I try to read the newspaper on a regular basis, both to keep up to date with the world and also to spur on my imagination, and for long term readers you might even remember the original post of this name, which I wrote nearly 3 years ago!
It seemed time to revisit the idea but this time, it’s more about the impact on my world view than how those stories can shape our writing.
In the newspaper today…
I read about David Cameron’s attempts to convince the rest of Europe to agree with him so we in the UK vote to stay in the EU when we have our referendum. As so much of the discussion seems to be about how much we’re prepared to give migrants in benefits I think it misses the entire point of closer integration, but there you go.
I’ve read about unaccompanied child refugees in the Jungle in Calais, and the squalour and desperate misery of life there, as we complain we are being ‘overrun’
I’ve seen the Pope’s view on Donald Trump’s Mexican border wall, as Trump leads the polls for Republican presidential nominee.
I’ve read about war, murder, the Zika virus, abusive ‘grooming’ of a young woman by a rich and successful sportsman.
I’ve read about a pretty crappy world, to be frank. So here’s a counterbalance:
The Good News Network where the stories include a New Zealand crowdfunding effort to buy a beach for public use and students designing a portable, wearable, shelter for refugees.
Huffpost Good News where there is a focus on love – romantic, familial and friendly.
Dailygood.org where it’s about how we each live our lives to the best.
I need to know what is happening in the world, but sometimes I forget that the media set the agenda. I only see what a newspaper editor considers newsworthy.
I need to search wider, and these three sites are a good starting point to get a picture of the positive in the world, to hear stories that focus on the positive effects we can have on each other.
I want to read the good news for a bit.
Happy writing,
EJ
🙂
Becoming a writer 