The Arab Spring generated 3,447 articles, sparked by demonstrations in Tunisia, which then spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Oman and Syria.
There were 12,858 articles on Colonel Gaddafi, 3,554 articles on President Assad, 2,449 articles on the protests in Tahrir Square, and 1,363 articles on Tunisia's Ben Ali.
The News International phone-hacking scandal dominated headlines this year, prompting numerous resignations and the closure of the News of the World, with 8,260 articles (including 5,820 articles on the News of the World, 3,891 articles on Rupert Murdoch, 2,381 articles on Andy Coulson, 2,365 articles on Rebekah Brooks and 1,247 articles on the Leveson Inquiry).
In the financial world, the Eurozone debt crisis took centre stage, with 6,416 articles.
In March, a 9.0 earthquake and a subsequent tsunami hit Japan, destroying towns and villages in the north-east of the country, 3,744 articles (including 3,708 articles on the meltdown of Fukushima nuclear plant which was caused by the natural disaster).
Osama bin Laden killed in a US operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, 2,346 articles.
The royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton took place in April. Millions of viewers worldwide tuned in to watch the ceremony, 1,669 articles.
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, died at the age of 56 in October, 1,593 articles.
The summer riots gripped London and other major cities in England, 1,190 articles.
In Norway, right-wing extremist Anders Behring Breivik carried out two terrorist attacks, killing dozens, 730 articles. Covered little this year, according to journalisted, were Israel and Palestine participated in a prison swap, 212 articles; Mexico’s ongoing drug war, 113 articles; South Sudan became an independent state, 62 articles; the world population reached seven billion, 57 articles; MPs voted in favour of keeping the blanket ban on prisoners voting, 54 articles; an e-petition calling for the release of documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster collected 100,000 signatures 52 articles; Deadly mudslides hit Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 47 articles.
Most prolific journalists (by number of articles) were:
- Roy Greenslade (Guardian): 1,057
- Ashleigh Rainbird (Mirror): 938
- Sarah Bull (MailOnline): 910
- Sarah Fitzmaurice (MailOnline): 903
- Nick Fletcher (Guardian): 870
- Clemmie Moodie (Mirror): 858
- Graham Hiscott (Mirror): 835
- Josh Halliday (Guardian): 790
- Richard Hammond (Mirror): 780
- Tricia Phillips (Mirror): 775
So there were more articles about Andy Coulson than there were about Osama Bin Laden? Take the Guardian and Pope Greenslade the Pious out of this survey and you get a better idea of real news and real journalism.
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