Good News features are awesome for most format brands, and there are many ways to program these positive feels-good segments. But after a few weeks, many personalities run into an obstacle. It's hard to find sources for the content. However, you can easily find good news stories everywhere with a creative approach!

 

How To Find Good News Stories From Almost Any Source

 

Don't put your creative approach into a "box." Having a handful of go-to sources is good, but it soon becomes hard to find interesting stories you and the audience will care about. So start with a few resources that can provide a foundation for content.

 

The Good News Network is one of the best resources. It's regularly updated and sorted by category. You may have to search through various articles that don't work for you, but you will find something to use most days.

 

There are also some good stories at Huffington Post, but they don't update the content as frequently (probably because it's hard for them, too). You can find some more examples from NBC News, though most of that content is video, and The Uplift from CBS. 

 

But after locking in your go-to sources, there are other (better) ways to find content.

 

Non-Traditional Sources

 

This may surprise you. Don't just look for good news stories. Many of them tend to be "Who Cares" stories that lack relevance to your audience. Your goal is to create emotional reactions from your listeners, which can come from identifying good news in ordinary stories. As Mr. Rogers said, "Look for the helpers." This gives you a lot more material to work with.

 

Regardless of the story's content, you can find good news in the story and make your story about that specific thing. This expands your horizons and allows you to find stories you genuinely care about.

 

These stories are all around you, so stay alert for them, but there's another amazing resource that turns every story into a potential Good News segment. Radio Content Pro provides constantly updated content, but the secret weapon is a personalized, radio-trained AI bot called RCP Sidekick on each page.

 

Open Sidekick and ask the service to add positivity to spin the story by typing a detailed prompt. Here's an example:

 

I have a regular radio feature on my show that highlights Good News, often coming from ordinary stories with a positive, uplifting, and inspiring point of view. Please provide five ideas for this story with specific, distinct angles and ideas. Be creative and provide enough detail to turn the story into about 60 seconds in length when I perform it on my radio show or in a video.

 

Here's an example from a human interest story in RCP. First, here's the original story:

 

 

Adding the prompt produced seven ideas. Here are two of them:

 

Animal Instincts

 

Today’s Good News is about Drifter, the cat. He didn't just wander off—he went on an underground adventure! The family pet was missing for nearly eight weeks, and the family had given up hope. But Drifter was miraculously rescued from a storm drain thanks to some sharp-eared neighborhood kids who heard him meowing. His human family, including Clifton, Ashley, and their daughter April, must have given up. In fact, they were planning a memorial service for him. But this little furball hung in there for two months on his own in a storm drain. He had lost almost nine pounds, from 15 pounds to 6, but is making a full recovery, with lots of affection and some vet care. So, no matter what situation you find yourself in, hang in there like Drifter. There's always hope, even in the darkest places.

 

The Power of Community

The incredible power of the community should never be underestimated. Drifter, the cat, vanished for nearly eight weeks before being found. He was trapped in a storm drain, but strangers, starting with children, became friends. The neighborhood kids heard a cat's meow and wondered...could it be Drifter? They took action and found the family and the three-year-old cat were safely back home. He had lost almost 2/3 of his body weight, and is making a full recovery all because the kids paid attention, and cared enough to take action. Miracles happen when a community comes together. Clifton, Ashley, and young April were the pint-sized heroes that prove that love and teamwork make all the difference, showing just how important it is to look out for one another.

 

Conclusion

Don't let a lack of resources stop you from executing Good News as a feature. There are many ways to find inspiration. Apply some of these ideas and you'll never run out of material.

 

Radio Content Pro provides up-to-the-minute content custom-designed for ten unique radio formats/brands. Each story is curated to use on-air, online, and social media. For details, schedule a demo and get a free trial by contacting Radio Content Pro.