Throughout the year we’ve covered difficult topics in the Manitoban’s comment section. Inflation, food insecurity, corporate greed, Donald Trump’s re-election, global conflict and many other stories that, while important to discuss, may bring feelings of impending doom.

I thought I would take a moment to look inward at positive and negative news coverage, and how we can approach it.

In news television there’s a saying, “if it bleeds, it leads,” which is to say that the more horrifying and gruesome the content, the higher up it will move in the news cycle.  This is a business choice, informed by the data received from news consumption. Negative words in a headline show a 2.3 per cent increase in clicks. We click on negative news more, we remember it better and we’re more likely to share it with friends and family.

I’ve been hearing folks around me talk more and more about the impact of negative news, linked to anxiety and severe stress. Since the burst in news coverage and consumption during the pandemic, folks around me have been wagering about how to take a step back, be more conscientious about news consumption and look at taking in more positive news.

But it isn’t just on the consumer. We, those of us working in the press and journalism, have a responsibility to take the impact of negative news into account. And many already have.

The movement toward positive news has been apparent, with many news sources including it as a subsection within their news sites, and others fully dedicating their coverage to solely positive news.

Positive news can be seen in two avenues: entertaining, lighthearted coverage of feel-good news stories and constructive journalism.

Constructive journalism emphasizes balance in news coverage, rejecting the sensationalization of news. The main goal is to contribute to democracy by focusing on solutions, covering nuances and promoting democratic conversation.

The way I see it, constructive journalism seeks to empower the writers and readers of news media — showing that we have a role in the world around us and it is not insignificant. We don’t need to bury our heads in the sand about negative things happening in the world, but we can approach them differently.

Whether it be a feel-good story or empowered coverage of something that doesn’t feel so good, a focus on positive news coverage should be in the back of all readers’ and writers’ minds.

Here are some positive stories the comment section could’ve covered in 2024.

China, accounting for 31 per cent of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions, has decreased their output by 3 per cent in March 2024 compared to March 2023. This is due to an astounding uptick in renewable energy implementation. China is constructing more renewable energy than the rest of the world combined. There is still an issue of the opening of new coal plants, which will increase carbon emissions. Yet, experts expect China to uphold its deadlines to halt carbon emissions, which they urge can be even more ambitious.

Cambria Harris, daughter of the deceased Morgan Harris who was murdered by Jeremy Skibicki, has been calling on the provincial government to find her mom and other Indigenous women in the Prairie Green Landfill — leading to nationwide protests in 2023. At the time of the protests, the provincial progressive conservative government told her a definitive no. However, the now-in-power NDP government has now brought the search to its third stage, and material has begun to be moved as of October 2024.

Positive news reminds us of progress, resilience and the power of collective action. By balancing necessary hard truths with constructive stories, we can stay informed without losing hope. Let’s strive for journalism that empowers, engages and uplifts — showing that even amidst challenges, change is not just possible but already happening.