The decline of feel-good news stories and why we need them back
Light-hearted news segments, traditionally known as 'And finally…', have largely disappeared from news bulletins due to 24-hour news channels and social media algorithms. Journalist Ryan Herman's book 'And Finally…' collects such stories, including drunk mice in a sherry distillery and a grandmother paragliding. The author recalls a skateboarding duck called Herbie that aired on BBC Midlands Today in 1978 and was still remembered in the late 2000s. The rise of CNN, Sky, and the BBC's rolling news service in 1997 transformed news from a curated menu to an open buffet, eliminating the closing sweetener. Social media's algorithmic streams prioritize catastrophe and outrage, rewiring brains away from lighter content. The article argues that news organizations should reintroduce balanced news packs that mix serious stories with uplifting ones to attract younger viewers and provide an antidote to relentless news cycles.
Key facts
- Ryan Herman wrote the book 'And Finally…' collecting light-hearted news stories.
- A skateboarding duck called Herbie aired on BBC Midlands Today in 1978 and was remembered in the late 2000s.
- CNN and Sky pioneered 24-hour news channels; BBC launched rolling news in 1997.
- Social media algorithms prioritize catastrophe and outrage over lighter stories.
- The article suggests producing short news packs that combine serious and feel-good stories.
Entities
Institutions
- BBC Midlands Today
- CNN
- Sky
- BBC
Sources
- Monocle —