A dead flamingo, a landslide election victory, an April Fools’ joke and testicle-eating fish are just some of the topics that appealed to our online readers throughout the year. Patrick Cooke lists timesofmalta.com’s top 20 most read stories in 2013.
The new Cabinet, March 13 – 219,836 views
Breaking news about the new Cabinet being sworn in at the Palace in Valletta was the most read article online this year. Just days after the election when much of the nation was still gripped by euphoria, the size of the new Cabinet, as well as the identity of some members, provoked much debate among timesofmalta.com readers.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130313/local/cabinet.461208#.UsKxibQixOQ
Close relative charged with double murder, July 19 – 194,260 views
Breaking news about the arrest of Jason Galea over the murder of his brother-in-law and nephew a few days earlier was the second most read story of the year. Readers were gripped by the revelation that Mr Galea, 39, from Birżebbuġa, had been charged with shooting drug trafficker Mario Camilleri, 58, known as l-Imnieħru, and his son Mario Jr, 21. The timesofmalta.com article was complemented by several video reports.
Pictures: heavy hailstorm damages cars, solar heaters, January 15 – 150,857 views
A short article on a freak hailstorm that damaged cars and property was the third most popular story of 2013. The article was constantly updated throughout the day with photos and videos sent in by readers.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130115/local/heavy-hailstorm.453315#.UsKx1rQixOQ
Money has to serve, not to rule – Pope, May 16 – 146,907 views
Pope Francis earned plaudits throughout the year and he had readers flocking to timesofmalta.com in May when he issued a strong call for world financial reform, condemning a heartless “dictatorship of the economy” and saying the economic crisis had made life worse for millions in rich and poor countries. He was speaking to ambassadors in the first major speech about finance since his election in March.
Marsa murder: police looking for two suspects, May 31 – 115, 348 views
The gangland killing of an infamous criminal suspect grabbed the attention of the nation in late May. Paul Degabriele, 48, of Fgura, known as is-Suldat, was shot five times as he was leaving a bar in Marsa. This breaking news article on the murder was updated when the police held a press conference on the case later that evening. Perhaps part of the story’s appeal was a somewhat comical artist’s impression of one suspect released by the police, which was widely shared on social media.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130531/local/man-shot-dead-in-marsa.471994#.UsKyLLQixOQ
PN requests recounts as it loses the eighth and thirteenth districts, March 11 – 112,880 views
With Labour already declared the winner of the general election by a huge majority, news that the Nationalist Party had formally requested a second recount of the 13th district and a recount of the eighth district after losing majorities was surprisingly more read than the article announcing the PL as victors.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130311/news/gozo.461020#.UsKyU7QixOQ
Old buses, drivers to return, April 1 – 112,381 views
This somewhat prophetic April Fools’ joke caused uproar when uploaded on timesofmalta.com, not least because only comments from readers who believed the story were initially uploaded so as to not spoil the illusion. According to the fake story, the government planned to replace Arriva with the old buses and drivers that had been removed from the roads in 2011. In fact, the article became partially true when the government recently confirmed that Arriva was ending its operations on the island, although its replacement is not yet known.
Male skinny dippers warned of ‘ball-cutter’ fish in Sweden, August 12 – 99,521 views
A bizarre story on the dangers posed to skinny-dippers in Sweden by a relative of the piranha was surprisingly the eighth most read story of the year, fuelled by the fact it was widely shared on Facebook by readers who must have been tickled by the thought of ‘ball-cutter’ fish on the loose.
High waves, strong wind batter Malta, March 14 – 95,877 views
The second weather story to make the top 10 was related to gale force winds which lashed the islands in March. Once again, the story was updated throughout the day by photos and videos submitted by readers.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130314/local/high-waves-batter-cirkewwa.461416#.UsKyvLQixOQ
Three arrests after flamingo shooting – FKNK calls on courts to ‘take serious action’, June 4 – 95,464 views
Breaking news of the killing of a flamingo in Salina and the subsequent arrest of three suspects held the nation’s attention in June. Despite conservationists and the police guarding the bird overnight, it was shot before dawn and there were dramatic eyewitness reports of a hunter wading through the water with the carcass and placing it in an SUV. Our coverage was updated throughout the day with reaction and video reports.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130604/local/flamingo.472438#.UsKy27QixOQ
Vote counting completed: the results, March 11 – 94,165 views
Another election story – this was a short and sweet rundown of the elected candidates in the general election after all the votes were counted.
Nirvana Ciavola Azzopardi loses her battle against cancer, October 9 – 85,724 views
An article reporting that TV personality Nirvana Ciavola Azzopardi had succumbed to breast cancer aged 40 is a sombre entry in the top 20. Ms Ciavola Azzopardi was diagnosed with an aggressive and rare type of cancer two years ago. She is remembered for a variety of programmes, including Flat 4, one of the earliest reality shows in Malta, and she was also one of the presenters of the Song for Europe contest.
Caruana Galizia questioned by police for breaching ‘political silence’, March 8 – 84,113 views
Breaking news that blogger Daphne Caruana Galiza had been questioned by police for breaching the rules on political silence on the eve of the election proved to be a hit with readers. Ms Caruana Galizia was arrested over an article uploaded on her site at 7 pm. She told the press after her release that the police had arrived at her gate with a magistrate’s warrant within two-and-a-half hours of her posting the article.
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead, May 5 – 78,834 views
The death of former judge Ray Pace, 54, in his Attard home was the 14th most read story of the year. No suspicious circumstances surrounded his death. Dr Pace stepped down from the bench last December after he was charged with bribery and trading in influence. He denied the charges and the case had not been concluded.
PL wins majority in local elections, March 16 – 76,075 views
News that the Labour Party’s general election victory has been mirrored in local elections, where the party obtained more than 56 per cent of votes cast, proved popular with readers. This article gave details of the candidates elected and recounts.
LIVE BLOG: Election Monday, March 11 – 73,589 views
This witty, whimsical live blog of electoral events from across the island, from Dr Muscat’s oath of office to celebrations in streets further afield, was well received by readers.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130311/news/election-monday.461016#.UsKzu7QixOQ
Political leaders battle it out in animated university debate, February 13 – 73,231 views
More election fever in the top 20: this time it was live coverage of the feisty debate between the leaders of the Labour Party, the Nationalist Party and Alternattiva Demokratika in the run-up to polling day. Written commentary was provided by one of our journalists, while many readers were shocked at the raucous, partisan behaviour of the students attending the debate.
Man shot dead at Ħal Far, February 18 – 73,158 views
This was the breaking news of the murder of Birkirkara businessman Ronald Galea, 65, who was shot dead outside a meat processing factory in Ħal Far industrial estate. Video footage of the crime scene was uploaded along with the article.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130218/local/hal-far.458195#.UsK0ALQixOQ
Government requests ship master to return to rescue location, August 5 – 72,956 views
The first immigration story to make the top 20 concerned the government’s stand-off with the captain of the MT Salamis, who had rescued 102 asylum seekers at sea but was being prevented from disembarking them in Malta. After the Maltese government remained adamant that they should be returned to Libya, the Italian government eventually accepted to allow them to disembark in Italy.
Permanent secretaries ‘asked to resign’, March 12 – 72,942 views
Scraping in at number 20 is the news that all permanent secretaries had been asked to submit their resignation by 3pm that day. The request was made by the principal permanent secretary, Godwin Grima, on instructions from Mario Cutajar, the person designated to replace him. He had been appointed by the Prime Minister the previous day following Labour’s landslide election victory.
Top 10 most shared stories in 2013
• Heavy hailstorm damages cars, January 15.
• Malta wins the Junior Eurovision Song Contest – Gaia ‘proud’, still can’t believe it, November 30.
• Nirvana Ciavola Azzopardi loses her battle against cancer, October 9.
• Arriva to leave Malta early next year, December 22.
• Old buses, drivers to return, April 1.
• High waves, strong wind batter Malta, March 14.
• Nirvana said cancer gave her time to appreciate life, October 10.
• End mobile phone roaming racket, August 31.
• Maltese doctor finds ‘holy grail’ of cancer treatment, June 26.
• Police find secret tunnel to bank vault, October 5.