Positive News Website
Mission
Positive News (PN) is a free, not for profit newspaper published four times a year. It reports news from around the world in the areas of sustainability, social equality, education and happiness with a clear message that "another world is possible."
Description of Work
Positive News US (PN) is a free, not for profit newspaper published four times a year in Ithaca, NY. With headlines like "Building Around the Sun" and "Peace Is Inevitable," readers find that while the paper is rather traditional in appearance it is far from typical in content. We report on successful projects around the world in the areas of sustainability, social equality, education and happiness, with a clear message that "another world is possible." We are a newspaper, and more than a newspaper: we are where people go for hope and inspiration as well as information.
Positive News began over 16 years ago in the UK. Joined by a number of local writers, artists, and activists interested in bringing inspiring stories to the community, Ilonka organized publication of a US edition of the paper in Spring 2003.
Positive News US is a part of Positive News International Network. In addition to the UK and US, editions are published in Hong Kong, Argentina, Spain, and Germany.
Positive News US is participating in a media revolution that is occurring in the U.S. Readership of mainstream daily newspapers is down dramatically across the nation. Rapidly taking their place is an alternative media that is strong, vibrant and growing. Much of this is happening on-line, but alternative print media play an important role in providing fresh, new, accurate and inspiring approaches to bringing important news that reports on deep economic, environmental and social issues to concerned readers. Positive News is a recognized significant contributor to this vital effort and is proud to be part of this systemic change in our society.
When Positive News, U.S. first decided to become independent of, but remain affiliated with, Positive News, U.K. the idea was to provide a prototype for others who might wish to develop regional editions. As our reach expands with each new issue of the paper, the likelihood of new editions of Positive News elsewhere in the nation and the world increases. All we can do is provide the very best example possible and to offer our experience and growing expertise to all who have a positive message and a powerful desire to peacefully and productively confront the serious issues of war, poverty, environmental degradation, racism, and social injustice.
This we pledge to do.
Director's Bio
Ilonka Wloch, creator and publisher of Positive News US, was born in Poland. Her parents were active in the Solidarity movement, and she learned from them to act with grace and courage in the face of authority; and that significant social change is possible.
Moving to Ithaca NY, six years ago, she was part of the successful movement to protect the Finger Lakes National Forest. She also organized a series of workshops bringing the local police and residents together titled "There Is No Us and Them, It's All Us". On a trip to Ireland she discovered the UK edition of Positive News, and fell in love with the concept. She brought the paper to the US, and soon generated sufficient support to undertake publishing a US edition. With Marty Luster, former assemblyperson for the region, she has made the paper a tremendous success, with regular distribution to all parts of the country.
She loves to dance and lives in a cabin in the woods off the grid. Some say Ilonka is one of the most hopeful persons they have ever met.
Social Impact
Positive News US has no convenient or accurate method to numerically determine it’s social impact other than its circulation. We know that 20,000 copies of each issue of the paper are distributed in the U.S. with a smattering in Japan, Canada, the Philippines and elsewhere. Some of the stories that originate in the U.S. edition are published in sister publications in the U.K., Hong Kong, Argentina, Germany and Spain, which together have a circulation in excess of 100,000 copies. In addition, thousands of readers see selected stories on our web site each month.
We know, anecdotally, that many of these readers are inspired by our content and many of them seek to replicate or expand upon the socially conscious activities depicted in our pages. With each issue of Positive News we receive unsolicited feedback from readers. Some examples follow:
I have 3 children in the military. When the war started 5 years ago we were inundated with war news while my daughter was stationed in Kuwait. The stress of the news coverage on t.v. changed my life forever. I do not watch television but 1 hour, once a week. In the mornings, on my way to work, I found myself crying each time I heard the news coverage of the war. Now I do not listen to the news on the radio except for select stories on public radio, nor do I read the newspaper. When I found a copy of Positive News I was elated that I could actually read an entire news paper and feel good about each and every article. I praise your efforts for publishing a newspaper that makes me smile.
-Karen Boduch
Dear staff of Positive News,
I was at ABC cafe grabbing lunch today and I caught the latest issue of Positive News.
I really enjoyed it! The issue was really fantastic, I especially loved the scope of the articles, from the local to the international scene.
I assume the reason why it's called Positive news is that the stories are really inspiring tales of people coming together to work on common causes. I definitely finished reading the issue feeling charged up and ready to take on the rest of the day.
Keep up the good work,
Legislator (D-4) Tompkins County Legislature
Dear Ilonka,
Firstly, thanks for sending me the four issues of the positive news.The newspapers have indepth news on environment,peace and human rights.Truly,knowledge is power.had everybody been reading these editions especially here in Kenya,and by extension Africa,then most conflicts in places like Darfur-Sudan ,and even the horn of Africa would have subsided.
Secondly, I would like to work with you as a volunteer in the distribution of the positive news US editions here in Kenya. And thus I kindly request you to be supplying me with the issues as soon as they are rolled out of the print.
Lastly, I would like you to give me the full addresses, websites and emails of the following organisations; Educational International; Global Horizons; Engineers for A Sustainable World (ESW); CRESP.
With these few remarks, I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours with love and light,
Bernard Wanjala Maunda
These are only a few of the acknowledgments we have received that provide evidence that our readers take seriously our message that another (and better) world is possible.