items of interest

with contributions from Michael Novak, Claudia Combs

When more than one reader complained about "sordid stories" in the Scottsdale (AZ) Tribune, the editors responded. Alan Geere, executive editor, wrote in a front-page editorial, "Even we get sick of the bad news." But they did more than commiserate. In their July 21, 1998, issue, called the "Good News Tribune," they offered stories that "reflect some of the better things happening in our community."

Page one cited a drop in "driving under the influence" arrests, successful recycling efforts, a crisis averted in the schools, and a city inspector who spends his free time helping wildlife. Inside the paper, a headline affirmed, "All aboard survive cruise ship fire" instead of screaming first about the fire. A detailed article on neighborly kindness and opportunities for volunteering, business success stories, and positive news about children were all section-heading articles.

Was it popular? When we called to get a copy, the kind woman at the other end informed us that all the papers for one edition were already sold out, but promised to send us a paper from another edition if any were left. How glad we were that one was.

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