What is the ‘Deeply read’ list?

What is the ‘Deeply Read’ list?

For years, the Guardian has tracked how readers engage with our journalism. While clicks indicate an article’s popularity, the duration of attention is a better measure of its quality. Traditional “Most viewed” lists, common across many platforms, often overlook insightful pieces on less mainstream subjects.

Our new “Deeply Read” list highlights content that readers spend more time with, showcasing a broader spectrum of journalism. It appears on regional home pages, reflecting the unique interests of each audience. This format ensures a mix of topics, lengths, and formats, making it distinct from conventional rankings.

To power this list, we developed a metric comparing reader engagement time to article length. This approach allows for a diverse range of stories, some of which may not be lengthy. By focusing on attention time, the list aims to surface journalism that resonates beyond surface-level metrics.

We hope this offers you a richer, more varied experience in discovering impactful journalism.