NEWSPAPER @GOODGOODGOODCO
CELEBRATE GOOD NEWS. BECOME GOOD NEWS.
ISSUE 04
Welcome to the Goodnewspaper. You are now a part of a global community that celebrates the people, ideas, and movements that are changing the world for the better. It’s when times are hardest that it’s most important that we shine a light on good news. Not cheesy stuff. Hope — real hope — no matter how messy it may be. There’s a lot of good in the world that needs to be celebrated. And we need to be a part of it.
2
H E L LO H E L LO !
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
WHO MAKES THE G O O D N E W S PA P E R ? Editor-in-Chief Branden Harvey - @brandenharvey Managing Editor & Writer Kailey Thompson - @kaileythompson Art Director Judson Collier - @judsoncollier Community & Communications Lead Kristi Karrenbrock Contributing Writer Sammi Harvey - @sammiharveyco Podcast Producer Chad Michael Snavely - @chad_michael Centerfold Poster Featured Artist Carra Sykes - @carrasykes Comic Artist
A year ago when I launched the Goodnewspaper I didn’t quite
Thousands more of you found out about the Goodnewspaper later on
Adam J. Kurtz - @adamjk
know what I was getting into.
and ordered yourself a copy or subscription.
Brad Montague - @bradmontague
I didn’t yet know the difference between hope and
Teachers bought dozens of copies of the Goodnewspaper for class
optimism (which you can find illustrated by artist Carra Sykes
activities. People brought old copies of the Goodnewspaper to hospi-
in our centerfold poster this issue). I didn’t yet know that in
tals and left them in waiting rooms. I even snuck a half-dozen copies
the last 20 years, the number of people living in extreme pov-
into Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s office in Washington, D.C.
erty has more than halved (as mentioned on page 12). And
We’ve received countless emails about readers finding new places
I didn’t yet know that thousands of people from across the
to volunteer or to financially support via the Good Bar. And even more
world cared enough about celebrating good news to subscribe
emails about the way the Goodnewspaper has been a meaningful gift
to a Goodnewspaper.
for a loved one going through a difficult time.
I didn’t know much, but I knew I felt overwhelmed by so
This is the final issue of Year 1 of the Goodnewspaper, and I want to
much of what I was seeing happening in the world that I had
say from the bottom of my heart: Thank you. Thank you for investing
to do something. For years I traveled around the world as a
in this idea of the good in the world. It really matters, and it makes a
photographer and storyteller, helping nonprofits and socially
difference in a time where making a difference is so important.
Strategy Consultant Katie Lentile - @katielentile Photography Support Stocksy United - @stocksyunited
We’re looking for an amazing designer and illustrator. Find out more at goodnewspaper.org/jobs •••••••••••••••••
Learn more about the Goodnewspaper and
conscious brands tell their stories — and from that I knew the
And on that note, if you’ve been with us since the begin-
world was filled with people who were creating solutions to
ning, then your subscription expires after this issue. To re-
the problems of the world. I didn’t know all the details yet,
new your subscription at a (very!) discounted rate, please visit
Subscribe to our podcast, “Sounds Good with
but I thought maybe a small team and I could create a space
Goodnewspaper.org/Year2 to continue supporting good news. It
Branden Harvey,” at soundsgoodpodcast.com
where we catalogued people creating solutions — and that
means you keep getting the Goodnewspaper every quarter (Year 2
maybe that space would be safe and energizing enough that it
is going to be AMAZING), and it means you get to help sustain our
could inspire myself and others to roll up our sleeves and join
tiny, hopeful operation.
in to create solutions ourselves.
Keep celebrating good news and becoming good news.
It’s been absolutely incredible to see what’s happened in the year since that happened. More than 1,400 of you said you believed in this idea enough that you supported our Kickstarter.
Thank you.
-BRANDEN HARVEY @BRANDENHARVEY
Good Good Good at goodgoodgood.co
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ANOTHER YEAR OF GOOD NEWS! We’re making another year of the Goodnewspaper. We’re planning on more pages, more ways to make a difference, and most of all — more good news. Get more good news (at a discounted rate) and support this mission by subscribing at Goodnewspaper.org/Year2.
This issue was made possible by the support of 1,439 Kickstarter backers, our loyal subscribers, the people who tag us on Instagram, and generous and impactful advertisers. Thank you! We’re so grateful.
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3
W E ’ V E G OT G O O D N E W S
An Artificial Intelligence System Could Help Block Terrorist Propaganda The internet is a powerful tool. It provides the same capacity for leveraging both good and bad on an international stage. In recent years, terrorist propaganda has posed a challenge for security agencies internationally, but innovation in the tech industry is aiding the fight. The ministerial department that heads security for the United Kingdom partnered with machine learning startup ASI to develop a technology that prevents the spread of terrorist videos. The artificial intelligence system works by sitting on a website’s backend and automatically detecting terrorist content as it’s uploaded. It’s really, really accurate, too — 99.995 percent accurate to be exact. For every 1 million videos uploaded, only about 50 would require additional human review. Many major tech companies — including Google and Facebook — have their own advanced AI systems in place that work similarly for their own platforms. These companies have reported the difference it’s made in working to rid their platforms of terrorist content, but smaller companies don’t always have the resources available to integrate the same measures. This project aims to make that same technology available for all platforms, which could mean big wins for small tech companies that want to combat
Medication Works to Help Those Who Experience Depression Fake News Won’t Wreck Fact-Based Reporting
abuse of their platforms by terrorists and their
Depression is one of the most common, distressing, and costly men-
According to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism,
supporters to incite violence, recruit members,
tal health conditions in adults. According to the World Health Organ-
fake news reaches fewer people than we thought. In one of the
and spread fear.
ization, about 350 million people worldwide experience depression.
first quantifications of fake news in Europe, authors of a study
While there are a variety of coping mechanisms for clinical depres-
the institute published this year found internet users in France
sion including exercise, diet changes, counseling, and medication,
and Italy spend less time on fake news websites than genuine
Japan’s Suicide Rate Is At Its Lowest In 22 Years
not all of these treatments are available to all people because of a lack
sites. Most of the fake news sites in those countries reached less
Japan currently has the second-highest rate of
of resources in some communities. For many people, psychological
than 1 percent of internet users, compared to more than 50 per-
suicide among industrialized nations, but the
interventions — like therapy or counseling — are unavailable or too
cent reached by the most popular news outlet in Italy.
rate has actually shrunk over time. The number
costly, and antidepressants are the only available option. Fortunately,
The lack of reach translates to a lack of site time, too. Main-
of suicides in the country surged in the 1990s
stream news organizations accrued significantly more time
and stayed steadily high for more than a decade
In February, the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet pub-
spent on their stories than fake news outlets. So whilefake news
— the worst being about 34,000 suicides in
lished an intensive study revealing antidepressants are effective. The
did reach some internet users, they actually spent more time
2003. That number has remained below 30,000
major study measured effectiveness of 21 antidepressants and found
on the most popular mainstream news sites — more than
since 2012 and in 2016 reached its lowest rate
that all of them were more effective in treating depression than no
the time spent on the 20 sampled fake news sites combined.
in 22 years at under 22,000 that year.
treatment. While medication isn’t for everyone, it works for those
Fake news certainly poses a challenge to modern journalism,
Since mapping out its first strategy to counteract
who need it. For some, it literally saves lives.
but it won’t thwart it entirely. Fake news simply doesn’t reach
suicide in 2007, the Japanese government has tak-
Depression affects every person differently. If you are experiencing
as many people as fact-based outlets, and where it does find
en a series of steps to lower its high rate of suicide.
depression, work with your doctor and a trusted counselor to find an
an audience, it doesn’t necessarily mean more time spent
Over the last decade, the government has strength-
option that works best for you. You have options — use them.
on the sites.
ened research on the causes of suicide, set up more
they work.
HOW TO FIGHT FAKE NEWS GO OD
BET TER
BEST
Play the video game “Bad News.” Your goal in the game is to spread fake news. The idea is that once you’ve seen unethical tactics in the game, you build up resistance.
Fact check articles, stories, and memes before you share them. Snopes, PolitiFact, and FactCheck.org are all wellrespected sites that can help you figure out what’s true.
Support good journalism. Journalists work hard to find and share the truth and are quick to disclose when they’re wrong. Your support fills the world with more real news.
4
W E ’ V E G OT G O O D N E W S
A Bombing Victim Hugged His Attacker In a Display of Reconciliation A man surprised judges and onlookers when he hugged the man standing trial for bombing a Starbucks and nearby department store in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, killing seven people — the worst terror attack in the country for more than a decade. A traffic policeman named Denny Mahieu was stationed outside of the department store where the 2016 attack occurred. He was severely injured but survived, although he never regained full use of his legs. During trial, Mahieu asked hotlines, held seminars for municipal leaders, and increased sup- along the border that have legalized marijuana use. The
the court for permission to approach Aman Abdurrahman,
port for people who have attempted suicide.
crimes most greatly affected were robberies and homicides.
who prosecutors allege orchestrated the attacks. He then
More than 20 states have implemented laws legaliz-
crossed the room, hugged Abdurrahman, and said, “We’re
Japan still has a ways to go, but it’s encouraging that the
rate has seen improvement. According to a survey the coun- ing and regulating use of medical marijuana. And the leg-
brothers — we’re both Sudanese.”
try released last year, 23.6 of respondents said they had con- islation these states have brought to the table are prov-
The act of reconciliation surprised the panel of judges and
templated suicide, and about half said they hesitate to seek ing to be successful in reducing violent crime related to
Aman, who, according to ABC, smiled awkwardly at the ges-
help. We know that by increasing support for those experi- drug trafficking.
ture. Mahieu’s radical act of reconciliation shows us the free-
encing depression, we can see suicides continue to decrease
dom that can come from both private forgiveness and public
in the country.
fence-mending.
Immigration Is Good for Countries Almost half of Americans say immigrants make crime worse, according to a 2017 Gallup poll. But most studies indicate there’s simply no link between immigration and higher crime. Actually, immigrants are really, really good for countries and might even reduce crime rates. Immigrant populations in the U.S. have been growing — quickly! — for decades, but the data regarding their link to crime just doesn’t add up. Since 1980, the immigrant
Americans Feel Empowered to Fight Corruption
population in the U.S. increased by 118 percent, while the violent crime rate actually fell by 36 percent. For a
More Americans than ever feel empowered to engage and
large-scale study by The Marshall Project in collabora-
make a difference. In fact, 74 percent of respondents for a
tion with The New York Times, researchers compared
survey the global anti-corruption coalition Transparency
immigration rates with crime rates for 200 metropolitan
International conducted said they believe ordinary Ameri-
areas over the past several decades and found that a large
cans can make a difference in fighting corruption. The most
majority of these areas saw an increase in the immigrant
No matter your thoughts on cannabis use, we have good news effective actions they can take? Voting, reporting corruption,
population but fewer violent crimes. In fact, the 10 areas
for you: Medical marijuana laws have led to a sharp decline and taking direct action apart from voting — such as joining
with the greatest increase in immigrants all had lower
in violent crime in U.S. states bordering Mexico. According a march, sharing on social media, boycotting businesses, or
levels of crime than in 1980.
Legalizing Marijuana Has Lowered Violent Crime Rates
to research published in the peer-reviewed academic journal talking to friends and family. The Economic Journal, when states along the U.S.-Mexico
The myth that immigration is linked to crime is in-
Young people in particular feel more responsible to engage
accurate at best and dangerous at worst — it’s inspired
border legalized medical marijuana use, homicides related to politically and work to ensure a transparent and just soci-
policy that hurts people and breaks up families. When
the drug trade fell by a staggering 41 percent.
ety and government in the U.S. While 67 percent of Ameri-
we are making decisions that affect people, we have to
Most of the marijuana consumed in the United States can survey respondents 35 years old and younger stated in
get our facts right. And it’s just not true that immigrants
originates in Mexico, where cartels control the drug trade. 2016 they would feel obligated to report corruption if they
bring crime. They revive the economies and cultures in
Now that local American farmers can grow marijuana and witnessed it, that number rose to 79 percent in 2017. By in-
neighborhoods
sell it to dispensaries legally, the cartels get much less busi- creasing a sense of personal responsibility to hold power to
diverse groups of people, we have the capacity for learn-
ness. The effect? Less cartel-related crime. The research in- account, we can collectively ensure a more transparent soci-
ing, forming relationships, and expanding our worldview
dicates violent crime fell on average by 13 percent in states ety in our future.
just a little more.
they
move
to.
Where
we
have
HOW TO SUPPORT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE GO OD
BET TER
BEST
To learn more about restorative justice, watch Daniel Reisel’s TED talk: The Neuroscience of Restorative Justice. It dives into the topics of morality and rehabilitation.
Donate to organizations like Peace Alliance, I AM SJK, Prison Fellowship, and NACRJ to support restorative justice being done in the United States and around the world.
Do you need restorative justice? The Restorative Justice Council provides resources and support for victims at restorativejustice.org.uk.
6
SE L F CA R E
a book club, take drum lessons — pursue something that you’re curious about and excited by. By intentionally and regularly pursuing a hobby, you’ll expand your way of seeing the world.
Schedule time with loved ones FaceTime with a long-distance friend, go on a fun adventure with your partner, or invite family over for dinner. Prioritizing connection with others on a regular basis will help increase your capacity to empathize with others and help you feel a stronger sense of self-worth.
Create strict “no phone” zones in your day Choose a time frame each day to put your phone on silent or airplane mode. Whether in the morning, during meal times, or an hour before bed, having a space in your day with no phone to distract you will help you stay focused at tasks at hand and create more space for mindfulness.
Turn off unnecessary notifications It’s no secret that one of the best
10 Ways to Be Proactive In Your Self-Care Routine By Sammi Harvey
ways to keep yourself on track during a deadline is to turn your phone on airplane mode. What if you eliminated all unnecessary pings and popups in the first place? Experiment with turning
off
frivolous
notifications
While it’s absolutely important to take notice of and celebrate good news, the
Move your body
ultimate goal of this paper is to empower readers to become good news them-
Try running, group exercise classes, at-home yoga,
selves. On occasion, that might look like hopping on an international flight
or even just going on long outdoor walks. Make sure
Fuel your body
to volunteer in a developing country, but most of the time our impact will be
your body is taken care of by taking regular opportuni-
Keep nutritious snacks and water around
made in the cities, hometowns, and small communities where we live.
ties to help it grow strong, manage stress, and release
at the office and in your car. Consider meal
positive endorphins.
planning and prepping before your work
It might look like hosting food drives for hurricane victims, voting in local elections, or fundraising for homeless shelters. But more than that, it will look
this week.
week starts to minimize temptations to
like putting intentionality and care into our everyday actions: voting with your
Make time for personal cleanliness/grooming
dollar by supporting good companies, advocating for vulnerable communities,
Prioritize time to take care of your body — to trim your
or recycling. The list of opportunities goes on and on. And that’s where the im-
nails, get a haircut, or exfoliate and moisturize your
Attend counseling
portance of maintaining a regular, personalized practice of self-care comes in.
skin. Taking time to take care of your physical self will
If you’ve never visited a counselor, there’s
Many people think the idea of self-care is reactive — that if we’re feeling
increase both self-love and self-confidence, ultimately
no better time than the present. Even if
overwhelmed by a bad day we should cancel all plans and just eat ice cream.
creating a higher motivation to make more loving deci-
there is no significant trauma that you’re
“Treat yo self!” says Aziz Ansari’s Tom Haverford of NBC’s hit comedy show
sions for yourself throughout the week.
trying to work through, meeting with a
“Parks & Recreation.” The best kind of self-care though is proactive. It’s built into an individual’s
Start a gratitude journal
skip meals or eat junk food.
professional counselor can do wonders for helping you become more self-aware and
life in a way that creates sustainability as one continues to prioritize creating
Dedicate a journal solely to keeping log of the good in your
encourage you to reach new levels of per-
stories of good in their day-to-day life. Try out these 10 ways to be proactive in
life, no matter how small or insignificant the good may
sonal growth.
taking care of yourself:
seem. For example: a hot cup of coffee in the morning, sunny weather, or a pleasant interaction with a stranger. Pick
Try meditating
a regular time to make entries, whether every morning or Sunday night right before bedtime. Write about what is
If you’ve never meditated before, the app Headspace is a great place to start.
delighting you and remember to flip through it every so of-
Sammi Harvey is a writer and advocate for
This free app guides you through short meditation practices that train you
ten — it’ll be like your own personal Goodnewspaper.
self-care living in Nashville, Tennessee.
how to become more self-aware. Not ready to jump in just yet? Start by just
You can follow her on Instagram where she
creating moments of silence in your day as you enjoy your coffee or take a
Pursue a hobby you enjoy
shower in the morning — it can go a long way to creating more mindfulness
Put something in your daily schedule that you can regu-
her dog child, Poptart.
in your day.
larly look forward to. Take a coffee brewing class, start
@sammiharveyco | sammiharvey.co
shares about reading, mental health, and