What were the most popular stories of 2010 on Oakland Local? 

We went to our beloved Google analytics and grabbed the data to learn what stories grabbed OL readers' attention - and which ones got the deepest scrutiny.

We had some stories that, thanks to national interest and distribution to large-sized partners (Google, Yahoo) got more than 18,000 pages views a piece, but our biggest stories that were truly local were more in the 7,000-5,200 page views category.

So, what floated everyone's boats?

Emotional opening to Mehserle Murder trial

Oakland Local worked with Spot.us, New America Media and others to put together independent, consistent coverage of the Johannes Mehserle trial in Los Angeles and this story by Thandisizwe Chimurenga about the trial received over 18,000 page views. Not only that, readers who came in through this story spent more than six minutes reading on the site.

The Bubble by the Bay (Part 1): Big home price declines still to come

People were clicking like crazy when we published Andrew Hoerner's analysis of Bay area housing prices and his prediction, back in April 2009, they would continue to fall. (Current data from redfin.com for Oakland suggests the number of listings is rising, but sales overall are falling). Patrick.net sent us a lot of the traffic that read this story, but the visitors who clicked on it spent a whopping 29 minutes on average on the site once they got here.

Being an American citizen thrills readers

Community contributor Pamela Drake's story about a July 2009 swearing ceremony that made citizens of dozens of immigrants living in Oakland drew thousands of readers. To our amazement and delight, Drake's tale, which was based on her work with the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, has attracted new readers every week since the story was published.

Blacks leaving the Bay? New report on black population trends in Oakland reveals ‘alarming’ results

This was the second piece we published on a fascinating study from The Urban Strategies Council on African-American population and demographics data. It featured a Q&A with authors Junious Williams and Steve Spiker that gave some good insights in what has pushed the population shifts. (Hint: gentrification.)

Youth trafficking in Oakland: Big business despite government, police efforts 

Trafficking children for commercial sex has become big business in Oakland and across America, rivaling only the weapons and narcotics trades in size, according to the U.S. State Department. Our in-depth, eight-part series on youth sex trafficking in Oakland, written by Barbara Grady and Sara Terry-Cobo - and funded by a grant from the G.W. Williams Institute - drew thousands of readers.
   
Want some weed? Mapping the business of pot in Oakland

Are we smoking or what? Given that Oakland currently is ground zero right to shifting views of the cannabis industry, we're not surprised so many of you rushed right to our series on "The Business of Pot in Oakland" and the continued coverage of this topic we provide. This lead story, with its profiles of four local dispensaries, provided as compelling as celebrity gossip or sports scores for many of you.

Queer Oakland: The phenomenon that is Krys Freeman

More than 500 people clicked on the bit.ly link to our Queer Oakland story about local leader Krys Freeman - a sometime-contibutor who helped organized the Butch Voices conference series and who has written and spoken eloquently about  h/her identity as a masculine of center (MOC) person.

Other top stories on Oakland Local this past year:

• Jean Quan's emerging lead in the mayoral race
• Who is running for what? A handy reference guide
• Is pigeon going to be on the city dinner menu soon? (April Fool's)
• Oakland bars and restaurants feel World Cut fever
• What to bring to a protest that may escalate (Community Voices)
• Oakland girl missing, help find Afua
• Proposed 60,000 sq. ft. marijuana growing facility in Oakland announced
• West Oakland's abandoned 16th Street Train Station may come back to life
• Scattered crowds continue to cause havoc near 14th and Broadway
• City Slicker Farms is awarded $4,000,000 to purchase land in West Oakland for community market, farm and park

A SIDE NOTE

As you know, Oakland Local is a small news nonprofit. As we go into our second year, we need readers' support.

If you'd like us to continue publishing, please make a donation to help pay our writers and editors. It's tax-deductible and all the information is right here.