What do tube feeding and maple syrup have in common?
Believe it or not, they were two of the most popular topics in 2014 for visitors to the Advertiser’s website at www.wellingtonadvertiser.com.
Online News reporting has revolutionized the industry, providing numerous benefits to both readers and News providers, not the least of which are ease of use and the ability to offer News in a more timely manner.
But beyond its obvious benefits, the Internet also affords media outlets the invaluable ability to dissect what, when and how readers are accessing information online.
Analytics can offer insight into just about anything media outlets are seeking – and often, as is the case for the Advertiser in 2014, the results can be surprising.
The following is a summary of the articles that received the most page views per month on our website in 2014.
January
Landmark: Elora Mill project will generate $22.7 million in wages (Jan. 24 issue).
This story, about the local impact of a proposed redevelopment of the old Elora Mill and surrounding grounds by an Ancaster firm, was not surprisingly one of our top-viewed online stories of the year.
Proponents say the ambitious project – including a restaurant, hotel, conference centre, wedding chapel, condominiums, retail outlets and riverfront enhancements – will create over 200 full-time jobs and 40 part-time jobs.
February
Locals raising awareness for tube feeding (Feb. 14).
Admittedly, this story’s popularity shocked everyone in the Advertiser Newsroom.
While an informative piece on the subject matter and a touching tale about Fergus toddler Mark Smith, we never anticipated it would garner as much attention as it did.
It proves that even those generating the News never know for sure what kind of an impact any particular story could have in the community.
March
Maple syrup producers wait for sap to flow (March 7).
Another surprise inclusion on the list of top online stories of 2014, we suspect this article’s popularity was tied more to the impact of the severe winter of 2013-14 than to any burning desire on behalf of readers to celebrate the annual maple syrup season.
As the story notes, the Waterloo-Wellington region is one of the top two maple syrup producing areas in the province, so a short maple syrup season can have a huge impact on local producers.
April
Heritage building finds new life; Christian high school set to open in September 2016 (April 25).
Many former students and teachers, as well as countless residents of Centre Wellington and beyond, lamented the closure a decade ago of the old Fergus high school at the corner of Tower and Belsyde streets.
Since that time many have wondered what would become of the original 1928 heritage building, so it was no surprise this article generated a lot of interest, both in print and online. In fact, it was the Advertiser’s most viewed online News story of the year.
May
Ministry officials remain on site of barn floor collapse that killed 2,000 pigs (May 7).
A tragedy for both the livestock and operators involved in this incident on a Guelph-Eramosa Township farm, this article was well read for obvious reasons.
June
Mifsud completes ‘inspiring’ ride in annual fundraiser despite battling terminal cancer (June 20).
Few stories inspire like those of triumph over illness, and this account of Erin’s Carol Mifsud and her participation in Ride to Conquer Cancer was no different.
We suspect this article received much traction thanks to sharing on social media by those who know Mifsud, who cycled close to 170km in two days despite battling stage four cancer.
July
Community to get a glimpse into plans for Christian high school in Fergus (July 18).
For the second time in four months, the former Fergus high school made another appearance on our list of top-viewed online stories of 2014.
This article featured details about a summer open house to offer the public more details about plans for the 20,000 square foot Emmanuel Christian High School, which officials expect to open in September 2016.
August
Matt Coombe takes his game to Canadian softball nationals (Aug. 22).
Another article that likely gained page views thanks to social media sharing, this one relayed the story of Elora’s Matt Coombe, an Elora umpire chosen by Softball Canada to take part in the Canadian National Softball championships in Gander, Newfoundland this summer.
Coombe, 23, was the youngest in a group of 14 umpires for the U-18 Men’s Fast Pitch championships.
September
Municipal Election Profiles 2014 (Sept. 26).
It was not uncommon this fall to see people at all-candidate debates leafing through our 16-page election feature and we received myriad compliments on that supplement.
The feature included profiles of all 115 candidates running for council (lower tier and the county) and for school board trustee positions, as well as maps and other general information about each race and municipality.
It became an invaluable tool for many voters leading up to the Oct. 27 election and the Advertiser’s reporters and graphic designers deserve a lot of credit for all their hard work in helping to make it a reality.
Obviously online readers appreciated the effort as well.
October
Municipal Election Page (Oct. 1 to 31).
As expected, interest in the municipal election only grew as Oct. 27 neared.
To be fair, this special “Municipal election” page on the Advertiser’s website was actively updated throughout the month of October (and September for that matter), so it was little surprise it was the top-viewed for the month.
But given interest in this fall’s election seemed to dwarf that shown in some townships in recent campaigns, we suspect that even if a special page for municipal election News was not created, many individual election stories would have dominated our top-viewed list for the month.
November
Former Puslinch Mayor Brad Whitcombe will be missed (Nov. 18).
Posted just two days after the passing of Whitcombe, the longtime and widely admired and respected politician from Puslinch, this story gained immediate traction online.
It was followed up, of course, with a subsequent print edition and a second online article, but it was this first offering that caught the attention of readers and those who knew Whitcombe, who was described as a “true leader” and “visionary.”
The initial online story was the second most popular News article for 2014 at www.wellingtonadvertiser.com.
December
OPP officer charged in bus-cruiser collision (Dec. 12).
Within hours of an OPP cruiser rear-ending a school bus full of kids in Fergus on Dec. 9, rumours were rampant on social media about the possible cause of the accident and likely charges in relation to the incident.
Three days later an OPP officer was charged with making an unsafe “start from stopped position,” though that announcement did little to quell rumours and calls for more serious charges against the officer.
Visit the Advertiser online at www.wellingtonadvertiser.com for up-to-the-minute News from across the county.
Top online stories by category
News STORIES
Heritage building finds new life; Christian high school set to open in September 2016, April 25.
BUSINESS
Landmark: Elora Mill project will generate $22.7 million in wages, Jan. 24.
RURAL
Maple syrup producers wait for sap to flow, March 7.
SPORTS
Rock open 2014 NLL season with Elora’s John Lovell as bench boss, Jan. 10.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Music deal (Fergus-area musician Ryan Laird signed a publishing and artist development contract with Studio Gold Music, Inc. in Nashville), Aug. 22.
