The digital world has no shortage of negative content, from news articles to social media posts. A new book from feel-good brand Upworthy shows just how much good abounds, too. In this article, the Upworthy authors behind the new book Good People: Stories from the Best of Humanity show us how we, too, can share positive stories.
Good People: Stories From the Best of Humanity, published by National Geographic, features 101 stories of hope and human decency. It contains positive tales fans of social media powerhouse and story-sharing website Upworthy have come to know, love, and actively seek out.
“There is a desire for these stories and a desire to engage with them,” says co-author and Upworthy Head of Content and Innovation Gabriel Reilich. They note the pandemic, in particular, highlighted humankind’s need for glimmers of hope and joy. “There is a lot of good happening. But, if all you’re exposed to is the opposite, it starts to color your perception of the world. It can influence how you interact with people.”
Reilich and fellow author and Upworthy vice president Lucia Knell spent years researching and compiling this collection of uplifting stories. The duo has learned a thing or two about finding and sharing tales of positivity. Both through the book-writing process and their decade working with the Upworthy brand. We sat down to hear their story and their tips for finding and sharing your own good news, too.
Craving the positive
Upworthy came about in 2012, largely through Facebook, which helped its positive stories reach the masses. “We drew people to stories that were rooted in ideas around empathy, inclusion, and creating a better world,” says Knell. “We sort of skyrocketed from there.”
Upworthy has still found not just an interest in, but a need for, its stories. Even though the social media landscape looks entirely different today. “As algorithms suppress different publishers, the engagement [largely] hasn’t changed for us,” Knell says. “It’s become an essential part of people’s day-to-day, and we get comments and messages all the time with people saying, ‘thank you for existing, please keep going.’”
Today, Upworthy reaches over 100 million people per month with its curated stories that share “the best of humanity with the world,” according to the brand’s Instagram profile. It’s a direct counter to the influx of negative news stories that increasingly fill our newsfeeds.
“From an engagement standpoint, it’s a lot easier to stoke feelings of anxiety, anger, and divisiveness through fear-based headlines or content that stirs up tension,” says Knell. This leads to combative and angry dialogue and, ultimately, feelings like hopelessness and anxiety. “I think from a mental health standpoint, this has a destructive effect on our ability to keep going, especially during moments of crisis.”
The idea isn’t to pretend the bad isn’t happening, says Reilich. “We don’t advocate for burying your head in the sand, but we do believe that you are more likely to make a positive difference in the world if you’re coming from a place where you believe there is decency out there, that people are good, and that there’s something worth fighting for.”
Sourcing 101 positive stories
While Upworthy’s social media accounts draw serious engagement, Knell and Reilich did share one frustration—a frustration that ultimately led to their new book. “We noticed that people were being super open in the comments section, but with the nature of social media, the [comments] were just swept away,” says Knell. “Algorithms are designed to keep us moving.”
That’s when the pair had an idea. They posed questions about positive interactions—for example: what’s the kindest thing a stranger ever did for you?—then sifted through the thousands of responses. “We picked out 101 comments that we wanted to know more about, and [got] in contact with people through direct messages,” Knell says, noting that almost 99% of respondents weren’t just OK with—but excited about—sharing their story. “Those interviews ended up turning into these beautiful short stories that make up the book.”
These tales from around the world don’t have to be grand or monumental in nature. “It’s often about someone who did something nice in a personal, grounded way,” says Reilich. “We thought they deserved to be preserved forever.”
The entire process of preparing this book, which has received early praise from celebrities like Jennifer Garner and Kristen Bell, took roughly two years. “What’s special about this book is that it was a collaboration,” says Knell. “It wasn’t just myself and Gabe. It was a collaboration with every single human being in this audience.” Knell notes that she and Reilich went back and forth with sources regularly to get the stories just right. “Being able to read these stories again and again makes me feel better about humanity,” she says.
Finding and sharing your own positive stories
As Upworthy has proven, positive stories can help you stand out from the pack. Opportunities abound for telling these uplifting stories, too, from documentary-style photo posts on Instagram (think: Humans of New York) to longer-form films or short videos on TikTok. But how do you find these stories in the first place? Ask your audience.
“Ask things that trigger a specific memory recall, and frame that in a way that invites people to reflect on moments that changed their lives or people that changed their lives in a good way,” Reilich says, noting their team asks questions like: “’ Who’s that teacher who changed your life for the better? What’s a time somebody helped you when you were at your lowest? What’s an interaction that you had with a young person that made you think the future is in good hands?’”
Asking these targeted questions helps your audience think back on their own life experiences. “People are excited to share their stories,” says Knell. “We see folks answering, then we’ll see other people in the audience starting to answer to those stories. It creates this beautiful ripple effect of community in the comments section. People are more open than you think.”
Use Care and Respect
That said, whether you’re a documentary filmmaker, photojournalist, or writer, you have a responsibility to treat each story with care. “That was one of the most important things to us and the development of this book,” says Reilich. Because they opened up in a “really significant way,” Reilich and Knell ensured each participant had a say in the final outcome. That meant asking questions to confirm clarifying details. Also, listening and taking into account their privacy concerns. As well as respecting their decision if they ultimately choose not to share publicly.
“If [they] don’t feel good about it, then we’re not going to share it because it’s important that these stories come from a place of empowerment,” Reilich says. “Ultimately, these are their stories, and they’re choosing to share with us and the world—they need to feel good about that every step of the way.”
If you feel awkward or nervous asking people to share their backgrounds, consider the good this storytelling could do for them. “We’ve gotten feedback from folks we interviewed who shared things like, ‘I’m crying; you helped me to articulate this in a way I never would have imagined,'” Knell says. “Treat this with the respect you would a journal entry.”
Share Positive Stories to Bring Your Art to Life
To elevate your photography on social media, consider going beyond a quick-hit caption or generic quote. Instead, turn to the story. “There’s the old adage that a picture’s worth 1,000 words, and a lot of the time that’s true, but there are also times in which a picture invites 1,000 words,” says Reilich. “If you look around your room, so many things have stories. It’s not just people who have stories; objects have stories, too.”
Consider going deeper with your content to share these personal reflections alongside your imagery. Take readers into the scene. Perhaps it’s sharing an anecdote they don’t see in the photo. Or maybe a deep dive into how you pulled the shot together or what you were feeling at the moment. “It’s an opportunity to invite people into the world of whatever that photo is,” says Reilich.
If you need some storytelling inspiration, Good People: Stories From the Best of Humanity has not one, but 101 heartfelt examples. From humorous memories to emotional rollercoasters that showcase both the human experience and the resilience of the human spirit.
Good People: Stories From the Best of Humanity will be published on Sept. 3, 2024, and is available for pre-order now.
To learn more about the importance of storytelling and how you can use your creative craft for good, check out our interview with National Geographic Explorer and conservation photographer Brooke McDonough.
