Though we're not yet toasting the first anniversary of southeastern Michigan’s newest local news publication, it's an apt time to look back at eight lively months of news, columns, special reports and other content.   

These rundowns of most-viewed Deadline Detroit articles and highest-impact Facebook page posts show what appeals to readers who want to be well-informed about Metro Detroit -- the wacky as well as the weighty, the past along with the present, and of course people with impact.

Jos Cobb, Ellie Ford
Joseph Cobb and Ellie Ford
Toss in an urban gator newscast video and you've got a slice of what was hot here since our debut April 27. 

Thanks for reading . . . and Happy New Year!

Most Popular Articles

1. Wanted: One Alligator. Last Seen: East Side of Detroit, Near the River, July 17

2. Deadline Detroit Exclusive: Carmen Harlan's Son to Wed Bill Ford's Daughter, May 11 

3. A Lone Drone in Detroit Airspace Sees the City as It Never Has Been Seen, July 19

4. Exclusive: Snyder Plans to Send Bulldozers and Cops to Three Detroit Neighborhoods, July 13

Le Duff
Charlie LeDuff

5. Richard Bernstein, Out of N.Y. Hospital, Is Ready to 'Keep Moving Forward,' Nov. 12

6. Slavery Is Detroit's Big, Bad Secret. Why Don't We Know Anything About It?, Aug. 27

7. Can the Free Press Survive the Mass Exodus of Experience and Talent?, Sept. 12

8. The Man Who Has 150,000 Photos Of Detroit Fires. And He's Not Finished, Dec. 6

9. The Charlie LeDuff Show, Episode One: There's Nothing Crazy About Me,' July 10 

10. An Inside View Of Detroit's Rising Tech Scene, Aug. 29

Most-Seen Facebook Posts 

1. Ex-Husband Posted Resume Documents That Led To Resignation Of U-M Social Media Chief, Dec. 13

2. Ever wonder what the newsroom of a startup online news publication looks like?, Oct. 5 photo post

3. Surprisingly long line to vote at my Royal Oak precinct right now [11:42 a.m.], Nov. 6 post 

4. Detroit City Council approves the Hantz land sale 5-4, Dec. 11 news alert from reporter Jeff Wattrick

5. Regional Transit Authority meeting quote from U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, Oct. 15 post from Jeff Wattrick

6. Fox2's Elrick Continues to Go After Freep Ex-Colleagues Over RTW Hypocrisy, Dec. 17

7. Lyrics from "Rocket Love" by Stevie Wonder (1980), posted "for Jose Valverde" a day after he failed to hold a ninth-inning lead against the Oakland Athletics in the American League division series, Oct. 11. 

8. He's No Dan Gilbert, But He's Helping Turn Midtown Around, Dec. 3

9. JoAnn Watson Goes Viral With Request For Obama Bailout, Dec. 5

10. Celebrate!, Oct. 18 photo (above) posted after Tigers beat Yankees 8-1 for four-game ALCS sweep