2024 in Politics: Defining Moments, Global Crises, and Shifting Power
20. December 2024In one of the final parts of our 2024 Year in Review series, we turn our focus to politics. If there’s one word to describe 2024’s political landscape, it’s eventful. From historic elections and leadership shake-ups to wars and diplomatic stand-offs, this year was packed with headline-grabbing moments. But which political events and figures truly defined the narrative? And which publishers emerged as leaders in mobile visibility in this high-stakes category?
To answer these and more questions, we turned to Trisolute News Dashboard data for Germany, the U.K., and the U.S. To ensure a consistent analysis across these three countries, we used the following filter settings:
- Mobile Visibility Overall
- Date range: 01/01/2024–11/30/2024
- Top 10 competitors
- All 10 ranking types: News Box (Headline, Text, Carousel), Video Box, Publisher Carousel, Other Carousel, Web Story, Featured Snippet, Visual Digest, Organic
- Individual keyword set sourced from Google News Topics and Google Trends
- Categories: While Google News does not have a specific “Politics” section, there were still some interesting insights to be taken from the combined categories “World” and “Country-specific news” (Germany, United Kingdom, and U.S.). For improved readability, the combination of these categories will simply be referred to as Politics in this article.
We’ll start by highlighting the 10 most-ranked keywords in the Politics category to identify the key political moments and figures that shaped 2024 in each country. We’ll then analyze the top 10 publishers in these categories and explore their mobile visibility trends over the year.
Germany
Let’s kick off our political analysis by taking a closer look at Germany’s most defining moments of 2024. As one of Europe’s most influential countries, Germany’s political landscape not only shapes its national policies but also impacts broader European and global affairs, and this year was no different.
To get a clearer picture of the year’s key topics in politics, we analyzed the top 10 most-ranked keywords in the Politics category. These keywords represent the events, figures, and movements that captured public attention and dominated political discourse. As a reminder, “most-ranked keywords” refers to the keywords that appeared most frequently in search engine results pages (SERPs) and maintained the longest visibility periods on Google News and Google Trends.
Top keywords: International politics gain most rankings
- trump
- russland
- israel
- putin
- afd
- scholz
- berlin
- eu
- usa
- iran
The top 10 keywords in Germany’s Politics category for 2024 reveal a strong emphasis on international politics and political figures. While domestic topics (‘afd’, ‘berlin’) and political figures (‘scholz’) are present, the list is dominated by names and topics with global significance, reflecting Germany’s engagement with international affairs.
At the top of the list is ‘trump’, reflecting Germany’s ongoing attention to U.S. politics, especially in the context of the 2024 U.S. elections, where his legal battles and political influence drew continuous coverage. The inclusion of ‘usa’ in 9th place further highlights the sustained media focus on transatlantic developments. Another indication of this international focus is the prominence of keywords related to the ongoing war between Russia and the Ukraine. ‘russland’ (Russia) and ‘putin’ both rank among the top 5 keywords, indicating Germany’s sustained attention to this topic and its geopolitical consequences. Similarly, the keywords ‘israel’ and ‘iran’ point to Germany’s close attention to the Gaza War, which experienced several flashpoints in 2024, including Iran’s involvement leading to missile attacks between them and Israel in early October.
Top publishers: News outlets only
Mobile visibility trends of top publishers in Germany for politics-related topics, January–November 2024
The mobile visibility trends for Germany’s political publishers in 2024 highlight the exceptional performance of the nation’s top outlets. Tagesschau.de stands out as the leading publisher, maintaining the highest visibility throughout most of the year. Its consistent dominance reflects its trusted position as a primary source for political news. SPIEGEL.de follows closely, showing a steady increase in visibility over the months and even taking the top spot in April due to a temporary decline in visibility for Tagesschau. ZEIT.de secures a strong third position, remaining a reliable voice in the political discourse, despite a slight decline in visibility starting in April.
Mid-tier publishers such as WELT.de, FAZ.net, and ZDF.de demonstrate stable performances, underscoring their role as key players in the political news landscape. BILD.de and T-Online.de show more variation in visibility over the year, indicating their ability to respond to event-driven spikes in interest.
A notable exception among these primarily general-interest outlets is FR.de, which stands out as a regional publication achieving remarkable visibility in the politics category. With its strong focus on local perspectives and in-depth political coverage, FR has carved out a significant position alongside larger national and international players, proving its importance in shaping political discourse in Germany.
Overall, the chart demonstrates the great performance of Germany’s leading political publishers. While public broadcasters and major outlets like Tagesschau and SPIEGEL dominate, each publisher in the top 10 contributes significantly to the country’s political coverage, with FR standing as a unique and impressive presence among its larger competitors.
United Kingdom
Turning our attention to the United Kingdom, 2024 was a politically dynamic year that showcased the country’s enduring focus on both domestic and international affairs. As a global player with deep historical and geopolitical connections, the U.K.’s political discourse often extends beyond its borders, and this year was no exception.
To uncover the defining topics in U.K. politics, we analyzed the top 10 most-ranked keywords in the Politics category. These keywords highlight the events, figures, and issues that shaped public interest and media coverage throughout the year. As with Germany, “most-ranked keywords” refers to those that appeared most frequently on search engine results pages (SERPs) and had the longest visibility on Google News and Google Trends.
Top keywords: Gaza War leads the list
- israel
- gaza
- trump
- uk
- russia
- labour
- iran
- police
- election
- putin
The top 10 keywords in the U.K.’s Politics category for 2024 show a mix of domestic and international topics, reflecting the country’s dual focus on local political affairs and global developments. While national issues (‘uk’, ‘labour’, and ‘police’) are prominent, the list is significantly shaped by keywords related to international conflicts and political figures, highlighting the U.K.’s role and interest in global geopolitics.
At the top of the list is ‘israel’, emphasizing the U.K.’s attention to the Gaza War. The focus was shaped by several significant moments in 2024, particularly the violence in Gaza, which is reflected in the second-ranked keyword, ‘gaza’. Coverage intensified during periods of heightened conflict, ceasefire negotiations, and diplomatic interventions. Iran’s involvement in the war is reflected in the inclusion of ‘iran’, further underlining the Middle Eastern focus in U.K. media coverage.
‘trump’ appears prominently in third place, mirroring the U.K.’s continued interest in U.S. politics and the high-profile 2024 U.S. elections. This is complemented by the keyword ‘election’. ‘russia’, reflects sustained attention to the war in Ukraine and its implications for European security. Similarly, ‘putin’ rounds out the list, highlighting the focus on Russia’s leadership and its geopolitical moves.
Domestically, the keyword ‘labour’ signifies the U.K.’s interest in the Labour Party, likely driven by its positioning ahead of a potential general election. Keywords like ‘uk’ and ‘police’ further point to the public’s engagement with national issues, from law enforcement controversies to the broader political climate.
Overall, the list highlights the U.K.’s strong engagement with both domestic and international politics in 2024, underscoring its role as a key player in global affairs while navigating its own political challenges at home.
Top publishers: The Guardian takes the lead
- The Guardian.com
- BBC.co.uk
- Sky.com
- YouTube.com
- Independent.co.uk
- BBC.com
- Al Jazeera.com
- Telegraph.co.uk
- Wikipedia.org
- CNN.com
Mobile visibility trends of top publishers in the U.K. for politics-related topics, January–November 2024
The mobile visibility trends for the U.K.’s top 10 political publishers in 2024 showcase an impressive lineup of media powerhouses that play a critical role in shaping the nation’s political discourse. The Guardian.com emerges as the clear leader, holding the highest visibility throughout the year with only minor fluctuations. This sustained dominance reflects The Guardian’s reputation as a premier source for both domestic and international political coverage.
BBC.co.uk follows closely, securing a strong second place. However, its visibility experiences a noticeable drop in June, coinciding with a rise in visibility for The Guardian. Interestingly, BBC.com, its international counterpart, sees a major surge in visibility starting in May, climbing from 7th position in April to 4th place in August. While BBC.co.uk begins to recover from its decline in September, BBC.com sees a slight decrease during the same period, reflecting a possible rebalancing of visibility between the two platforms.
In the mid-tier of this list, Independent.co.uk and Telegraph.co.uk maintain steady positions, showcasing their ability to stay consistently relevant in a highly competitive space. Their stable presence demonstrates that, despite fluctuations for some of their competitors, these publishers have carved out a loyal audience for their political coverage. Al Jazeera.com also maintains a solid mid-tier position. Unlike its peers, Al Jazeera brings a unique perspective with its extensive Middle Eastern coverage. This approach is particularly relevant in 2024, as topics like the Gaza War and broader Middle Eastern geopolitics were top of mind for audiences.
Lower down the list, YouTube.com, Wikipedia.org, and CNN.com still maintain positions in the highly coveted top 10. YouTube sees a significant rise in visibility during August and September, which could be linked to increased consumption of video-based political content. Wikipedia, while more of a reference source than a news publisher, maintains a stable position on the list, reflecting its role as a go-to resource for political context and background information. CNN, the only U.S.-based publisher on this list, also secures a spot in the top 10, highlighting the global relevance of its political coverage and its resonance with U.K. audiences.
Overall, the chart highlights the exceptional performance of the U.K.’s top 10 political publishers, each of which has proven its ability to capture audience attention in a fiercely competitive category. Established leaders like The Guardian and BBC set the pace, while publishers like Independent and Telegraph demonstrate the strength of consistent, steady visibility. The presence of global players like Al Jazeera and CNN underscores the U.K.’s interest in international perspectives, while platforms like YouTube show the growing demand for video-first political content. Securing a spot in the top 10 for politics coverage in the U.K. is no small achievement, and each of these publishers has proven its influence in shaping the year’s most important political conversations.
United States
As one of the world’s most influential nations, the United States has a political landscape that not only shapes domestic affairs but also reverberates across the globe. In 2024, this dynamic was more apparent than ever, as the country navigated a pivotal election year while remaining deeply engaged in international crises and power struggles.
To uncover the defining topics in U.S. politics, we analyzed the top 10 most-ranked keywords in the Politics category. These keywords highlight the events, figures, and issues that captured public attention and dominated discourse throughout the year. As with Germany and the U.K., “most-ranked keywords” refers to those that appeared most frequently on search engine results pages (SERPs) and maintained consistent visibility on Google News and Google Trends.
Top keywords: New U.S. president dominates the rankings
- trump
- israel
- gaza
- biden
- russia
- iran
- hamas
- china
- netanyahu
- lebanon
The top 10 keywords in the U.S.’s Politics category for 2024 showcase a clear focus on both international crises and domestic political developments. While figures like ‘trump’ and ‘biden’ highlight the prominence of U.S. electoral politics, much of the list reflects America’s engagement with the Middle East and other geopolitical hotspots.
At the top is ‘trump’, underscoring his continued influence on U.S. political discourse during the highly anticipated 2024 elections. His presence is complemented by ‘biden’, whose role as the incumbent president shaped coverage of policy decisions and campaign developments. Together, these keywords encapsulate the intense focus on the electoral race. Kamala Harris, Trump’s political opponent in this year’s presidential election, is not included in the list.
Keywords like ‘israel’, ‘gaza’, and ‘hamas’ reflect significant media attention on the escalating Israel-Palestine conflict. Coverage surged during key moments, such as military operations in Gaza and heightened violence involving Hamas. The inclusion of ‘iran’ and ‘lebanon’ points to the broader regional tensions, particularly Iran’s support for militant groups and Lebanon’s proximity to conflict zones, which made them recurring topics in U.S. reporting.
Beyond the Middle East, ‘china’ appears prominently, reflecting growing concerns over U.S.-China relations, including trade tensions, Taiwan, and global strategic competition. ‘russia’ also features in the list, signaling continued coverage of the Ukraine war and its implications for U.S. foreign policy.
Rounding out the list is ‘netanyahu’, reflecting media focus on the Israeli prime minister’s leadership during a year marked by domestic protests and international challenges.
Overall, the U.S.’s top political keywords for 2024 underline the country’s dual focus on high-stakes domestic elections and its role as a key player in addressing international conflicts and power dynamics.
Top publishers: Local vs. global news outlets
- CNN.com
- NY Times.com
- YouTube.com
- AP News.com
- NBC News.com
- BBC.com
- Washington Post.com
- The Guardian.com
- FOX News.com
- Reuters.com
Mobile visibility trends of top publishers in the U.S. for politics-related topics, January–November 2024
The mobile visibility trends for the U.S.’s top 10 publishers for political coverage in 2024 showcase an elite group of standout performers. These publishers represent the very best in U.S. political reporting, achieving visibility in one of the most competitive media landscapes in the world. CNN.com leads the way, holding the top position throughout most of the year. While NY Times.com closes the gap and briefly claims first place in December, CNN’s sustained presence at the top underscores its enduring influence in the political sphere. Both publishers demonstrate agility in responding to key moments, with CNN experiencing visibility shifts during the pivotal months of May, October, and November — the heart of the U.S. presidential election season. Meanwhile, NY Times rises significantly in visibility during that same period, reflecting its role as a go-to source for election-related coverage and analysis.
YouTube.com claims a prominent position among the top 10, a notable achievement for a video platform that competes directly with traditional publishers. Its rise reflects the growing demand for video-first political content, with only minor fluctuations in August. AP News.com also stands out with an impressive upward trajectory in the first half of 2024, followed by a brief decline beginning in July, which it successfully recovers from by November. This pattern highlights AP’s relevance during key moments, especially in connection to major political events and election-related developments.
Other prominent U.S. staples like NBC News.com, Washington Post.com, and Fox News.com maintain solid mid-tier positions. Their stable performance highlights their role as essential providers of ongoing political coverage. Adding a global dimension to the list, BBC.com and The Guardian.com, two U.K.-based publishers, also achieve top 10 status in the U.S. This underscores their ability to cut through the highly competitive U.S. market, offering international perspectives that clearly resonate with American audiences.
Reuters.com rounds out the top 10, maintaining a stable presence throughout the year. Known for its global reach and fast, fact-based reporting, its inclusion in the top 10 is a testament to the growing demand for international perspectives within U.S. political discourse.
Overall, this chart highlights the power and influence of the U.S.’s top 10 political publishers, each of which plays a vital role in informing the public on critical political issues. From the event-driven spikes seen by AP News and YouTube to the unwavering dominance of CNN and NY Times, the list represents the best of U.S. political media. The presence of U.K.-based publishers like BBC and The Guardian further illustrates the global nature of U.S. political interest and the role of international voices in shaping discourse. Being among the top 10 publishers in this highly competitive space is no small feat — it’s a clear reflection of editorial excellence and the ability to consistently capture audience attention.
Final thoughts
The 2024 political landscape across Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States demonstrates a complex interplay of domestic priorities and global engagement. Each country’s top political keywords reflect its unique context, yet notable overlaps underline shared global concerns and media interests.
One key trend is the prominence of international conflicts, particularly the Gaza War. Keywords like ‘israel’, ‘gaza’, and ‘iran’ appeared in all three countries’ top 10 lists, showcasing a shared focus on this ongoing crisis and its broader geopolitical implications. Russia and its leadership also featured prominently, as ‘russia’ and ‘putin’ consistently ranked high, reflecting the sustained attention to the Ukraine war and its ripple effects across Europe and beyond.
Another shared theme is the focus on the United States, with ‘trump’ appearing in the top keywords for all three countries. The high-profile 2024 U.S. elections clearly captured international interest, highlighting the global significance of U.S. political developments. Additionally, keywords like ‘usa’ in Germany and ‘biden’ in the U.S. point to this.
Domestically, each country showed distinctive priorities. Germany’s list emphasized key national topics like ‘afd’, ‘scholz’, and ‘berlin’, reflecting internal political dynamics. The U.K.’s inclusion of ‘labour’ and ‘police’ signals its focus on party politics and domestic governance. Meanwhile, the U.S. saw intense interest in electoral politics and regional tensions, as seen with keywords like ‘hamas’ and ‘lebanon’.
The analysis of publishers reveals some striking similarities. Established, trusted outlets such as Tagesschau.de in Germany, The Guardian.com in the U.K., and CNN.com in the U.S. dominated visibility across all three countries, underscoring the role of legacy media in shaping political discourse. The video platform YouTube.com appeared in both the U.K. and U.S., reflecting the growing demand for visual content and alternative formats in political coverage.
Overall, 2024 was a year that underscored the interconnected nature of global politics, with shared crises like the Gaza War and Russia’s war in Ukraine bridging national borders. Yet, each country maintained its own distinctive political narrative, shaped by domestic challenges and historical contexts. These insights highlight the value of cross-national comparisons in understanding the broader patterns shaping political media coverage today.
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