Day 3 of my look at some of the people and organisations who I think deserve credit for the way they’ve embraced the media this year.

Today: Positive Paisley

This is a powerful example of using the media to bring about positive change, and it’s one every town in Scotland can learn from.

It’s based on the idea that most people in the town are good people. That most businesses are good businesses, and that simply by bringing people together you can achieve great things.

You can read more about ‘Positive Paisley Day’ here, but it’s much more than a day. It’s become a state of mind, an attitude and a rallying cry that makes an increasing number of people step up and give their best. So often, at local government level good ideas are kicked into touch. Positive Paisley is about encouraging people to come up with ideas, events, suggestions and finding ways to make them happen.

It began online at the Paisley.org website. It expanded into social media and then the mainstream media with good coverage and relationships with the local newspaper and celebrities from the town.

It even brings out the best in politicians. At first, I think they were a little bit afraid of the campaign and perhaps hoped it would go away. Now they realise how much they benefit by being associated with it. There’s now a pressure on them and an expectation that they WILL get things done and the majority are getting involved.

It’s had an impact on people and businesses too. Rather than moaning about things not being great, or hoping for the best, there’s now something to be part of, where they can collaborate with like-minded people and whenever that happens, good things tend to follow.

There’s no bureacracy, red tape, squabbling or cliques. Fishmongers, coffee shop owners and politicians are all treated the same. Paisley has known for years that negativity is infectious. Now, this campaign is proving the same applies to positivity.