2023's Finest Digital Stories: CNN's Must-Read 100

In 2023, the United States experienced unprecedented events, including the criminal indictment of a former president and the removal of a Speaker of the House of Representatives, both firsts in the country's almost 250-year history.

Amidst the political landscape, the US and Canada observed a suspected Chinese spy balloon drifting across North America, the world closely monitoring the ill-fated Titan submersible's journey to the Titanic wreckage site, and every nation experiencing extreme weather events attributed to global climate change.

Despite the chaos, it was immensely satisfying for the journalists and other professionals at CNN, who delivered video, audio, text, graphics, and interactives to an average digital audience of 163 million people worldwide every month - surpassing any other English-language news organization, as reported by ComScore.

Each year, we compile our list of the 100 top stories on CNN Digital based on how many people read, watched or listened to a story.

Getty Images/Reuters/AP/Parkwood Entertainment/Nick Brandt/CNN

2023: The year in pictures

Other measures of success include the duration of audience engagement with the content. In a study evaluating 39 million pieces of content and 228 billion minutes of reader engagement, CNN was found to have captured 39 of the top 105 stories for 2023. The top story of the year, reporting on the collapse of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on January 2 and its aftermath, attracted almost 18 million readers.

Throughout the year, you dedicated numerous hours to staying updated with CNN by watching live breaking news stories. Additionally, you kept up to date with CNN through various social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, as well as news aggregators like Apple News and Google Discover.

As a result, the war in Israel and Gaza, along with the historic terror attacks that led to it, were the main focus this year. Unfortunately, there were also numerous mass shootings in America that were memorable for all the wrong reasons.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of many unusual stories on our list, reminding us of the importance of having stories that not only inform, enlighten, and explain, but also bring joy.

As we look ahead to 2024, which promises to be even more extraordinary than 2023, we commit to providing essential news to keep you informed, in-depth analysis to help you understand the significance of the news, and captivating stories to help you connect with the world in all its diverse emotions and experiences.

CNN Digitals top 100 stories of 2023

1. Damar Hamlins health update live story January 3, 2023

2. Missing Titanic sub crew killed after catastrophic implosion June 22, 2023

3. Lewiston, Maine mass shootings live story October 25, 2023

4. Arnold Schwarzenegger says friend Bruce Willis will be remembered as a great star and a kind man May 31, 2023

5. Missing Titanic sub search news live story June 21, 2023

6. Nashville elementary school mass shooting live story March 27, 2023

7. Rep. Kevin McCarthy wins House speakership vote live story January 6, 2023

8. Study uncovers link between Erythritol, a stevia ingredient, and increased risk of heart attack and stroke - February 27, 2023

9. Kansas City homeowner to be charged with 2 felonies for shooting Black teen who entered wrong house - officials announced April 17, 2023

10. Jeremy Renner accident January 2, 2023

11. Why everyones phone will alarm at 2:20 pm ET on Wednesday October 2, 2023

12. Damar Hamlin update live story January 4, 2023

13. Trump indictment on business fraud charges in Manhattan March 30, 2023

14. Matthew Perry death October 28, 2023

Matthew Perry arrives at the premiere of "The Invention of Lying" in Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009.

Matt Sayles/AP

15. The US could be affected by an upcoming El Niño winter. Here's what to expect.

16. Damar Hamlin, a Bills player, remains sedated a day after collapsing from a cardiac arrest on the field, according to his uncle's statement to CNN.

17. Wagner head says group standing down live story June 24, 2023

18. Trump says he expects to be arrested Tuesday as New York law enforcement prepares for possible indictment March 18, 2023

19. At least 16 people dead, sources say, as a person of interest is being sought in two shootings in Lewiston, Maine October 25, 2023

20. Hamas terror attacks live story October 7, 2023

21. 6-year-old shoots teacher January 7, 2023

22. Maine shootings investigations live story October 27, 2023

23. Israel-Hamas war live story October 9, 2023

24. Lisa-Marie Presley death January 12, 2023

25. McCarthy behind move to kick Pelosi out of her office, sources say - so he can move into it October 3, 2023

26. Israel-Hamas war live story October 8, 2023

27. Maui wildfires live story August 9, 2023

28. Titanic-bound submersible suffered catastrophic implosion June 22, 2023

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29. Chinese spy balloon live story February 4, 2023

30. 9-year-old daughter missing on camping trip October 2, 2023

31. Trump New York arraignment live story April 4, 2023

32. Tucker Carlson out at Fox News April 24, 2023

33. Titanic submersible live story June 20, 2023

34. Dalai Lama apologizes after video asking child to suck his tongue sparks outcry April 11, 2023

35. Officials release violent video of Tyre Nichols arrest live story January 27, 2023

36. Chinese zoo sun bears viral controversy August 1, 2023

37. GOP deadlocked over House speaker vote live story January 4, 2023

38. Los Angeles mass shooting live story January 22, 2023

39. Israel-Hamas war live story October 10, 2023

40. Italys other leaning tower on high alert for collapse December 4, 2023

41. Exclusive: Georgia prosecutors have messages showing Trumps team is behind voting system breach August 13, 2023

42. Jeremy Renner shares first photo since snow plowing accident January 3, 2023

43. Nashville private school shooting suspect had maps of building and scouted possible second attack location, police say March 27, 2023

44. Trump indictment live story March 30, 2023

45. Total miscalculation: China goes into crisis management mode on balloon fallout February 6, 2023

A U.S. Air Force U-2 pilot observed the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon hovering over the central continental United States on February 3, 2023, before it was later shot down by the Air Force off the coast of South Carolina. (Image: U.S. Air Force/Department of Defense/Handout/Reuters)

46. How much should you wash these items February 2, 2023

47. Exclusive: John Kelly goes on the record to confirm several disturbing stories about Trump October 2, 2023

48. GOP deadlocked over House speakership vote live story January 5, 2023

49. Tropical story Idalia August 30, 2023

50. Ireland is offering a $90,000 incentive to relocate to a stunning island home on June 17, 2023.

51. Two brothers from Florida operated one of the biggest opioid pill mills in US history, which the FBI has connected to thousands of deaths on February 2, 2023.

52. Missing Titanic submersible live story June 23, 2023

53. Video shows Tyre Nichols calling for his mother, beaten by officers now charged in his death January 27, 2023

54. Japan zoo gibbon pregnancy mystery February 9, 2023

55. Israel-Hamas war live story October 12, 2023

56. Alabama mass shooting April 16, 2023

57. McCarthy ousted as Speaker of the House live story October 3, 2023

58. Pentagon tracking suspected Chinese spy balloon over the US February 2, 2023

59. Matthew Perry cause of death investigation October 29, 2023

60. Nikki Haley calls for changing retirement age for Americans who are now in their 20s March 9, 2023

61. Turkey earthquake live story February 6, 2023

62. Two US citizens kidnapped and found dead in Mexico March 7, 2023

63. Pennsylvania inmate search September 13, 2023

64. Live Update on Damar Hamlin's Story - January 5, 2023

65. FDA vaccine advisors express disappointment and anger over the absence of early data on the new Covid-19 booster shot for review last year - January 11, 2023

66. Vampire straw confiscated from traveler at Boston airport April 30, 2023

67. Trumps surrender in the Georgia 2020 election subversion case live story August 24, 2023

68. Tropical Storm Hilary batters California August 20, 2023

69. Israel-Hamas war live story October 11, 2023

70. US jet shoots down unidentified object over northern Canada February 11, 2023

71. Tropical Storm Hilary live story August 20, 2023

72. Israel-Hamas war live story October 13, 2023

73. Earths inner core may have stopped turning January 25, 2023

74. Bowling Green college basketball player struck in handshake line following win March 24, 2023

75. Hurricane Idalia live story August 30, 2023

76. Thai bungee jumping accident video March 23, 2023

77. Joran van der Sloot Natalee Holloway plea October 18, 2023

78. Hurricane Hilary forecast August 18, 2023

79. Hurricane Idalia forecast August 29, 2023

The Steinhatchee marina in Florida is surrounded by flood waters on August 30, 2023, following the landfall of Hurricane Idalia. The powerful Category 3 hurricane struck the northwest coast of Florida.

Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images

80. Idaho suspect in student murders thoroughly cleaned vehicle January 6, 2023

81. Government shutdown deadline live story September 30, 2023

82. New Congress and House Speaker vote live story January 3, 2023

83. Takeaways from the first Republican primary debate August 23, 2023

84. Presumed human remains found in wreckage of doomed Titan submersible June 28, 2023

85. A US federal agency is considering a ban on gas stoves January 9, 2023

86. 619-pound blue marlin disqualified in fishing competition June 19, 2023

87. Prosecutors in Trump classified documents case suspect foul play in Mar-a-Lago pool flood on June 5, 2023.

88. Influencer's death follows live-stream of himself consuming multiple bottles of Chinese spirit Baijiu on May 27, 2023.

89. Bison calf euthanized after tourist encounter in Yellowstone May 31, 2023

90. Fox News sudden firing of Tucker Carlson may have come down to one simple calculation April 25, 2023

91. Police report that the Covenant School shooter, who hid guns at home, was receiving treatment for an emotional disorder on March 28, 2023.

92. Here's what we have learned about the mysterious object that was shot down over Alaska on February 11, 2023.

93. Louisville, Kentucky bank shooting live story April 10, 2023

94. Bear walks out of ocean onto crowded Florida beach June 11, 2023

95. Donald Trump has been indicted following an investigation into a hush money payment scheme. Heres what we know March 30, 2023

96. Tropical storm Idalia forecast August 28, 2023

97. Idalia live story August 29, 2023

98. White hydrogen discovery October 29, 2023

99. Alabama woman reported missing after sighting toddler on interstate found safe at home, according to police on July 16, 2023.

100. Exclusive: Recording captures Trump discussing classified document he retained upon leaving the White House on May 31, 2023.