When you recount the events and news of October 2018, what comes to mind for you? Which top stories do you think captured the nation’s attention? Did you lean toward coverage of Hurricane Michael? Or perhaps news from mid-term election pre-coverage? Maybe the parcel bomb case?
The top stories that captivated your attention in October may surprise you. They may remind you of the compassion we feel for others, the power of vulnerability and taking a stand, the need to understand the important news of the day, but also speaks to our fascination with pop culture and the personalities of our era.
Let’s take a stroll through the most-read stories of October.
Power and Authenticity
On October 15, Lady Gaga delivered an inspiring, vulnerable and powerful acceptance speech at the ELLE Women in Hollywood event. Her Marc Jacobs’ suit was oversized and her message was larger than life. She touched on topics of sexual abuse, mental health and depression, and emphasized the power of being herself and rising above the expectations of others. This story took top spot as most-read against all others in October.
Breaking Protocol
If you’ve ever struggled with when to break some important news to someone, our second most-read story of October may strike a chord. You might imagine the flurry of calls and texts between many in the Royal family when Meghan Markle’s pregnancy was revealed during Princess Eugenie’s wedding. While Royals watchers everywhere were delighted with the announcement, the timing of the news wasn’t considered proper protocol and created quite the storm in the Royal family.
Nature Forces a Brutal Appearance
Another storm began small, but quickly escalated into one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the mainland in decades. More than 60 deaths have been attributed to Hurricane Michael, along with destruction and flooding in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland. Throughout the event, you read about the heart-breaking devastation (the third most-read story) and why this hurricane was a ‘monster like no other.’
“We Are Better People For Sharing This”
A rose floating in a lake might not catch the attention of some. But this story of compassion certainly caught your attention. Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Rowing Club in Birmingham, England, came across the red rose in the water, along with a note asking for help from a wheelchair bound wife who wished to honor her late husband. The Tweet by the stranger that granted her wish by tossing the rose into the lake for her, went viral. Readers worldwide were inspired by this act of kindness and humanity; one Tweet confirmed with “We are better people for sharing this.”
Another story from the world of sports resonated with you. It wasn’t about a victory for an NFL team or a scuffle in an NCAA game. It was about a community making a difference in the life of a 6-year old boy. After the Phoenix Suns found out that no one showed for the boy’s birthday party, they invited him to celebrate with thousands of fans at the Lakers versus Suns game. Now that’s a show of true community and a day to remember!
Both ranked in the top 9 most-read stories of October.
Politics in the U.S.
In the arena of U.S. News and Politics, the top stories of interest for you revolved around Majority Leader Mitch McConnel’s proposal to cut the federal deficit, Trump’s dealings with the press, and Senator Warren’s DNA results.
In an attempt to address the federal deficit, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell advocated “the only way to lower the record-high federal deficit would be to cut entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.” This story, provided by Newsweek, was the 6th most-read story of the month.
You were also interested in this account of President Trump’s recent increase in press appearance activities in contrast with White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders’ visibility, and news of with Senator Warren’s announcement of DNA results.
Your Modern Life and Microsoft News
Just like yours, our days are filled with activities that run the spectrum. We commute to work, then later, we gather with family for dinner. We dream of our best life and tackle big goals. We vote, watch the latest political news, and we decorate our homes. We plan for retirement, cheer for our favorite teams and catch movies with friends.
Your readership across many topics on Microsoft News reflects the dimensions of today’s modern life and our common quest to know more, do more and achieve our best.
We’re here for you with the stories that help inform and entertain you, bringing you the news you need to know and the stories that inspire a better world.
