A “feel-good story” (or “feel good story”) is a story that makes the reader/listener/viewer feel good about themselves and the world—a break from the pattern of depressing news stories about murders, fires, corruption and the like. “‘Feel-good’ story” was cited in print in 1976. “Feel-Good Story of the Day” was a newspaper headline in 2000.
 
A “feel-good story of the day” often comes with a little humor. Terrorists who work on a bomb and accidentally blow themselves up has frequently been described as a “feel-good story of the day.”
 
   
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
feel–good adjective \ˈfēl-ˌgu̇d\
: producing good or happy feelings
Full Definition of FEEL-GOOD
1:  relating to or promoting an often specious sense of satisfaction or well-being
2:  cheerfully sentimental
First Known Use of FEEL-GOOD
1977
 
1 January 1976, Cedar Rapids (IA) Gazette, “Testimonial to Iowa” (editorial), pg. 6, col. 1:
With the beginning of a new year, it was appropriate for editors of the University of Iowa’s monthly Spectator to offer a “feel good” story in its December issue.
 
24 November 1983, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “Cowboys’ Allen truly thankful” by David Casstevens, pg. 1B, col. 1:
The plan was to write a Thanksgiving Day column. A cheerful, feel-good story.
 
26 May 1996, The Stars and Stripes (EUrope), “Patterson accentuates positive” by Doug Sample, pg. 38, col. 1:
However, Patterson’s good fortune and focus wasn’t the only “feel-good” story of the day.
 
6 March 2000, The Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria, OH), pg. B4, col. 3:
FEEL-GOOD STORY OF THE DAY
 
MetaFilter
The feel good story of the day.
May 21, 2001 9:50 AM
The feel good story of the day. Cupcake Brown, a former prostitute and drug addict who nearly died alone on the streets, knew she would cry yesterday when she graduated from the University of San Francisco law school near the top of her class. She wasn’t alone.
posted by msacheson
 
Google Groups: alt.games.mame
[WAY OT] Feel good story of the day
SINNER
9/4/02
well, with the exception of ONE of the dogs.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
A Feel-Good Story About Sadomasochism
Publisher: New York, etc., Newsweek, Inc., etc.]
Edition/Format: Article Article : English
Publication: Newsweek. (October 07, 2002): 70
 
OCLC WorldCat record
HOCKEY - Wild Ride - The feel-good story of the first half was Minnesota and its 20-.year-old speedster, Marian Gaborik
Author: Michael Farber
Publisher: [Los Angeles, CA, etc., Time]
Edition/Format: Article Article : English
Publication: Sports illustrated. 98, no. 2, (2003): 58
 
Talk Straight
May 03, 2012
Feel Good Story Of The Day: Six Taliban Fighters Killed When Bomb They Were Building Inside A Mosque Explodes Prematurely…
 
The Blaze
Here’s your feel-good story of the day
Aug. 28, 2013 2:35pm Meredith Jessup
Character: How you act when no one’s watching…
   
Twitter
Aaron Worthing
‏@AaronWorthing
The Feel Good Story of the Day: Terrorist Instructor Accidentally Kills Self, Students http://allergic2bull.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-feel-good-story-of-day-terrorist.html … @EmperorMisha @Patterico
2:28 PM - 10 Feb 2014