Deakin’s most-read Conversation articles of all time

The following post appeared first in Network, Deakin’s staff magazine –

By Elise Snashall-Woodhams

Since Deakin came onboard as a founding supporter of The Conversation 10 years ago, hundreds of Deakin academics have authored articles for the news outlet that have spread around the world.

But which of these has gone the most viral?

Here are the top 10 most-read Deakin stories of all time (Deakin authors are marked with an asterisk (*) where the article was a joint effort).​​​​​​​

If you’re an academic staff member or PhD student who wants to know more about The Conversation and get tips for writing an article of your own, Deakin will be hosting a special online Editor Talk on Monday 3 July, 12-1pm. See below for more details.
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And if you’re interested in other opportunities to build your media communication skills, visit our Deakin Hub page to register for some of our other upcoming workshops, including an Introductory Media Training webinar on Friday 23 June, 12-1pm.

 

No. 1: No, you’re not entitled to your opinion (2,835,469 reads)
Patrick Stokes
Every year, I try to do at least two things with my students at least once. First, I make a point of addressing them as “philosophers” – a bit cheesy, but hopefully it encourages active learning. Secondly…
No. 2: Do I have to drink eight glasses of water per day? We asked five experts (1,196,719 reads)
Jon Bartlett, *Karen Dwyer, Michael Tam, Toby Mandel, and Vincent Ho
We’ve all heard we should drink eight glasses of water per day, but where did that advice come from, and is it outdated?
No. 3: Mind the gap – does age difference in relationships matter? (1,130,273 reads)
Gery Karantzas
An overwhelming majority of couples share similar ages. But some eschew the norm, and they may even have a better relationship.
No. 4: Why is the Confederate flag so offensive? (1,121,274 reads)
Clare Corbould
Flying the distinctive Confederate flag stokes strong reactions — as Australian soldiers are discovering.
No. 5: Health Check: here’s what you need to know about protein supplements (707,499 reads)
Tim Crowe
The decision to use protein supplements is based more on marketing claims than anything else. They offer few real performance benefits that an athlete’s normal diet isn’t already delivering.

No. 6: No, you’re not ‘hardwired’ to stare at women’s breasts (681,268 reads)

Michelle Smith
What is often overlooked in discussions about the sexual appeal of breasts is that they have not always been regarded as irresistibly attractive in all points in history and across all cultures.
No. 7: What is love? (577,148 reads)
Gery Karantzas
Many people experience love differently. But regardless of the differences in how it’s experienced and how it changes over time, humans are social creatures who are deeply fascinated by it. 
No. 8: It’s not just sex: why people have affairs, and how to deal with them (557,706 reads)
Gery Karantzas
An affair is generally a sign things aren’t right with someone’s relationship. It occurs when one person sees an alternative relationship as a better way to meet their needs than their existing one.
No. 9: Is walking enough exercise? We asked five experts (551,931 reads)
Carol Maher, *Jackson Fyfe, Julie Netto, Kevin Netto, and Tim Olds
Four out of five experts say walking is enough exercise.
No. 10: COVID will soon be endemic. This doesn’t mean it’s harmless or we give up, just that it’s part of life (494,957 reads)
Hassan Vally and Catherine Bennett 
Endemic doesn’t mean we drop our guard, surrender to the virus or downgrade the threat the virus poses to individuals and the community.

 

Looking at those with the largest readership (there are 91 Deakin authored articles with more than 100,000 views), most showcase Deakin researchers’ expertise on topical and interesting themes. Fewer are about specific pieces of new research.

But all show the wealth of knowledge housed within our University and the vast public appetite for evidence-based explainers.

If you’re an academic staff member or PhD student who wants to know more about The Conversation and get tips for writing an article of your own, Deakin will be hosting a special online Editor Talk on Monday 3 July, 12-1pm.

The Conversation’s Senior Editor Sunanda Creagh will cover the following topics, with reflections from one of Deakin’s regular academic contributors.

  • the benefits of writing for The Conversation
  • what sort of ideas the editors are seeking
  • how to pitch an idea
  • how editors decide what pitches to accept
  • what happens if you get accepted/rejected
  • how to write for The Conversation’s non-academic readership

Register to come along if you want to crack Deakin’s most-read stories!

 



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