CNN’s top 100 digital stories of 2024 | CNN

CNN - Dec 28th, 2024
Open on CNN

In 2024, CNN achieved significant digital success, drawing nearly 150 million users monthly, with its Election Night live story becoming the most-read single piece, engaging over 48 million users. CNN topped Chartbeat's list of the 100 most engaging stories, marking the first time it had both the most entries and the No. 1 story. Key events covered included a historic presidential campaign, assassination attempts on the president-elect, and impactful investigative journalism, cementing CNN's role as a leading global news source.

The year's coverage highlighted not only the political landscape, dominated by figures like Donald Trump and Joe Biden, but also a variety of human-interest stories, scientific discoveries, and societal issues, including school shootings and extreme weather events. These stories reflect ongoing changes and challenges, hinting at major themes that will shape 2025's news cycle. CNN's comprehensive approach, blending politics with lifestyle and science, underscores the network's commitment to delivering diverse, relevant content worldwide.

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RATING

4.6
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides an engaging overview of CNN's top digital stories of 2024, highlighting the network's achievements and the significant events that captured public attention. While it effectively showcases CNN's broad reach and impact, the article lacks depth in terms of factual accuracy, balance, and source quality, as it primarily serves as a promotional piece rather than an in-depth analysis. The transparency in disclosing potential biases or sources is limited, and while the language is clear and professional, it occasionally veers into promotional territory. Overall, the article could benefit from a more rigorous approach to factual verification and a balanced representation of perspectives.

RATING DETAILS

5
Accuracy

The article provides a general overview of CNN's top stories and achievements in 2024, yet it lacks detailed factual accuracy. Specific events such as the debates, assassination attempts, and trials related to Donald Trump are mentioned, but no concrete evidence or sources are provided to substantiate these claims. The absence of verifiable data or direct quotes from the articles or reports makes it challenging to assess the truthfulness and precision of the content. Additionally, general statements about 'school shootings' and 'deadly storms' are made without offering specific details or context, which diminishes the factual robustness. The article functions more as a summary or promotional piece, which impacts its factual accuracy.

4
Balance

The article shows a clear focus on CNN's achievements and top stories, which suggests a potential bias toward promoting the network's success. While it does mention various topics, such as political events, human interest stories, and scientific discoveries, the lack of alternative perspectives or critical analysis indicates an imbalance. For example, the narrative surrounding Donald Trump's campaign and trials is presented without opposing viewpoints or critical exploration of the implications. The article could benefit from including a wider range of perspectives and a more nuanced discussion of the events and issues it highlights. Overall, the representation of perspectives is limited, leading to a skewed portrayal of events.

7
Clarity

The article is generally well-written, with clear language and a logical flow. It effectively communicates CNN's achievements in 2024 and the key stories that engaged its audience. The structure is straightforward, beginning with an introduction by Marcus Mabry and following with highlights of significant events and topics. However, the tone occasionally shifts to a promotional style, particularly in phrases that emphasize CNN's success and reach. While the article maintains clarity in its presentation, the lack of depth and critical analysis of complex issues may leave readers seeking more detailed information. Overall, the clarity is solid, but the promotional tone detracts slightly from the professional and neutral presentation.

3
Source quality

The article does not provide any references or citations to substantiate the claims made. It relies heavily on general statements and lacks attribution to credible sources or expert opinions. The absence of cited sources makes it difficult to assess the reliability and credibility of the information presented. Moreover, the article serves as an internal reflection on CNN's performance, which raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest and self-promotion. To enhance the quality of sources, the article should incorporate data, reports, or interviews from authoritative and independent sources, providing a stronger foundation for the claims made.

4
Transparency

Transparency is limited in this article, as it does not disclose the methodologies or criteria used to determine the 'top 100 stories' or the 'largest news audience.' Additionally, there is no acknowledgment of potential conflicts of interest, such as the inherent bias of an internal assessment by CNN's editorial leadership. The article would benefit from greater transparency by explaining how the stories were selected, the metrics used for audience measurement, and any affiliations or interests that could influence its objectivity. Providing this context would enhance the reader's understanding and trust in the article's content.