Here’s a look at some of the best-read stories this year on citynews.com.au 

WHAT a year for our popular website, citynews.com.au. Our journalists have been tirelessly reporting a year that started with an unvaccinated city battling covid to one more than 98 per cent fully vaccinated. But COVID-19 continued to dominate our news coverage. Somewhere in the middle of that we launched a news website for Canberra and a sister site for Queanbeyan. The public response has been phenomenal, smashing all the previous 11 years’ records. 

This is weird… the website’s most-read article this year continues to be a story published in July, 2018 that’s stayed top of our charts since then. “Revealed: secrets of the speed camera vans” continues to pique the interest of readers looking to find out everything they want to know about white-van speed cameras, but are too afraid to ask. But we’re not going to count that story and start the list with the best-read worth from this year…

(Revealed: secrets of the speed-camera vans | Canberra CityNews)

1. Thousands escape city speeding fines

JUNE 23: Topping the list for 2021, the website’s most-read (new) story was on drivers getting out of paying fines in the new 40km/h zone along Northbourne Avenue, Barry Drive and through Braddon. The speed limit was reduced to “create a safer environment” for all road users, but there was confusion on when the speed limits came into effect.

(Thousands of Canberrans escape city speeding fines | Canberra CityNews)

2. ‘Freedom Friday’: here’s what’s changed

OCTOBER 28: Number two on the “CityNews” most-read list is, unsurprisingly, covid related. In a more positive light though, it’s a list of freedoms for the Canberra community, signalling the end of lockdown and Canberra’s emergence into the new “normal”. It’s filled with simple wording and key information for easy access to what people needed to know at the time.

(‘Freedom Friday’: here’s what’s changed | Canberra CityNews)

3. Two cases of covid detected in Queanbeyan

AUGUST 19: As the second lockdown began in the ACT, people in Queanbeyan were right to be wary and keep an eye on updates in their local area. As the first few cases arrived in Queanbeyan, readers wanted information, and that places this piece right in the middle of the “CityNews” most-read list for 2021.

(Two cases of covid detected in Queanbeyan | Canberra CityNews)

4. Exposure sites of concern continue to grow

AUGUST 24: The importance of staying informed means exposure site updates rated highly on the “CityNews” most-read list, especially early into Canberra’s second lockdown. People were anxious and were monitoring their surroundings closely, so they came to “CityNews” for their information and updates as the case numbers and exposure sites grew.

(Exposure sites of concern continue to grow | Canberra CityNews)

5. Canberra Girls Grammar principal resigns

OCTOBER 5: In other news, principal Anna Owen resigned after nearly three years at Canberra Girls Grammar. On her way out, she received high praise from the school community, and from the chair of the Girls Grammar school board, Sue Hart, who she said had “demonstrated a commitment to and promotion of girls’ education, she will be deeply missed”.

(Canberra Girls Grammar principal resigns | Canberra CityNews)

And the most-read columns from our top columnists

PAUL COSTIGAN

“Southside residents, be afraid, be very afraid!”

SEPTEMBER: “It is as if there is a new suburb called Northbourne that includes those living 100 metres either side of the corridor,” writes “Canberra Matters” columnist Paul Costigan. He continues “what’s just as worrying is the same planners are working on plans for the corridor going south to Woden.”

MICHAEL MOORE

“Why principals have to put student safety first”

OCTOBER: “There is an irony in a school principal resisting mandating. Principals are responsible for a whole range of mandatory behaviours in schools,” wrote political columnist Michael Moore on the Charnwood-Dunlop Principal’s controversial vaccine mandate opinion.

NICHOLE OVERALL

“50 years on, the question echoes: who killed Keren?”

JANUARY: What unfolded along a dark Canberra road on the evening of February 26, 1971, ranks as one of the capital’s oldest unsolved crimes, writes “Yesterdays” columnist Nichole Overall. She spoke to Sgt Adam Rhynehart who is leading the current re-examination of the “perplexing case.”

ROBERT MACKLIN

“‘Squid Game’: How about execrable, vile, putrid and racist?”

NOVEMBER: “Just imagine if the victims shot to death were not Asians but white Australians. The phone calls of protest would melt the copper wires of the NBN,” writes columnist Robert Macklin, quite controversially.

JON STANHOPE

“Hungry island is Morrison’s scandalous shame”

MARCH: “The situation on Norfolk Island, a part of Australia really is scandalous… [they] are denied the right to vote for those responsible for the governance of their community,” writes columnist Jon Stanhope, who has previously lived as a resident on the island. “This is a matter of national shame.”

IAN MEIKLE

“On yer b-b-bike, says the Disruption Taskforce”

DECEMBER: We face disruption across our city like never before, but the Disruption Taskforce is all over it. The question is: are they for it or against it? Here’s another “Seven Days” with Ian Meikle, talking about a sense of hopelessness, “love bombing,” and a questionable tip for Christmas Day.