The Happy Newspaper (stories to brighten your day)

The Happy News is a colourful newspaper, packed with stories about ordinary people doing good things. Artist Emily Coxhead created it, to celebrate good in the world, frustrated with the constant stream of negative news. Each issue highlights real people and positive events from across the globe.

As well as celebrating real heroes (like Sir David Attenborough), The Happy News shines a light on people who make a difference but rarely get attention. Bus drivers, nurses, teachers, and volunteers often feature on its pages.

Happy newspapers are not about some dream-like state, in not knowing what’s going on in the world. If we are at war, someone will almost certainly tell you. It’s just a focus on looking for the good sometimes, instead of waking up positive, then feeling like there’s no point, by the time you’ve read a typical newspaper over a cup of coffee.

It’s in the business of newspapers to scare and traumatise you. But you don’t have to play their game. You can still remain informed (say a weekly read of Byline Times, which is a citizen-funded newspaper that is not ‘happy’ but also not biased either, to get the facts about what’s going on in the outside world.

Then just read your ‘news’ in the form of uplifting stories from people who are doing some good, instead of shouting at each other in parliament or killing each other across the world.

‘Happy newspapers’ obviously are not daily. You usually subscribe every month or quarterly. But they are all good reads, and you can also find a daily online cartoon happy broadcast (more on that below) to keep your spirits up!

Then you can either keep the newspapers for reading again when you feel down. Or donate them on to local  friends (or doctor/dental surgeries) to help other people feel better too!