The Scoop: With so many news outlets and social media feeds seemingly filled with negativity, the Good News Network stands out by focusing exclusively on the positive. Instead of stories about scandals, tragedies, or crime, the Good News Network scours the internet every day for heartwarming and awe-inspiring stories to share with its millions of readers. Founded in 1997 by Geri Weis-Corbley, GNN is always looking for ways to expand its current reach and prove that good news sells. The site also helps businesses, sites, and individuals who are constantly looking for relevant content to bring to their customers by making its stories available for reprinting through syndication.
Even though wonderful things are happening all around us in the world, stories about events that make us anxious, terrified, or mad often seem to dominate the headlines. But make no mistake, people want to hear the good news, too.
According to a study that focused on Twitter, positive posts were up to 2.5 times more likely to be shared — and as much as five times more likely to be favorited — than negative posts. The study illustrated that people value positive content, and especially want to share it with others. One news site recognized that trend two decades ago and has been delivering good news — and only good news — ever since.
The Good News Network began in 1997 and only shares articles that are heartwarming, awe-inspiring, or positive. Founder Geri Weis-Corbley said her mission is simple: prove that positivity sells.
“We wanted to show that people will flock to good news, thereby generating the revenue to support its publication,” she told us.
Good News Network Founder, Geri Weis-Corbley, set out to prove positivity sells.
The site publishes about six stories per day and has built a devoted following among those who are searching for something to smile about. Type “good news” into Google, and the Good News Network is probably the highest organic search option on the list. That’s because GNN knows that not only does good news sell, but it can also have an incredible impact on growth and reach.
With a steady stream of readers rolling in, the Good News Network has amassed more than 560,000 followers on Facebook, and its posts have the potential to reach millions of readers. GNN even has a free app that delivers all of its stories directly to mobile users.
“When we have a good story, we can reach a couple of million people,” Geri said. “We can never predict when a story is going to go viral, but when it does, it can travel very far, very fast.”
That extensive reach is why businesses are paying for the syndication rights to GNN stories, providing their own readers with positive, relevant content. The Good News Network scours the web for stories from around the globe that will make people smile, laugh, or become inspired, and the site is always looking for new ways to bring those stories to as many people as possible.
Dedicated to Sharing Heartfelt Articles From Across the World
When the Good News Network began, Geri was raising a family, freshly retired from the TV news business, and decided to follow through on her dream of broadcasting positive stories to balance the public’s negative media diet. She diligently grew the site herself for a while, but it eventually got big enough that Geri needed help.
“It was just me for a long time, but, a couple of years ago, I hired a managing editor and a couple of writers,” she said.
Geri and her team find topics to write about for the site every day by perusing news releases and other outlets as well as accepting reader tips. This organic method of information gathering allows GNN to come across inspiring stories that might be glossed over or lost in the shuffle at other news outlets and share them with a wider audience.
Stories on the Good News Network are carefully selected and curated to be positive, heartwarming, and inspiring.
It could be a story of how Porsche gave all 21,000 of its employees — from engineers to janitors — a bonus after having a great fiscal year or one about Google pledging $50 million to help close the global education gap. The stories on GNN are varied in subjects but always have the same uplifting tone.
Readers tired of hearing about the latest political scandals, natural disasters, and tragedies at home or abroad can find stories on GNN to restore some of their faith in humanity. Businesses looking for positive content can also share Good News Network links on their social networks to uplift their own readers or even sponsor a page, so their brand is associated with its funny, happy, or heartwarming content.
Businesses Cash In on Positivity via Syndication
Sharing relevant content with readers is what modern businesses, sites, and people need to do, especially in a world where brands are more than products, they can be a source of information for consumers. Creating — or even finding — that content can be a difficult endeavor, which is why many companies turn to syndication to get worthwhile stories on their sites.
GNN is affiliated with the NewsCred network, a content marketplace that gives businesses the opportunity to post licensed Good News Network content on their websites. Marketing teams know the value of having a consistent stream of content to engage with readers, and through GNN syndication, those teams can choose from some of the most positive stories on the web.
NewsCred helps the Good News Network syndicate stories to businesses looking for positive content.
The Good News Network is also looking to work with corporate sponsors to increase its revenue by providing a beneficial advertising opportunity for a brand. A business can sponsor the entire site or an individual category, putting its name alongside all-positive content, because people still seek out good news.
“I think businesses that sponsor our site would get a big return on that investment,” Geri told us. “And they don’t have to sponsor the entire site. For instance, a pet company could sponsor our pet page.”
Finding More Ways to Bring Wholesome Content to the Public
Because people are known to share more positive posts than negative ones, GNN is trying to create as much genuinely good news content as it can. Companies that want to publicize some altruistic, charitable, or environmentally-beneficial actions they’ve taken, can contact GNN with a press release.
Part of GNN’s initiative to create more positive content is delving into newer mediums, like Facebook Live.
“I work with Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Maryum, and producer Anthony Samadani, and we talk for a half hour about our favorite good news stories of the week,” Geri said. “That has been fun, and we hope to keep expanding that this year.”
Negativity sometimes weaves itself into the fabric of our lives through real-world struggles, news reports, or social media feeds, but Geri works hard to make sure that people can find good news when they go looking for it.
