From Philippe Brodeur

I bought the Tribune on Sunday for the first time in a long time after hearing Noirin Hegarty on the radio advertising it as a Good News edition (advertising does work.)

I also bought it because I need to believe that I am not the only person on this island who believes there is a future beyond the dismal news our media produces.

For a country that is so influenced by global events, that sits at the gateway to Europe, and that yields such a dis­proportion­ate level of influence in the US ? it never ceases to amaze me how parochial the media can be. Not all media, but it is the norm rather than the exception.

Of course the debate over whether good news should be reported is as old as the first publication of a commercial supplement. But people shouldn't have to pay for good news. It should be part and parcel of all news offerings.

The debate over whether good news should be reported is a brave but often a false debate. I was working for the BBC in London in 1993 when the presenter Martyn Lewis was pillioried in the press for suggesting there should be more good news on television.

He wasn't suggesting airing reports about how wonderful the government is or how great a deal you can get flying Ryanair. Instead, he was saying that journalists and their editors had an obligation to look at all angles. Tell people something they don't know, something to live by. It is a lazy practice to simply reinforce the status quo.

If, as a nation, we are going to get out of this mess, then the media needs to do its part as well. It needs to work harder, be more diligent, look behind and beyond the issues currently facing us. Part of that includes telling the good story.

Well done for taking that first step.

Philippe Brodeur,

Head of Online,

TV3 Ireland.

From Chris Jordan

A disgrace of a newspaper. As a regular reader I expect so much better. Maybe something approaching the truth of what is going on in this country. Anymore "efforts" like the edition of 15 March and you will have lost yet another reader. Poor show.

Chris Jordan,

Carlow.

From Brendan Kelly

Your happiness issue (15 March) was extremely timely. It brings to mind again the occasion, just over five years ago, when the Financial Times provided exceedingly clear advice on 'how to be happy'. They suggested that we "eat plenty of Brussels sprouts, take up gardening, quit smoking and move to Iceland".

Happily, I never smoked, loathe Brussels sprouts and did not move to Iceland. Gardening remains a joy.

Brendan Kelly,

Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W.

From Marie Lyons

I made a conscious decision about six months ago to stop buying papers as I found the content so negative. Obviously it was necessary to report what was going on and it is not a case of burying one's head in the sand but the constant onslaught of negativity was frightening to say the least. I am sure that I am not alone. Perhaps other newspapers have already been focusing on a more positive slant but I was not aware of it until last Sunday.

I commend you on the issue. It is very important to focus on the positive in the midst of such negativity. Fear has a way of breeding fear and it is usually the more vulnerable that feed into it the most. It is our collective duty to support each other in times of crisis and in this way I believe your edition fulfilled that. While all the crises are very real we still have a lot to be proud of. I note that several news­papers have adopted a more positive outlook in their headlines ? positivity is contagious!

Maire Lyons

via email