We reported. You read.

Before the times of the internet, it was nearly impossible to determine how many people read a specific story. They simply "took the paper." Focus groups, reader feedback and general community knowledge were the only ways to gauge how a story landed.

Now, not to sound creepy, but we know what you're reading. Now, rather than reporting on topics journalists deem important, we are able to listen to you. Because we're here for you, so shouldn't we at least listen to what you want to read about?

We still report on what we feel is important to the vibrancy of local democracy and to keeping you up to date on what's happening around you, but we also can make sure we focus on the topics, geographic areas and updates you tell us you find important based on how much our readers engage with certain stories.

I pulled the top 10 most read articles from our website for 2024, and the variety in their topics both surprised and impressed me. Some of it is fun, some informative. It's a mix of stories about culture, growth and development, food and restaurants, events, youth and how we live our lives. It makes me proud to be a part of this community, to help bring information to the many communities that make up Baldwin County.

People say news is dead. You all prove every day that's not the case. There will never stop being news, but the form and delivery of it may change. We're here to evolve with you, to provide you a printed newspaper if that's what you want or articles at the click of a button.

What's a topic or story you particularly enjoyed or appreciated in 2024? What would you like to see more of? Email me at kayla@gulfcoastmedia.com.

1. MORGAN FREEMAN SPOTTED AT ORANGE BEACH SPEAKEASY

Our most clicked on article this year was less in the realm of what we call "hard news" and more in the culture beat. We believe both are important to sustain a good quality of life by being informed and also feeling connected to your community.

A girls' night at the speakeasy in The Wharf, 8 Reale OBAL, turned into a viral photo across all our platforms when a group of locals spotted Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, who is known to spend time on the Gulf Coast and has a beach house.

In recent years, Freeman has voiced support for local police agencies, including standing as a member of a Gulf Shores police panel that was tasked with screening recruits.

The women who met and got a photo with Freeman that night in April are actually friends of mine, and, of course after getting their approval to post it, the community response was overwhelmingly positive and excited. My friends said Freeman was nice, welcoming to conversation and not at all bothered by taking a photo. It may have been the most-read story for GCM, but it was also a highlight of the year for those who were there.

2. PAULA DEEN'S CLOSES IN OWA

Restaurants come and go. It's the nature of living in a growing tourist destination with access to new people, cuisines and preferences. The beginning of the year, however, brought the sudden closure of what was becoming to be known as a staple in Foley's Downtown OWA, and our readers ate it up.

Paula Deen's Family Kitchen closed abruptly Jan. 3 after four years. The restaurant, which could seat up to 290 guests, had about 40 employees. It struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic and hosted Deen for a book signing in April 2022. It was her first visit since the pandemic. Her most recent visit occurred in April 2023.

3. SAND IN MY BOOTS LINEUP RELEASED

The 15th year of Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores will come with a different type of lineup and even a different name, all featuring one of country music's brightest-shining stars.

Morgan Wallen is curating Sand in My Boots music festival in May, with both the announcement and lineup release articles in October being among the most read stories of the year for GCM. Topping the two was the lineup announcement, which revealed headliners Post Malone, Brooks & Dunn, Hardy and Wallen himself.

This 15th anniversary rendition of Hangout with a new name is lighter on pop, rock and electronic music and heavier on country and rap artists.

A few days later, tickets sold out in two hours of being open to the public after a 24-hour locals presale based on resident zip codes.

4. FAIRHOPE SENIOR PRANK GOES TOO FAR

Readers were interested in our reporting on Fairhope High School seniors' prank in spring 2024 that Principal John Cardwell said "went beyond a prank and turned into vandalism." There were concerns and rumors of students not being able to walk for graduation or expulsion, but no such disciplinary action was taken.

Later reporting revealed about 180 seniors participated in the prank that involved putting peanut butter in the classroom of a teacher who has a peanut allergy, destroying books, spraying silly string, setting hundreds of crickets loose, flooding bathrooms and placing sardines throughout the school.

Seniors who participated, and even many who didn't, spent hours cleaning the school, avoiding an estimated $25,000 to hire a professional cleaning company.

5. 68 VENTURES PROPOSES MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE DOWNTOWN FAIRHOPE

A planning commission meeting in April spotlighted readers' interest in a proposed village-style mixed-use development proposed just outside of downtown Fairhope.

Village Park would be a mix of commercial, residential and green-space on 76 acres between Fairhope Avenue and Gayfer Road Extension and Highway 181. The property, bought by a subsidiary of 68 Ventures, a group that has led development projects throughout Baldwin County, has the project backing of U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, who purchased $33,000 in stock in 68V 181-Fairhope Avenue 2023 LLC the day before the warranty deed was notarized.

The proposed Park Village development is designed to have a village feel with a 1-acre event lawn with a band shell and central business district with shops and restaurants and a four-story hotel with short-term stay residences. Along with tree-lined sidewalks, trails and amenities, the village will include two large ponds.

6. DRAGONFLY FOODBAR RELOCATING

After 13 years of serving fusion food, cocktails and vibes in downtown Fairhope, Dragonfly Foodbar owners announced in February they were moving the restaurant 1.7 miles south to the former Ahi Seafood Market, 18874 Section St.

After being priced out because of rising rent, Doug Kerr said the change "has been a blessing in disguise." The new location offers more parking and the ability to cater events.

7. FOLEY RESTAURATEUR WARNER SHIFTS TO SMASH

One of the hottest new additions to Baldwin County's dining scene came this year in the form of thin patties, globs of cheese and just. So. Many. Onions.

GCM revealed in March that Alex Warner, who helped bring Bagel Boy to fruition, was set to open a new venture called Cheeseburger Randy's, a simple menu with big flavor that would focus on smashburgers and sides at 209 S. Alston St.

Warner teamed up with a new business partner in Marcus Owens, whom he met working in restaurants in Denver, Colorado.

This initial article made the most-read list overall, while later reporting in 2024 detailed the business separation between Warner and Ben Simmons in June (Simmons maintains his leadership with Bagel Boy) and the official opening of Cheeseburger Randy's in October.

8. ELECTION 2024 COVERAGE: LOCAL AND STATE AMENDMENTS

This article detailed information for voters about the amendments they'd see on their ballots ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

Baldwin County voters cast their ballots on three local amendments and one statewide amendment. Each local question was poised to create landmark districts and establish boundaries that would shield the land within them from potential annexation by neighboring cities. The districts impacted Bon Secour, White House Fork and Stapleton. All three passed.

The statewide amendment focused on school lands owned by Franklin County School System and allowed ownership transfer to the Franklin County Board of Education, even though the land itself lies within Fayette and Walker counties, so the board had the power to sell or lease it for revenue generation toward schools. The amendment passed.

9. BEACH RENOURISHMENT

The beginning of the year saw the completion of the first phase of the island's beach renourishment project. The project started in Gulf Shores and moved to Gulf State Park, Orange Beach and Perdido Key and aimed to reverse the effects of years of erosion.

The $17 million project added to and enhanced shorelines, dunes and turtle protections. It was estimated that between 85-95% of the costs would be reimbursed by FEMA and AEMA due to damage caused by Hurricanes Nate and Sally. After reimbursements, the city would owe approximately $6,579,242, which would be funded through the 2% lodging tax instituted to maintain the city's engineered beaches.

Mere weeks after that first phase was completed, severe storms bringing winds over 70 miles per hour caused some damage to the newly renourished shoreline around the 900 and 1400 blocks of West Beach that "washed away several areas of sand." The city had no plans to redo the restoration as it would not be covered by FEMA, but Brandan Franklin, chief building officer for Gulf Shores, told GCM at the time that relief was likely to come naturally with sand redistribution in the spring, which is caused by southeastern winds that push sand back to the shoreline.

10. A WORK OF ART WINS ORANGE BEACH BILLFISH CLASSIC WITH MASSIVE BLUE MARLIN

Fishing will never get old on the Gulf Coast, and this last top story of the year proves the interest in big catches.

The Gulf Coast Triple Crown Big Game Fishing Championship kicked off in May with a 724.8-pound, 110-inch bluefin tuna reeled in by Orange Beach locals A Work of Art, but it was their 397.8-pound, 111-inch blue marlin that secured their tourney title.

Their tuna was only 100 pounds from the state record caught in 2006, while the blue marlin record was set last year at 1,145 pounds.

Owner Art Favre, who also owns The Wharf, where weigh-in takes place in the center of Marlin Circle, flames alight, is no stranger to the Happy Gilmore check after A Work of Art became the first repeat winner of the Blue Marlin Grand Championship in 2023. They also won the inaugural blue marlin tourney in 2012.