharing stories about existential threats and challenges, here are a few ways you can mix good news into your content calendar and help keep your audience engaged and hopeful in the months ahead:
Plug some positivity into your content rotation
Make a conscious effort to showcase some good news or highlight someone making a positive difference on a regular basis. This can be particularly valuable for organizations facing very challenging issues to encourage supporters to press on and stay engaged.
Profile an optimist
Every organization has people who bring a can-do spirit to everything they do, even when things look bleak. Profiling them recognizes their contributions and their insights and achievements can help motivate others who may struggle to see a promising path forward.
Develop a reporter’s eye
The media doesn’t only cover bad news. In fact, the best reporters love to tell positive or inspiring stories. They do so by keeping their ears and eyes open for surprising and interesting details that make them laugh, cry, or smile. Pay attention to what you see and hear and chances are you’ll unearth powerful stories in unexpected places.
A personal favorite example is an inspiring story I stumbled onto following a routine city council meeting many years back.
Ask questions that invite fun answers
Q&A’s are a great way to shine the light on leaders, supporters, volunteers, or clients you have served. The format allows flexibility to tackle serious issues, but also provides insight into an individual’s experience, outside interests, and unique perspectives. You can also play with different formats. Chicago magazine had a well-known regular feature called “Finish this sentence” that left some room for clever, sometimes funny, responses.
Find the silver linings
Nearly every major challenge or crisis offers instances of people using determination, creativity, and empathy to make a bad situation a little bit better. Telling these stories demonstrates the power of the human spirit and opens the door to new solutions and possibilities.
Highlight what’s working
When times are tough, it can be hard to find the bright spots. Yet they inevitably exist and can help offer a balanced view to your audience. Don’t be afraid to be intentional about pointing out the positive. You don’t want to overdo it or appear to paint over your challenges, but highlighting achievements large and small can help inspire confidence and build momentum.
These are serious times filled with pain, fear, turmoil, and profound sadness.
Highlighting some good news won’t change that, but it can offer a fresh perspective that leads to better engagement and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
