Help us put out positive stories

I've just got off the phone with a stalwart from Friends of Henley Lake, who have finished a new pathway with around 30 volunteers in the Henley Lake reserve.

It's useful when I talk to fine people like this, because it helps when I get an unsigned letter ranting about how the Times-Age is portraying Masterton as a crime-ridden town.

Yet we didn't hear about the Henley Lake work. It was only because our roving photographer, Chris Kilford, happened to be going past and recognised the work for what it was: outstanding service from selfless volunteers.

I want to put more stories like this in the paper, I really do. In Saturday's paper I was pleased to praise the efforts of a 10-year-old who was fundraising for cancer, in honour of his sick grandfather. We also heard from the family of a public-spirited teenager who handed in a wallet containing $200 after finding it dropped at the Genesis Recreation Centre.

Granted, she was powerfully shy and asked us not to name her, but the pride of her family shone through when they let us know.

These are terrific stories. We know about the last two because they were communicated to us, via Facebook in those instances.

There are, of course, basic axioms to newspapers, and one of those is that bad news does sell.

On a question of moral responsibility, it is the newspaper's job to defend its community, and pursue stories of public concern. There is no point in censoring out crime and other unfortunate circumstances. The community needs to be informed, and the public will swiftly demand information if we fall short.

But I am aware the community does become weary if there are too many front pages with bad news.

I want good news. On the front and inside. Don't think we can somehow channel stories through telepathy or something. The reality is, someone has to step out of the shadows and tell us about it. Give us a call.

We're not scary and you're not wasting our time. We're waiting to hear from you, and we're ready to praise your community. You just need to take the first step, and let us know.