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Some good news for a change

Written by: Penny Ritson

Article Overview: Do you want to read some good news, something constructive that inspires you and lifts your mood? Well have I got news for you!

Some good news for a change

You know the feeling. You have a few moments break, perhaps at lunchtime or when you get home from work, and settling down to watch the news or read the paper - and maybe hoping for something interesting, relaxing, uplifting even. However, it's one depressing story after another. Wars, celebrities off the rails, young people behaving badly, politicians being dishonest, poor parenting, house prices up, house prices down... why is it all such bad news? Comments by people saying what is wrong with other people - even criticism because of someone's hair or dress sense. So by the time you have finished you heart is in your boots, you feel unable to make a difference and you're drained of energy. You know good things happen in the world - it just seems hard to find the evidence. Well there is some good news out there. It's on a website called FreshTies.com. The newspaper is called The Fresh Outlook and it's a weekly online newspaper reporting good news from all quarters- individuals, charities, not for profits, businesses - even the government. Here you can read about young people doing good things, communities working together, volunteers having fun and serious issues see in a positive light. And even the news that isn't so good is constructively reported from all angles, so you can make your own mind up.

The thinking behind the FreshTies newspaper is that good news and constructive coverage of people and issues give us a more balanced view of life, helping people to get on more. And by sharing knowledge, we break down social barriers. Non-mainstream issues will get regular coverage, too. After all, the less we know, the more myths grow. People will always disagree on issues, which is fine, but they can understand why. Ask yourself- every day, good things happen. So, who made the decision, and when, that all news reported must be bad? The more you think about it, the more you realise that what we read and listen to impacts on our thinking, consciously and subconsciously. That thinking then informs what we do, our attitudes to other people and how we think about the future. Wouldn't it be better to feed in constructive content rather than content which is negative or destructive?

The newspaper is for all people, and all people can contribute what they have to say, their good news stories, as well as encourage the sharing of knowledge so people can gain from others' experience. Linked to the FreshTies newspaper is its ishare, which is one online place for individuals and businesses to easily find and respond to non cash requests from their community; or make offers to help. For example, AVG, the anti virus company responded to a primary school request to provide staff to read with their children. Examples like these can be good news features in the newspaper, showing the non cash ways to get involved in your community, which means everyone has something to offer.

FreshTies is a not for profit, which means that all profits go back into its community projects - such as media projects that help young disadvantaged individuals gain practical skills and experience as reporters to marketers. This also helps increase the diversity of people in media which is needed for fairer, more balanced journalism.

FreshTies - online or offline- involves us all in sharing around whatever we know or can do, so we all have a decent life. So instead of feeling heavy and depressed at the bad things in life, people feel encouraged at the positive and the possibility that with a little help from us all, there is plenty of good news to go round!

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Article Tags: angles, bad news, boots, celebrities, charities, depressing story, dress sense, few moments, having fun, house prices, lunchtime, mainstream, myths, politicians, poor parenting, profits, quarters, sharing knowledge, social barriers, volunteers



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