Watching or reading the mainstream news media is like watching dozens of disaster movies at the same time! This "news negativity", factual or otherwise, is driving people away. A 2007 Harvard University study indicated that 60% of US citizens ranging from 18 to 30 years old pay very limited attention, if any, to the mainstream news media. I hear the same message from many of the people I know who are over 30 years old; they cite the negativity in the mass media as the major factor. However, if the general public becomes more ignorant about current affairs, then our societies lose a key check and balance against government and industry. We all lose when apathy rules.

What if there were better ways to learn about the good things happening in our world? Would that attract more people into becoming better informed?

I'm happy to say there are alternatives to mass media which do have a positive slant. For the purposes of this article I'm going to refer exclusively to websites. The websites that I've included do not have any major religious bias and they are all based in Canada, the US, and Great Britain.

Boys and Girls Clubs (US, Canada, UK)

All local Boys and Girls Clubs sites have a Media Room or Media Center. See how kids are improving themselves and helping the world around them. Now that's inspiring!

Katimavik (Canada www.katimavik.org)

Katimavik is a volunteer-service organization where young people (ages 17 21) donate their time to helping communities across Canada. Check out their Media Center.

Positive News (UK: www.positivenews.org.uk or US: (www.postivenewsus.org)

This site has a News section and other useful resources. Positive News has also been publishing a quarterly international newsletter of the same name since 1993.

Happy News (US: www.happynews.com)

It's all good, all of the time! One interesting section is the Heroes page, where they write about people who have done heroic deeds.

The Good News Network International (www.goodnewsnetwork.org)

The Website's sections include: Latest News; Family Life; Recreation; Business; Health; Earth; Civics; and Inspired!

There are positive news outlets! There are also charitable and religious organizations that can also provide an alternative to the negativity of Big Media. Finally, think about your sources closer to home: your friends and family! Find out about the good things that they are doing. It will make your day!

Learn more about this author, Mark Dykeman.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

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