As the world takes stock of 2024, so do media organizations like Tovima.com, examining what their readers found most engaging and determining what to cover in 2025. Balancing what people want to read with what they need to know is no small feat, especially when vital topics may not always be the most popular.
What did the world read about in 2024 and did readers of To Vima International Edition – The Wall Street Journal Publishing Partnership follow the global trends, or do they forge their own path? Stay tuned to find out.
What the World Read in 2024
Chartbeat, a leading content intelligence platform that partners with over 5,000 media brands across 70+ countries -including media heavyweights like CNN, BBC, The New York Times, Fox News, and The Washington Post- recently released its top stories for 2024.
According to Chartbeat data, the most engaging stories of 2024 around the world centered on politics, violence, scandals, and human connection.
Politics dominated reader engagement, with the 2024 U.S. elections and Donald Trump commanding over 188 million minutes of the total 204 billion minutes spent by readers online. Key stories included the assassination attempt of Donald Trump at a rally, Joe Biden’s decision to exit the presidential race, and the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein appears in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services’ sex offender registry March 28, 2017 and obtained by Reuters July 10, 2019. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services/Handout/File Photo via REUTERS.
Scandals ranked second, led by the explosive release of the “Epstein list” in January 2024. Other top stories included the Georgia mass shooting, as well as personal interest pieces like the serendipitous love story of a woman who met her husband on a plane, the man who purchased a cruise ship on Craigslist, and an IVF mix-up.
What Tovima.com Readers Engaged with in 2024
Data analytics from Tovima.com’s top stories reveal that readers are drawn equally to politics, violence/tragedy, and environmental topics, particularly those related to extreme weather.
The most-read story of the year was: “The Secret Son of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis: Truth and Lies.”
Maria_Callas_as_Guilia, photo from Megaron Athens concert Hall
Other top articles included:
- The Greek Golden Visa: Will It Be Decoupled from Property Investment?
- The Tragic Death of a 19-Year-Old in a Halkidiki Amusement Park Accident
- A 700-Year-Old Olive Tree Rescued and Relocated in Greece
- The Death of Former Sheffield United Player George Baldock
Readers’ focus on extreme weather stories aligns with global trends, as evidenced by top The Wall Street Journal content, yet interest in local issues like the olive tree rescue and another story on drought hints at a deeper concern for climate change—a critical issue for Greece and the Mediterranean region.
Photo: Ergose
Celebrity, culture, and TV stories also resonated, particularly those featuring famous Greeks, the diaspora, and the acclaimed series Maestro.
WSJ on Tovima.com
In 2024, readers’ favorite The Wall Street Journal articles showcased their diverse interests in global politics, personal stories, and quirky narratives.
The most-read WSJ article was: “A Drunken Evening, a Rented Yacht: The Real Story of the Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage.”
FILE PHOTO: ChatGPT logo is seen in this illustration taken September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Close behind was: “I Tricked ChatGPT into Being My Boyfriend: He Got Spicy Real Fast.”
Looking Towards 2025
As we wrap up 2024, the To Vima International Edition– The Wall Street Journal Publishing Partnership team thanks readers for their loyalty and is excited to bring more in-depth analysis and engaging content in 2025.
Keep reading, and we’ll keep writing. Remember, the stories we consume shape the way we see the world and how we act in it—let’s choose wisely.
