Oil, earthquakes, education, historical anniversaries, and tragedy dominated Oklahoma’s news cycle this year. From the University of Oklahoma fraternity racist chant controversy that made international news in March, to our annual bouts of severe weather that ranged from early spring to the end of the year, there was no shortage of stories for KGOU to tell in 2015.
KGOU.org had more than 729,000 page views this year, and as 2015 draws to a close, we’re looking back at the 10 most-viewed web stories, along with listener and reader comments from our website and Facebook page for each.
1. Oklahoma Oil Executive Told OU Dean He Wanted Earthquake Scientists Fired
Reader Andrea Agee wrote: “I wish the media would differentiate between the actual fracking and wastewater injection wells. It's the injection wells causing the problems, not the actual fracking. It's an important distinction because the solution lies with dealing with wastewater, rather than the breaking up of deep rock formations.”
Digital reporter Joe Wertz has been following the link between seismic activity and the oil industry since the inception of the StateImpact Oklahoma project, and explains the difference:
2. Oklahoma Schools Condensing Schedule To Save Money, Attract Teachers
Reader MaryLynne Gernand Cooper wrote: “Many students miss a lot of days due to school sanctioned activities in the spring such as track, band, etc. and some people miss a day due to illness. That leaves them 3 days a week to make up that work. I just don't see how they can cram one full day of work into 4 extra hours a day. There are also things being taught such as how to show up for work 5 days a week which comes in handy later if they want to be employed. I say the state should come up with the money to pay the teachers and fund the education rather than looking for shortcuts such as shorter weeks and bringing in teachers from Puerto Rico.”
3. ‘Pride Of The Plains’: National Geographic Calls Oklahoma City ‘Best Trip’ Of 2015
Reader Jean Farquhar Hubinger wrote: “I agree Oklahoma City has improved a great deal since my arrival In 1970, but maybe some of the visitors should wait until the road work is done.”
We actually published this story in 2014, but it was still our third-most-viewed story in 2015, and routinely showed up among the top daily-viewed posts over the past year.
4. Oklahoma State University’s 1977 Homecoming Also Marred By Tragedy
Reader William Elliott wrote: “Cowboy Curse.”
Oklahomans were shocked by the Oct. 24 vehicle crash into the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade that killed four people and injured dozens more. It’s not the first time OSU has experienced a catastrophic loss during its homecoming parade, and Leslie Corbly looked back at a similar incident 38 years ago.
5. Losing Little Dixie: How Decades Of Democratic Dominance Came To An End In Southeast Oklahoma
Reader David Demko wrote: “Well-done story with a very good historical perspective.”
As part of his master’s thesis in the University of Oklahoma’s journalism college, StateImpact Oklahoma’s Logan Layden produced an hour-long documentary about the history of the Democratic Party in southeast Oklahoma. It also generated discussion in the Oklahoma subreddit.
6. The ‘Other’ Parker Rice: How The OU Scandal Trapped A Student With The Same Name
Reader Daphne Thompson wrote: “Poor guy. That would really suck!”
This story came to us from our colleagues south of the Red River at KERA, the public radio station serving North Texas. Reporter Doualy Xaykaothao (the former NPR East Asia correspondent who’s now at Minnesota Public Radio) talked with a Norman native and Oklahoma State University Student who shared a name with the student at the center of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity scandal (more on that below).
7. Historian Beeta Baghoolizadeh Sheds Light On Iran’s Unique, But Forgotten, History Of Slavery
Reader Dariush Borbor wrote: “Most of the slaves that Ms. Baghoulizadeh [sic] talks about were black Africans and were often termed as kaka-siah and they were treated as family members -- I have actually seen them with my own eyes in my youth in various Iranian households. They acted generally as domestic helpers and they were not bartered, they chose the household they worked in in their free will.”
8. University Of Oklahoma Community Protests, Fraternity To Close Over Racist Video
Reader Suelen Grant wrote: “Who is surprised? If you are from or live anywhere in Oklahoma, you know all about racism. Thank God not everyone has this crude mentality, but for those who do...I pity you!”
Our first-day ongoing coverage of the University of Oklahoma racist chant video, and the first major story for our news director Jacob McCleland, who started working at KGOU just six days earlier.
9. Oklahoma City Sports Broadcaster Bob Barry, Jr. Dies In Motorcycle Accident
Reader Sharon Keechi-Ahpeahtone wrote: “Prayers n blessings to his wife and family. May God help them thru this great loss. Sad day.”
10. That April Morning: The Oklahoma City Bombing
Reader Ashley Parks wrote: “It was beautifully produced and very moving. Thank you for making this, KGOU and KOSU.”
KGOU partnered with KOSU to produce this hour-long documentary telling the first-person stories of April 19, 1995. It was just one project in our ongoing coverage marking 20 years since the tragedy.
Those were the 10 most-viewed stories in 2015, but we also covered the death penalty, the continually delayed execution of Richard Glossip, and many of the ensuing corrections and prison issues.
President Obama visited Oklahoma in July, and presidential candidates from both parties hoping to succeed him also swung through the Sooner State this fall. As we do every spring, we covered severe weather, and have been following the response and recovery due to snow and ice storms in November and December.
So what’s in store for 2016? Lawmakers return to the state Capitol February 1, and we’ll have many stories about the impact of the $900 million state budget gap through the legislative session. Severe weather is always a possibility, and our we’ll be working with our StateImpact and Oklahoma Public Media Exchange colleagues to bring you stories of energy, environment, and education throughout the coming year.
KGOU is a community-supported news organization and relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online, or by contacting our Membership department.
