attention drivers: # 1: Top Ranked Stories

Canadians, perhaps shocked by headlines about their southern neighbor, are rubbing their eyes this morning as they try to make sense of this article - now the 'most read' article in the Globe and Mail. Palin's announcement that she may run against Obama isn't the only Palin news piece attracting attention. Her daughter's bigoted remarks on twitter have also landed in the Washington Post's 'most read' spot. And other articles on Palin, while not yet number one, are among some of the top five 'most read' articles in papers across the world.

Is the Palin effect analogous to why so many drivers slow down to stare at an accident scene? Or is there something else driving people's attention to the coverage on Palin? Let us know with a comment below.

Each morning we attempt to understand what drives people's curiosity and attention. This segment uses the simple metric of 'most viewed articles' - a feature on the home-pages of many newspapers. We examine newspapers from across the English speaking world.

If you have an answer to the questions - what drives people's attention? And - should we be attending to something else? If so - how? - then please comment below.

Times of India

Toll In Delhi Building Collapse Mounts To 66

New York Times

China's Censorship Backfires In 'Li Gang' Case

Sydney Morning Herald

Girl

De Rossi Accused Of Sexism After 'Refusing' Male Interview

The Guardian

Liverpool Rage Over 'Amateurish' FA's Role In Steven Gerrard's Injury

The Hill

Boehner Favored As 61st House Speaker On His 61st Birthday

The Globe and Mail