2012′s top news story: Obama’s reelection

The end of the year brought a huge share of 2012’s highest-profile news stories.

That’s according to Pew Research Center’s News Interest Index, which found that the top three news stories of 2012 (in terms of how many American followed the story) all took place in the final two months of the year.

Leading the way was November’s presidential election, which was followed closely by 60 percent of Americans.

Coming in at No. 2 was the tragic Dec. 14 shootings at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., which was followed closely by 57 percent of Americans. That story actually ranked first for the year among women.

At No. 3 overall came the news and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which 53 percent of Americans followed closely during the week of Nov. 4.

Other stories in 2012 that at least 40 percent of Americans followed closely included the rising price of gas and oil in March, the Colorado theater shootings in July, the South Carolina healthcare ruling in July, news about the economy in late October, the attack in Libya in September, and the beginning of fiscal cliff negotiations in early December.

For more from Pew on the top news stories of 2012, click here.

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