Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based News
Part Twenty-Four
One of the sayings that is important to consider as news entities implement Zero-Based News is the following:
"If you hit people over the head with a two-by-four all the time, they will stop listening, stop reading, and stop viewing."
Most human beings don't want to be reminded all of the time of the horror, evil, mismanagement, malfeasance, and every other noun and adjective that one can imagine that details problems in their community, in our society, and in the world.
Most human beings need to know that there is a lightness to life. There are times to smile. Ways to enjoy their lives.
Zero-Based News includes information that brings smiles to readers, listeners, and viewers.
This can include such items as a television broadcast news piece that highlights a beautiful sunrise, a print publication that includes comic strips, a digital news site showcasing a child who had been blind and who is now seeing the colors of flowers for the first time, and a radio broadcast of a play-by-play of puppies racing on a track.
Other types of news pieces that bring smiles to people incorporate actual places with aspects of culture.
Consider a news piece highlighting a special guest who has checked into a local lodge under a confidential name. The news piece would note that that special guest has brought reindeer (even one named "Rudolph") to that local lodge in late December. Then, a couple days later, another news piece confirms that Santa Claus was that special guest. That second news piece would explain how Santa Claus used the time in the local lodge to plan his itinerary for travels around the world on Christmas Day as well as Orthodox Christmas Day.
Consider a news piece on a large rainbow appearing in the sky in mid-March. This news piece might note that large quantities of green beer have been disappearing from local taverns. On March 17, another news piece would detail how large numbers of Irish leprechauns may be responsible for the beer heists and that many of these leprechauns have been seen at the end of the rainbow on Saint Patrick's Day.
Consider a news piece that details the Easter Bunny staying at a state park to rest up prior to visiting a community on Easter Sunday as well as on Orthodox Easter Sunday.
None of these news pieces are ones that are needed to inform an audience.
None of these news pieces are ones that include information wanted by an audience.
But these news pieces are ones that would likely bring smiles to the audience.
Incorporation of news pieces that bring smiles to readers, viewers, and listeners is an important part of the strategies of Zero-Based News.
The next news column in this series will focus on how follow-ups on news are critical in the implementation of Zero-Based News.
Peirspictiochtai Ar A Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at
© 2025 Richard McDonough
