Ukraine, Queen lead Chartbeat’s list of 2022’s most-engaging stories

Stories on the war between Russia and Ukraine and the death of Queen Elizabeth II were the leading subjects in Chartbeat’s eighth annual list of the 100 most engaging digital stories of the year. But it was the riveting investigation into former Penn State football player Todd Hodne by ESPN’s Tom Junod and Paula Levigne that led the list. 

Hodne, who played in the 1970s, was “perhaps the most dangerous (sexual) predator ever to play college football.”

For its list, according to a Wednesday press release, Chartbeat analyzed more than 28 million pieces of content in 2022, representing more than 361 billion minutes* of engagement, or “the time visitors spent actively reading and interacting on pages.” 

Among the top 10 stories, the war in Ukraine (at 3 and 4) and the queen’s death (at 2 and 8) were the only two topics to appear multiple times. 

Of the entire list of top 100 stories, the war in Ukraine was the most engaging topic of the year. Articles on the war accounted for over a quarter of the total engaged time, according to Chartbeat. And the war continues to be engaging despite slowing since its peak during Russia’s invasion in February.

As has been the case in previous years’ lists, stories on gun violence were among the topics leading the list, coming in second. And in third were stories on Great Britain’s royal family. 

Here are the top 10 stories:

1. ESPN: Before Jerry Sandusky, Penn State football had another serial sexual predator. This is the untold story of his crimes and the fight to bring him to justice. 
2. BBC: Queen Elizabeth II has died
3. Politico: ‘Yes, He Would’: Fiona Hill on Putin and Nukes 
4. CNN: What does Putin want in Ukraine? The conflict explained 
5. Chicago Sun-Times: Horror on the Fourth: Suspect in custody after 6 killed, dozens wounded at Highland Park Fourth of July parade 
6. Politico: Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows 
7. CNN: This traffic stop between a Black man and a White state trooper began with fear. It ended with a surprising act of kindness
8. BBC: Your complete guide to the Queen’s funeral 
9. CNN: Uber driver who got a hotel room for teen passenger after being stuck on I-95 gets offered a new job 
10. CNN: Alabama corrections officer who escaped with inmate has died in hospital, sheriff says 

See the entire list of 100 stories here.

* Engagement data was compiled Dec. 15, 2022.