If you turn on the news or scroll through it on your phone, you'll often be bombarded with fear-inducing or upsetting headlines. Mainstream news tends to focus on conflict, disaster, scandal, and politics, not happy news or subjects commonly thought to make us feel good.

Many people are left feeling overwhelmed by this onslaught of negativity. But, there is an alternative, you just need to know where to look to get cheering and happy news.

If you need help getting a daily dose of good news for a change, we can help. Here are the five best positive news websites.

1. Positive News

Positive News homepage

One of the most prominent good news websites around is Positive News. Founded in 1993, the organization aims to produce independent positive news stories.

It refers to this type of writing as constructive journalism, which doesn't focus on negative and conflict-ridden headlines, but instead on the happy news. Positive News is a quarterly magazine, as well as an online publication.

In 2015, the company launched a crowdfunding campaign titled #OwnTheMedia. This turned Positive News into a co-operative, essentially making each of the 1,500 backers a co-owner of Positive News. This is an unusual model for journalism and keeps the publication accountable to its vision.

The site publishes stories on a wide range of topics, including society, environment, lifestyle, science, and economics. Positive News is a UK-based organization, so some stories do have a more British slant to them.

However, it is aware of this and has an entire section devoted to global positive news stories and not just good news in the UK. You can support Positive News by making a donation.

2. Good News Network

Good News Network homepage

A common theme among positive news websites is their longevity, which in itself is good news. The Good News Network has been operational since 1997 and has amassed an archive of over 21,000 positive news stories.

The so-called Good News Guru, Geri Weis-Corbley, has been at the helm since founding the site. Like Positive News which primarily covers good news in the UK, Good News Network has its own regional slant, covering some of the best positive news in the USA.

If you want to support the site, you can become a member by donating. Good News Network is also an excellent choice for those on the go, thanks to the site's mobile apps for Android and iOS.

If you want to stop doomscrolling, open the Good News Network app in place of your regular news provider or social network. If you really can't avoid social media, then try out these obscure social media apps for when you get bored as well.

For those who prefer their news in podcast form, it also produces the Good News Gurus Podcast. It acknowledges that good news doesn't end at the US border, so the site has an entire section dedicated to positive world news. There's even a Spanish language section of the site.

Unlike some positive news websites, Good News Network is not a non-profit organization. This is because it wants to show that it is possible to be profitable while still focusing on the positive things in life.

3. The Optimist Daily

The Optimist Daily good news website

While other positive news websites tend to take a slower approach to journalism, The Optimist Daily is focused on the here and now. The site's aim is "to accelerate the shift in human consciousness by catalyzing 100 million people to start each day with a positive solutions mindset", of course by offering them positive news.

The site doesn't aim to be an alternative to mainstream news. Rather, it wants to be a positive outlet for happy news, where people can get the good news of the day.

That doesn't mean you have to stop reading traditional news altogether, though. You can use the most trustworthy news websites to scratch that itch. The site is provided for free thanks to its subscribers, known as Emissaries.

Some phrases used to describe the site sound like they were taken from a new age self-help guide. But, beneath the flowery language, its mission is the same as other positive news websites; to spread good news today and minimize negativity.

The Optimist Daily doesn't just focus on good news or positive news, though. It has a substantial archive of personal development tips and techniques, too.

4. r/UpliftingNews

Reddit Uplifting News subreddit

Reddit isn't a website that people normally associate with good news or happy news. The site is more commonly linked with controversy for its more infamous Subreddits. However, Reddit can offer you good news for a change.

The Uplifting News Subreddit describes itself as "a place to read and share positive and uplifting feel-good news stories". The Subreddit first launched in 2012, and the community is now 18 million+ strong.

The moderators do an excellent job of keeping the discussion focused and, for the most part, good-natured. When things do veer off into less desirable territory, other users encourage each other to stay focused on the positive and not descend into squabbling.

However, if you want to read only good news, you can opt to ignore the discussions and use the Subreddit to discover positive news stories instead. With such a diverse membership, the site is also a great resource for positive news around the world.

If you're new to the site, you may want to check out the best Reddit sites and apps for beginners as well.

5. The Happy News

The Happy News homepage

Although we've covered some of the best positive news websites, you may still be wondering if there are any good news newspapers out there. Fortunately, there are. The Happy News is a quarterly newspaper by British writer and illustrator Emily Coxhead.

The 32-page newspaper launched in 2015 after a successful Kickstarter campaign. The magazine is available on a subscription basis and provides an offline good news alternative for when you want to switch off from your screens.

News items are arranged chronologically by month, and each issue is centered around a specific happy news theme. There is even a section called Everyday Heroes, which looks at some of the most inspirational people and organizations, as nominated by The Happy News readers.

The newspaper is available as a subscription or gift subscription and can be shipped worldwide to lovers of positive news.

The Best Good News Website for You

If traditional media is to be believed, then we definitely live in a frightening, scary, and dangerous world. It can be exhausting to turn on the news each day and be presented with some of the most upsetting and negative news stories.

It doesn't have to be this way, though. These positive news websites (and one good news newspaper) offer feel-good news. And these funny news websites add a dose of laughter too. Such news sources can help give you a happier outlook on the world.

Fortunately, there are even times you can turn to social media for some positivity and happy news as these positive news websites often post some happy news stories on social media.

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