Most Brits think 2023 was a memorable year for news, study finds – The Mirror
And now, a quiz has been developed to see how well you remember some of the top stories of this year – from the King’s Coronation, to the Rugby World Cup
Six in ten Brits (61%) feel 2023 has been a memorable year when it comes to the news – with the King's Coronation emerging as the nation's favourite news story from this year.
Other standout moments include Boris Johnson resigning as MP, Donald Trump getting his mug shot taken – and both Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby leaving this morning.
The survey of 2,000 adults revealed that exactly two-thirds would claim they are “up to date” with current affairs – and have most enjoyed following sports (32%) and politics (25%) this year.
Meanwhile, for the 24% who have kept a close eye on entertainment news, some of their favourite stories have included The Beatles releasing their “last ever” song, “Now and Then” – as well as Sir Elton John headlining Glastonbury Festival, and retiring from his touring career.
But while Brits loved seeing the crowning of the new King earlier this year, almost half of those polled (48%) say they have become fed up with hearing about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
The findings come as digital newspaper and magazine app, Readly, which commissioned the research, has also launched a quiz, to test how well people have been paying attention to the news and current events this year.
Other notable moments in the top 30 list include the rise of AI, Twitter becoming X, the return of reality TV show, Big Brother – and the Barbie movie topping the box office.
Chris Couchman, head of content at Readly, said: “It seems that year on year, news is becoming even more shocking, and there have been so many highs and lows this year.
“Yet, it’s nice to be able to recap on the year we’ve had – from Nigel Farage going on I’m A Celebrity, to a Parkinson’s patient able to walk 6km without problems after a spinal implant.
“The diversity of the news in 2023, from the unexpected and shocking to the heartwarming, truly reflects the dynamic nature of the world we live in.”
The study, carried out via OnePoll, also found that 74% claimed they “couldn’t quite believe” some of the stories reported in the media during the past 12 months. However, one in five (19%) also considered other years to be more memorable for news – with 2020 coming out on top.
The cost-of-living crisis came out as the biggest talking point of 2023, for 52% – followed by the Israel-Hamas war (45%), and AI (24%).
Meanwhile, the deaths of Matthew Perry (29%), Paul O’Grady (23%), and Sinead O’Connor (18%) were the biggest shocks of the year – with 61% saying they would much rather read about positive events.
The main place people turn to in order to get their news and current events information emerged as news broadcasts on TV, for 54%. This was followed by digital magazines and newspapers (44%), while 37% tune into the radio, and 29% simply rely on word-of-mouth.
And 17% suspect they’ve read a piece of news this year that was AI generated – with 30% expecting AI to dominate the news agenda even more during the next 12 months, than it has done in 2023.
Chris Couchman, from Readly, a magazine app with more than 7,600 titles, added: “Looking ahead, we anticipate another year of compelling stories and transformative developments.
“Here’s to a year that doesn’t pass by too quickly, allowing us all to savour the moments and embrace the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. May 2024 bring us more moments that captivate, challenge, and inspire, ensuring there is always something to look forward to.”
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