With socials distancing and self-isolation, along with the other challenges that come with weathering a historical crisis, feelings of depression and anxiety can be heightened. And it seems that nearly everyone is looking for some good news amidst the stream of information on testing and infection rates.
Launched in 2014, Dallas-based InspireMore was founded on the idea that there aren't enough good news stories circulating in traditional media. And the positivity-focused media company now sees its mission being more important than ever. In an effort to brighten up people’s news feeds with some hope and light during the pandemic, InspireMore created the Coronavirus Good News Dashboard to share tips and uplifting stories from around the globe related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We’ve always been super driven by the fact that humans need good. We need to consume good things that inspire us, give us hope, give perspective, especially in times of trial we need that,” Robert Neely, InspireMore founder and CEO, told NTX Inno. “Think about the times when you’re in a bad mood and then you smile … it shocked your system and I think thanks to technology, media has been an amazing way to shock people out of their slumps.”
InspireMore’s 11 full-time employees highlight stories from social media, other news outlets, as well as through original reporting on events from different parts of the country. The company has about 500,000 subscribers to its newsletter, along with 6 million fans on its social media pages. InspireMore said it’s had more than 725 million page views since it first launched. Neely previously said the goal is not to be out there breaking news, but rather to be a digest for readers looking for something more uplifting than traditional outlets.
In addition to helping to brighten a reader’s day, Neely said the dashboard has the potential to physically aid people. He said that when people are stressed or depressed that can have a negative effect on their immune system. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, people with a positive outlook are 13 percent less likely than those with a negative outlook to have a heart attack or other coronary event.
“I think it’s really important that we stay informed; I think at the beginning of this I was so focused on trying to understand COVID and what was happening that I didn’t really balance it as much with good media, and I think that I kind of felt the effects of that,” Neely said. “But now that we’re a little more into it, for me it’s more about balance. I want to know what’s going on, but for every little bit that I consume of factual, I also want to consume hope-filled media.”
"The power of media is to give a new level of hope and perspective."
And the Good News Dashboard seems to be having an effect on InspireMore’s readers. Neely said the company has seen an uptick in site visits and interactions on social media. One reader who is a registered nurse wrote to the company that “it’s terribly emotionally and physically draining. I haven’t found too many reasons to smile lately, but your beautiful, funny, inspiring, hopeful stories put a much needed smile on my face." Neely said another reader even reach out to let the team know the stories had help bring him down from potentially attempting suicide.
Out of the stories InspireMore has shared on the new dashboard, Neely said two have had an impact on him personally. One is about boy who found new purpose after becoming his grandmother’s caregiver during the lockdown. Another was a collection of drone images featuring creative and quirky ways people are spending their time outside during the crisis.
“It’s a total attitude and perspective shift. There’s so much good in the world and we just don’t know about it,” Neely said. “I think it’s focusing on what do I have, what can I be thankful for... instead of what do I not have. We want to inspire humanity to live for more, that’s kind of the essence of our name and so this is a great example of that.”
InspireMore itself has also felt the effects of the fallout of coronavirus. Though the company has always had a remote-work Wednesday, like many other businesses, the InspireMore team is completely working remotely. Neely also said that like many other news outlets, advertising revenue has declined during the crisis. Recently the Dallas Morning News announced pay cuts to its staff. D Magazine also announced pay cuts, in addition to layoffs. However, Neely said InspireMore is focused on its mission and expects to weather the storm.
In addition to launching the dashboard, InspireMore is looking to spread uplifting stories and help the community even more through local partnerships during the crisis. Recently InspireMore partnered with McKinney-based volunteer organization and connection platform VOMO, which recently started offering its volunteer platform free, to put the dashboard on VOMO’s website to help uplift them before going out to help the community. Neely said there are other partnerships in the works.
“We all have down days and down moments, but then we also have up moments. And so, I think our goal is to really help and bless people, and to provide hope and perspective through media,” Neely said. “The power of media is to give a new level of hope and perspective in a way that isn’t thought of. That’s just how we're wired as humans, we’re wired for great stories that inspire us.”
