In February, 2016, The China Youth Daily published a news article titled “Different Looks of Grandpa” which features the story of a fashion photographer who took a series of pictures of his grandpa. Because of its warmhearted nature, the story went viral online.

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Occasionally, we come across human interest stories about subjects like a blind man running a marathon or a dying professor who still lectures. It makes us ponder the positive energy and message meant to be embodied in this type of uplifting news.

It is obvious that stories about people with disabilities who have strong willpower and those who hang in there despite a difficult life often touch the softest spot in our heart. However, if we simply collect positive energy from people who go through separation with loved ones in life, disaster rescue, sacrificing for one’s motherland, or teachers who give it all to their students and put aside their own children, aren’t we too narrow-minded?

It all comes to this when we embark on the journey of searching for the truth about uplifting news: While radiating positive energy, we should not turn it into a competition about whose life is harder.
That is to say, we must agree that uplifting news should not pursue a restoration of the “miserable world.” Seniors who pick up trash, people who do good deeds, a disabled man with strong willpower or those who find pleasure in spite of misery are definitely worthy of praise, but excessive reporting on these subjects risks diminishing the real emotional connection with readers.

To start with, uplifting news is not some “chicken soup.” As Richard Wiseman, a professor of public understanding of psychology at the University of Hertfordshire in Britain, pointed out in his book Rip It Up, positive energy is something that makes people feel a constant driving force, whether it is in one’s work or personal life. In reality, some online chicken soup writing can easily get more than 100,000 reposts. They are soothing and warm, but they can only offer comfort for a moment and lack concrete suggestions for handling real-life problems.

Therefore, the ideal positive-energy news should deal with troubles facing ordinary individuals. When the subjects of news find their way out of a mess, the media can radiate that strength and allow more people to gain from it. We need stories that resonate with everyone rather than things that are far removed from people’s daily lives. Readers should want to get to know the people involved but not simply pity them.

In addition, readers don’t want uplifting news that they try everything to avoid. In fact, many people now have a natural instinct to reject the overplayed positive energy. They might not truly understand the connotations of positive energy, but the phrase itself even causes them to overreact. In 2013, positive energy became a buzzword in Chinese and is now rejected by most 80s and 90s generations.

Indeed, positive energy covers a range of matters. For example, we write about Kumamon, a cuddly bear mascot in Japan, and we talk about Korean TV dramas, because they are healing and warm. We also like to read gossip in a serious manner because the author adds a slice of humanity into entertaining news. We too like photo stories of the two-child era and taking your daughter on a world cruise. Remember the fashion photographer who took pictures of his grandpa, the story of which was published in the China Youth Daily? Isn’t that fashion photographer and the lovely old man uplifting? Apparently, these selections of news suit people’s taste of reading and expectation.

The positive-energy news we are looking for should be trendy and healing. It could be about a better way of life—the first day at a new job, some tasteful discussion on social phenomena or the support a nation shows for underprivileged groups. The list could go on and on.

Now, problems are easier. Can people take so much uplifting news? The answer is yes. Readers are not passive recipients. They are the leading characters on stage of life and they are living it on a daily basis.

In essence, uplifting news should adopt an authentic perspective and dig into the stories that are often overlooked but contain inner strength. Without exaggeration, stories about ordinary people facing unimaginable difficulties can be powerful enough on their own.

 

(edited by MA YUHONG)