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Journalism.co.uk has compiled a list of the most tweeted news stories published by five UK news sites in 2012.

A post from the Telegraph blog – about Julian Assange and the "diplomatic stand-off between the British and the Ecuadoreans" – was the most tweeted story of the year with more than 230,000 tweets.

We analysed BBC News, the Guardian, Independent, Mail Online and the Telegraph using SEO and social data tool Searchmetrics. The downloaded data is at this link.


Top 10 Twitter news stories of 2012


1. Telegraph - Julian Assange: where is Australia in all this? = 232,441

2. Telegraph - Beijing hints at bond attack on Japan = 124,822

3. Mail Online - Revealed: Chelsea approached Guardiola a MONTH ago as Abramovich seduces the man who made Messi = 113,184

4. BBC News - Aurora shooting: Obama says all US stands with victims = 112,624

5. BBC News - Sesame Street urges Obama campaign to drop Big Bird ad = 100,958

6. BBC News - EU summit: Merkel agenda for euro reform riles France = 100,894

7. BBC News - Abu Hamza due in US court following extradition = 100,804

8. BBC News - Obama and Romney clash in spiky debate = 100,753

9. Independent - IoS investigation: Britain's record on rape shows shocking new failures = 99,697

10. Telegraph - Two British soldiers lured to deaths by Afghan 'policeman' who feigned injury = 97,869

Top five Twitter news stories by outlet


BBC News

1. Aurora shooting: Obama says all US stands with victims = 112,624

2. Sesame Street urges Obama campaign to drop Big Bird ad = 100,958

3. EU summit: Merkel agenda for euro reform riles France = 100,894

4. Abu Hamza due in US court following extradition = 100,804

5. Obama and Romney clash in spiky debate = 100,753

Guardian

1. London 2012: Britain's super medal haul fills Olympic Stadium with cheer = 24,019

2. I'll be back, vows Venus Williams after shock Wimbledon defeat = 23,371

3. Top five regrets of the dying = 12,195

4. Clashes in West Bank as anger over Gaza is directed at Mahmoud Abbas = 12,021

5. Unemployed bussed in to steward river pageant = 7,905

Independent

1. IoS investigation: Britain's record on rape shows shocking new failures = 99,697

2. Special report: Super-strength lager 'causing more harm than crack or heroin' = 69,456

3. Exclusive: Pioneering scientists turn fresh air into petrol in massive boost in fight against energy crisis = 45,737

4. Glastonbury 2013 sells out in just one hour and 40 minutes = 15,674

5. Revealed: inside story of US envoy's assassination = 9,136

Mail Online

1. Revealed: Chelsea approached Guardiola a MONTH ago as Abramovich seduces the man who made Messi = 113,184

2. Aston Villa 1 Reading 0: Who needs Bent when you've got Benteke? Big Belgian saves the day for Lambert = 69,456

3. 'Tree rage of hot tub bather': Businessman 'paid for neighbour's protected pine to be felled so he could enjoy stunning view' = 33,535

4. MINUS 20C? Britain faces coldest winter for 100 years as Big Freeze follows floods with wind so strong it blows water upwards = 22,424

5. So where WAS the wettest place in Britain? Rainfall map captures the incredible amount of water dumped on UK as 500 flood alerts are issued = 17,126

Telegraph

1. Julian Assange: where is Australia in all this? = 232,441

2. Beijing hints at bond attack on Japan = 124,822

3. Two British soldiers lured to deaths by Afghan 'policeman' who feigned injury = 97,869

4. Gen John Allen investigated for 'inappropriate communications' to Jill Kelley = 64,380

5. British engineers produce amazing 'petrol from air' technology (interactive) = 48,970

The data – which can be explored at this link – was downloaded from Searchmetrics on 17 December. See also the list of top 10 Twitter news stories of 2011.
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