People need more feel-good stories – and we are seeking to provide them

From local acts of heroism to national news, we are aiming to give readers some positivity during these uncertain times, writes Luke Brown

The Virtual Grand National raised £2.6m for the NHS Charities Together organisation (EPA)

Earlier this year, back before the World Health Organisation (WHO) deemed Covid-19 a pandemic, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism published a report in which they identified 2020 as being a uniquely difficult year for our industry.

The institute surveyed some 233 “digital leaders”, including 48 editors in chief, 30 heads of digital and 26 chief executives, with the respondents hailing from the United Kingdom and 31 other countries.

One anxiety practically leapt off the page. Vogue and GQ publisher Conde Nast’s head of audience growth, Sarah Marshall, said that she was increasingly worried by “reader fatigue and news avoidance”. She added: “Clearly this is a problem for democracy and debate, and not just for the industry.”

As the coronavirus pandemic has swept across the globe, forcing us to retreat from our social spaces and our workplaces back behind our front doors, it worries me that news avoidance is becoming increasingly prevalent. I have a routine now, too. I determinedly read the coronavirus headlines in the morning. I read The Independent’s excellent live blog during the day. And I grimly seek out the revised death toll in the afternoon. Other than that, I avoid what I can.

But by avoiding negative stories I have found myself guilty of overlooking all the good that is happening too. The acts of extraordinary everyday heroism by our frontline workers. The heartening amounts of money being raised for charitable causes. And those small tales of community and togetherness, that may at first appear trifling and insignificant, but which have a habit of being anything but.

Sports fans have had it particularly rough over the past few weeks. The scale of the pandemic means the sporting calendar now stands sadly empty, with The Open at Royal St George’s the latest victim of the virus. Sport occupies our time. It provides a welcome escape from our troubles. And, at its best, it can be the glue that binds us together. Millions of people miss it dearly.

Unfortunately, the sports pages have also been dominated by much misery and despair in recent weeks. From postponements to cancellations and some tragedies, too. But there is still some good news, if you know where to look. And at The Independent, we want to make those stories a little easier to find.

On Monday, we started a new daily column, a small space for positive sports stories both big and small. Some are to do with how sport has responded to the pandemic, such as the success of the Virtual Grand National, which raised £2.6m for our NHS. Others are short, silly or stupid – perhaps even all three.

The first column featured some leaked pictures of a new England football kit, as well as some faintly ridiculous transfer rumours. If it makes us smile, it goes in.

Our award-winning team of journalists will of course continue to cover the most important and essential stories that you need to know about. But we hope that by rounding-up some of the day’s good news, we can help bring some cheer in difficult times, too. And we would absolutely love to feature any positive stories from your local communities.

If you have anything you would like to share, please email digitalsport@independent.co.uk.

Yours,

Luke Brown

Deputy sports editor