A LOOK AT THE HERALD’S TOP-20 STORIES OF 2020
List of lowlights for last year is one for the history books
The unread story is worthless until the reader gives it life, to paraphrase science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin.
The author of the “Left Hand of Darkness” and so many more is right. Herald readers give us life. You push us to dig deeper and tell it like it is. As one of our old billboards once read, “If you want it sugar coated, buy a donut.”
Here’s what you read the most in 2020, based on page views. It’s an inexact metric, but I think you’ll see a trend: your favorites aren’t glazed, frosted or sprinkled with jimmies:
1.) Tom Brady-Bill Belichick phone call ‘didn’t go well’: The coach and the QB have finally spoken, Herald NFL columnist Karen Guregian reported in early March. Their conversation about Brady’s pending free agency “didn’t go well,” per a source. I’d say.
2.) Vitamin D can help reduce coronavirus risk by 54%: BU doctor says: This one is still soaring. Our health reporter Alexi Cohan dug up this medical self-help bulletin. We all want to avoid COVID-19 like the plague, isn’t that the truth. This doc swears by vitamin D.
3.) Coronavirus masks: What’s the difference between N95 and KN95?: Another example of the Herald digging for answers when you need them fast. Multimedia reporter Meghan Ottolini has the answer. (Hint: N95s are better, but I’d take either one.)
4.) Patriots trade Rob Gronkowski to Buccaneers for 4th-round pick: Let’s be honest — Brady and Gronk is synonymous with John and Yoko, Meghan and Harry, Beyonce and Jay Z. The Bucs made the playoffs, the Patriots didn’t. Here Karen Guregian had the scoop, again.
5.) Herald editorials hit a nerve: Disinformation from Adam Schiff and the media damaged America (Russian collusion) and Herald endorses President Trump both filled up our inbox.
6.) Nor’easter could slam Massachusetts, dumping more than a foot: There’s nothing like a December blizzard during a pandemic to get some attention.
Reporter Rick Sobey warned an unseasonably balmy weekend would soon be flipped. 7.) When will we find out the presidential election results?:
Election Day turned into Election Week then Election Month and reporters Lisa Kashinsky and Sean Philip Cotter had it covered. It’s not official until this Wednesday, Jan. 6.
8.) UMass Boston student first confirmed case of coronavirus in Massachusetts: I wish I never had to co-write this one. But a student back from Wuhan, China, came down with coronavirus. That was Feb. 1. You know the rest.
9.) Columnist Howie Carr’s one-two punch: Howie hit on two viral columns on how Joe Biden continues to lose his notes and mind, and Charlie Baker can’t admit he blew it over deaths at nursing homes.
10). NASA: Massive asteroid close call due Saturday, but won’t be hitting Earth: If it was going to happen, this would have been the year. Reporter Sean Philip Cotter got our attention with this one.
11.) Trust the man, Joe Biden is going to beat Joe Biden: Howie Carr strikes again with these: Live, from the basement, it’s Joe Biden and
It’s a crime you haven’t heard about Hunter Biden.
12.) Charlie Baker issues Massachusetts stay-at-home advisory, business curfews, mask mandate: Our new normal and reporter Erin Tiernan had it covered.
13.) Sick passenger taken off Beijing-Boston flight at Logan Airport, refuses transport: I co-authored this Jan. 29. If only we could go back in time.
14.) 14 states side with New Hampshire in tax suit against
Massachusetts: Wait until taxes are due. Reporter Sean Philip Cotter has the early warning.
15.) Could Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo trade places? Don’t discount the 49ers buzz: It fizzled, but Karen Guregian had fun with this anyway.
16.) President Trump ordered the strike, and came down to dinner cool, collected: Scenes from Mar-a-Lago by Howie Carr.
17.) Trump signs coronavirus
relief bill, still pushes for $2,000 stimulus checks:
Reporter Rick Sobey had all the details others were slow to report.
18.) Fear and loathing in the Biden Crime Family: Count on Howie Carr to keep an eye on Biden and Co.
19.) Poll: Who do you think won the first 2020 presidential debate?: This took off like a rocket. Guess who you voted for?
20.) Americans would get two checks under proposed coronavirus stimulus package:
Reporter Rick Sobey has been glued to the stimulus story. We’ll keep it up in 2021. It’s what readers demand.
Editor’s Choice: The Feb. 26-27 Biogen managers’ conference in Boston, a superspreader event said to be the source of 300,000 COVID-19 infections, remains a major story.