Episode 33. Sharing news creatively with Lucy Purdy

The Creativity for All Podcast

We often feel helpless when wanting to do something constructive to help others. We fear our contribution will amount to a drop in the ocean or we simply don't know where to start. Positive News is filled with stories of individuals using their creativity to bring about change to society and Lucy Purdy is the person in charge of curating those stories.

After a traditional route into journalism, beginning at local newspapers, Lucy went freelance, in order to write about topics that felt most important to her, including our connection to nature and growing food. She's fascinated by how the world would look if more media was dedicated to telling stories about humanity's positive potential and, has been the editor-in-chief of Positive News since 2016.

When much of the media is full of doom and gloom, instead Positive News is the first media organisation in the world dedicated to quality, independent reporting about what’s going right. A co-operative owned by readers and journalists worldwide, it pioneers ‘constructive journalism’, which is about rigorous and relevant reporting that is focused on progress, possibility, and solutions.

The minute I first read Positive News, in June 2021, I wanted to know more about the creative process of sourcing and choosing such inspiring stories. Lucy shares with us her take on creativity and describes the excitement of putting together each quarterly issue, the challenge of capturing the resilience, resourcefulness, strength and challenges in each story, and how constructive news bring a sense of community to readers and, in some cases, inspire them to take action as well.

We talk about the cynicism around the notion of positivity, how a balanced news diet is crucial to our mental health, and the stories Lucy found the most inspiring. If you’re feeling demotivated and are struggling to see the positive side of human nature, this episode is for you!

The articles mentioned by Lucy during our conversation: Litter picking has become a national obsession

Life after an eating disorder Leaving hate behind

A global movement of former neo-Nazis is helping others renounce extremism

Subscriptions sign-up: www.positive.news/subscribe Newsletter sign-up: www.positive.news/letter/ To purchase a copy of the latest issue: www.positive.news/product/positive-news-107-oct-dec-2021/ Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: /positivenewsuk

ABOUT THE CREATIVITY FOR ALL PODCAST

A maths teacher can be creative. So can a financial adviser, a community builder, and a yoga teacher. Not to mention a speed painter, a potter, or an actor!

Creativity is everywhere and I love nothing more than to explore it in The Creativity for All Podcast, either by focusing on a theme – such as perfectionism, feeding your creative brain, or the pressure to be creative – in my solo episodes, or through my conversations with all manner of creative people.

I want to challenge the perception of creativity and, in the process, debunk many myths attached to it: it's painful, for artists and the chosen few, etc.

My guests and I are keen to zoom in and dissect the origin of an idea, the impulse that makes us engage with our own creativity, with the hope that it will inspire listeners to get creative too.

My podcast is designed for anyone who’s already being creative, or is tempted to use their creativity, in particular those of you who think they are not creative or can never be. I would love to change your mind!