I'm digging into stats for some research, and decided to compile the five most community popular diaries on the site, per Google Analytics, between January 1 of this year and today.
1. Global Food Disparity: A Photo Diary, by Asinus Asinum Fricat. 388,054 pageviews
This diary is from 2008, but it's a pretty fantastic one that keeps making the rounds on the social networks. If you want your stuff to live on forever, don't ignore those (Reddit, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Fark, Digg, etc). And seriously, if you haven't read it, there's a reason it's had such a long life (probably over 1 million views in its lifetime).
2. An open letter to the people who hate Obama more than they love America, by MinistryOfTruth. 317,912 pageviews.
This piece was written in January and made quite a splash. But it was picked up again by the social networks earlier this week and spread like wildflower. It has over 400,000 shares.
3. Planned Parenthood Firebombed in Wisconsin, by tundraman. 204,567 pageviews
Tundraman sort of broke this news -- spreading the word just as soon as this user received it in the newsroom he or she worked at. Being first out of the gate delivered over 100,000 shares and wide readership.
4. I just Paid for Dick Cheney's New Heart, Now Who Will Pay for My Daughter's? by Nancy Meyer. 172,130 pageviews.
With 17,000 social media shares, this one seems to have generated most of its attention internally on the site. The combination of provocative title and heart-wrenching personal story was irresistible for the community.
5. PRICELESS: Colbert Rips David Koch to His Face at TIME Magazine Gala, by The Troubadour. 132,388 pageviews.
Who doesn't love a good Stepehen Colbert bit? 178,000 people shared that diary.