Naked statues, don't say Disney, loofah lunacy: top Palm Beach Post opinion reads of 2023

Responsible news organizations approach their work with a sense of mission. That derives from an understanding that in a democracy, the public cannot set the nation’s course without information on which to base their life decisions and votes.

But in the real world people’s interests are broader than that, and to hew just to the democratic mission on The Palm Beach Post Opinion pages would put people to sleep and help put the news media out of business. That’s especially true in this day and age, when it’s so easy to switch apps or websites. A news organization more than ever must balance offerings to engage readers with not just what an editor thinks people should know but what they want to read.

As this year nears its end, The Post Editorial Board has chosen to share metrics of what readers of our editorials, opinion columns and op-ed pieces clicked on in 2023, so you can see where their interests lie. The results might surprise you.

Our top Opinion piece had nothing to do with politics, murder or mayhem. By far the most-read was Post columnist Frank Cerabino’s piece about rumors of a loofah craze among residents of The Villages in Central Florida.

Generally, we’re satisfied if a story generates 1,000 reader page views. As of this writing, "Loofah code" at Florida's largest retirement community more about confused than enthused has generated more than 174,000.

First published way back on Feb. 12, it continues to generate more than 300 page views a day.

The column centered around rumors that in "Florida's Friendliest Hometown,” retirees were adorning golf carts with color-coded loofahs to signal their amorous preferences.

Frank made clear that the rumors weren’t true, but that didn’t matter to readers.

Coming in second was another Cerabino column, “Vendetta off the rails? Gov. DeSantis protects Floridians from Disney monorail.” Florida GOP lawmakers had put forth a bill to subject the iconic monorail to government inspections that Disney had performed itself without incident for decades. This, as bald revenge for Disney’s opposition to DeSantis’ so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law. That column drew 139,500 page views.

A couple of other Cerabino columns also topped the charts.

"Disney on thin ice: Suggestions for 'fixing' Disney movies after DeSantis' takeover,” drew 79,100 hits, in suggesting ways to ‘un-woken’ classic Disney movies.

A piece with an angrier tone, “Gov. DeSantis puts crooked stamp on higher-ed in Florida with New College president pick,” graduated with 37,500 page views.

Frank tackled a cultural classic and got 30,000 views out of “Ban Michelangelo for being 'woke'? A Florida principal was ousted over GOAT's nude statue of David.” 

“State lawmakers need to start drafting a 'Don’t Say Michelangelo' bill,” Cerabino quipped.

Readers also showed a taste for locally written op-ed pieces, on such topics as permitless carry gun regulations; or, the actions of property insurance adjusters; and to Letters to the Editor, as with "Ashley Moody thinks you're an idiot," on the Florida attorney general’s opposition to abortion rights.

They looked to Florida Atlantic University political science professor Kevin Wagner’s Civics Project columns for answers to questions about how government works. The most popular of these columns (29,200 page views and climbing) was on whether former President Barack Obama could now run for vice president (he can’t); and another on whether a presidential candidate can have a vice presidential candidate from the same state (he or she can).

Our best-read editorial congratulated FAU’s basketball team on their 2023 March Madness victories (8,800 page views). But also drawing thousands of readers were those on social and political themes, as we took Tallahassee and its controlling Republican majority to task for regressive laws and policies.

Our top editorials hammered DeSantis’ dismantling of gun control, abortion rights and fair election provisions; and on his signing controversial bills behind closed doors; urged GOP candidates to reclaim the honest values on which their party once stood; and argued against those reluctant to face the ugly realities of Florida’s racial history.

Our editorials often navigate troubling topics but we are not aloof, as it were, to the broad variety of reader interests.

We well know that if we’re to touch a broad spectrum of Post Opinion readers, we must do so where they are both politically and culturally; then be open-minded enough to listen when they disagree.

In other words, we’ll be there with more hard-hitting editorials, op-eds and columns in 2024, especially as election season approaches. But if it’s loofah columns you want, too, well, you scratch our back, we’ll scratch yours.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Top opinion columns of 2023; how we engaged Palm Beach Post readers