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Top 5 in 2009 »

This week the iReport team summed up our favorite iReport moments of 2009. (Read the post here. ) But 2009 was such an incredible year for iReport and citizen journalism, I found it impossible to limit myself to just one. So in the spirit of year-end lists all over the interwebs, here's my personal roundup of favorite iReport moments in the last 365 days, in roughly chronological order:

 

 

 

1. Inauguration Day
We totally expected photos to flood in from the throngs of camera-wielding spectators braving the cold on the National Mall. (We even stitched many of them together in a very cool Photosynth of the day in pictures.) What we didn't expect is that just as many photos would come in of people all over the world posing in front of their living room TVs, as Barack Obama took the oath of office on CNN.

 

 

 

2. Iran election protests
The violence following Iran's presidential election in June was likely the story of the year, and it was brought to the rest of the world mostly by very brave men and women who took cameras into the middle of often dangerous situations, and used sites like iReport to share their footage with the world .

 

 

 

3. Michael Jackson memory book
After Michael Jackson died, iReport filled up fast with sweet and rare snapshots of the King of Pop and the kids he met all over the world, and we built an interactive memory book out of the most interesting stories. What I love about it is that, first, the stories and pictures are dynamite, and second, it's the kind of personal, intimate, pop culture reporting that you really only see here on iReport.

 

 

 

4. Discovering 'balloon boy' dad was an iReporter
Yep. And I totally interviewed him and his wife in 2008 after they posted a scary/fascinating video of a family storm-chasing adventure.

 

 

 

5. Moving into CNN.com
Hands down my favorite moment of the year was around 6 a.m. on Saturday, October 24, bleary eyed and fairly trembling with excitement we officially made iReport part of CNN.com. We threw off our blue banner and joined the world's best site for news and information. It felt like a homecoming , and it's only the beginning. Here's to a chart-topping, world-changing 2010.

 

Posted by: lila // December 30, 2009
Category: stories, site
34 Comments

December 30, 2009

Click to view pjmitchell's profile

haven't we had enough of this child molester jackson??

December 30, 2009

Click to view tooshort's profile

MJ never molested any childern, if u read the flies and all the evidence u will know that 

December 31, 2009

Click to view rajatgarg's profile

Obama's election was definitely a great accomplishment.

 

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December 31, 2009

Click to view tib1234's profile

Haven't we had enough of uninvolved people calling MJ a child molester?

January 1, 2010

Click to view tooshort's profile

@ tib1234

i couldn't agree with you more, a person like MJ was sincere and humble and cared about everyone and it just shows us that we always believe what the media says which is not true all the time and when you read the evidence and go on youtube and look at the accussers from the 1993 trail and the 2005 trail you would know that they only wanted money and was jealous of MJ there were over 80 witnesses like jay leno, george lopez, larry king, and many more celebrities and his friends that knew the accussers and knew they were lying, people are so blind

GOD BLESS

January 2, 2010

Click to view brianjacobs's profile

Unless you were in the bedrooms of Neverland when the wine was administered, you'll never know the real story.

 

He lived a freaky lifestyle, and as a result of this his legacy will always include the "accusations."

 

It's interesting how people will passionately defend him as if he were a close relative. Just enjoy the music. Spending time on message boards trying to control his legacy is futile.

January 2, 2010

Click to view CyrusB's profile

1st. I am not a fan of MJ, but think of this.  He never had a childhood.  Kids were the only people that did not want something from him.  They just wanted to have fun and so did MJ.  All the adults around him were trying to get him to do thing and get money from him.  Kids were the only ones he could trust.

 

2nd - What is the big deal about electing a bi-racial president that turns out to be as inept as those that came before him. 

 

3rd - the balloon boy hoax - where they well pimping out there son to try to get a reality show.

 

I dont know if any of these should make the top 5 - unless it is the top 5 worst things of the year

January 2, 2010

Click to view brianjacobs's profile

The balloon boy stunt showed remarkably poor judgement, but I have no problem with a family that wants to have a reality show.

 

I imagine every reality show exists because someone wanted to have a reality show.

 

My dad liked to hunt. As a result, I had to hunt.

 

When my dad worked on the car, I had to hold the flashlight. Whether I wanted to or not.

 

My mother liked to cook. As a result, my sisters had to cook.

 

The balloon boy parents want a reality show, and they involve their kids in the quest. Sounds like more fun than holding a flashlight while your dad changes out an alternator in the dark.

 

Money was tight and the balloon boy parents took desperate measures. Similar to a desperate man with gambling debt robbing a bank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 2, 2010

Click to view brianjacobs's profile

If the day ever comes when I've solved all of MY own problems, the problems of my friends, and the problems of my family, I'll begin to worry about whether or not Michael Jackson molested small boys, and whether or not the balloon boy parents are criminals.

 

Until then, I'll just read and enjoy. I have a few problems of my own to work on today.

 

Happy New Year!

January 2, 2010

Click to view saftgek's profile

The death of Michael Jackson was unfortunate - end of story. Mr. Jackson was a victim of himself - to be sure. More to the point, he was a victim of his father - a vile, contemptable child abuser. Further, he was a victim of the parasites who were his handlers.

 

Mr. Jackson's last, best work was "She's Out Of My Life." He could have had a musical career the equivalent of Frank Sinatra - as a saloon singer. Rather, he went crazy - thanks to his despicable father and handlers. Mutilating his body with scores of medical procedures, abuse of small children, ad nauseum.

 

I fear we will ever-hear of Mr. Jackson's death as we hear of Elvis Presley's death (arguably one of the most overrated performers of all time).

 

Music "fans" are often a sorry lot, celebrating the outrageous as wonderful. How sad!

January 2, 2010

Click to view Gunot's profile

Obamas election a accomplishment? I voted for him but I have yet to see an accomplishment healthcare, war, tax, trade, outsourcing, jobs ,economy. Thats just the tip of the iceburg. Honestly im done with voting all the canidates can go to hell

January 2, 2010

Click to view DogonTired's profile

Michael Jackson was an entertainer that is all that he owed to us that are outside of his family...He was entitled to his privacy...As private citizen he was accused and had a right to trial, and was acquitted - No more should be said or shall he be judge by hypocritical, judgmental people.

 

Those that are already sizing Obama job, and considering him to be inept - Remember the inept fool that was there before him for 8 years, wreaked havoc on our economy and our way of living - And now what, you obama to resolve 8 years of mess in 1 year - Get real!! - I thought a presidential term was for 4 years - Allow Obama the time to do his job!  If he or any man can resolve this mess with the economy and housing market in 1 year, than I expect this same person to walk on water, and turn the water in my pool to wine.

 

January 2, 2010

Click to view Safer's profile

Michael Jackson had Vitiligo from his early 20s. That is what forced him into a recluse life. That is why he wore mask, gloves, sun glasses and covered up all the time. That is the sole reason for his strange behavior. This disease has a huge physiological impact on anyone. How much more so for a pop artist in his prime?

January 2, 2010

Click to view THK's profile
THK

Aren't you special? You "covered' the Balloon Boy bullshit. It's stuff like that that fosters the "reality show" nonsense. There's journal;ism and self-serving iReporting crap. And, some readers may have "no problem with people who want a reality show", but A) the vast majority of reality shows bear no resemblance to reality, whatsoever, and 2) anyone who watches them and believes that they are "reality" has the IQ of a dung beetle. (And, congratulations to those of you who caught the deliberate grammatical error in the above. To the rest of you, you prove my point, thank you very much.) The Heinies again, deliberate are so self-centered and uncaring that they WILLINGLY co-opted and corrupted their children in an attempt to focus attention on themselves in order to make some money. GREED, GREED, GREED, backed up by nothing more that stupidity. ANYONE WHO DOES NOT CONDEMN AND EXCORIATE THEM (why do I bother using words that I know that the idiots to whom I refer do not understand?) IS NOT BETTER THAN THEY ARE.

 

Oh. Have a nice day.

January 2, 2010

Click to view swtpea's profile

Oh shut up everyone!   

January 2, 2010

Click to view larena's profile

great year on ireports thanks Lila and CNN STAFF

January 2, 2010

Click to view cnnmich's profile

Maybe in 2010 we can learn not to judge one another. We all have human frailties some more than others. I will say the "King of Pop" reigns. Six months since his death and the planet is still talking about him to this extent. Even those who love to hate Michael Jackson can't stay away. It shows, he was bigger than life. 

As for Obama, it will take more than a year or 4 to get us out of this mess. What we are going through now, was a long time coming. Unfortunately it will take many trials and errors to make it right. We're all in this together....GOD BLESS AMERICA!

January 3, 2010

Click to view celh's profile

I love ireports.

It's been great..Getting to see video, read stories . Upload our own and commenting on news and stories. Some times as they happen.

Share our feelings and debating issues..

It's a great place.

All the stories have a place. Because it's news. Good bad or even weird..

January 3, 2010

Click to view Ladann's profile

Just Imagine when Gorge Bush stole American's vote,if the people in America would stand for their right like people in Iran  (who have no freedom to express their right) and Bush woldn't become president, America wouldn't go to war with Iraq, more than 4000 American soldiers wouldn't lose their life for nothing in Iraq,more than 100,000 Iraqi civilian wouldn't die in war, America wouldn't go under tirllion dollers of debt and Alqaeda wouldn't become more poweful as it is now and we had control of Taliban in Afghanestan.

As an Iranian- American I'm so proud of the people in Iran who put their life in danger to have democrocy in Iran. Please support them and pray for the people in Iran. They need your support. please don't follow celebrity's news as a head line news in America. God bless you. 

January 3, 2010

Click to view Salzman's profile

Did I just see Gloria Borger interview Jim DeMint on CNN's State of the Union, on the subject of the recent attempted terrorist act and issues of airline safety, with you asking him a single question about how much safer airline passengers would be if the federal appointment to head the TSA was not being held up (by him)?

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/12/29/demint-defends-blocking-appointment-of-tsa-chief/

January 8, 2010

Click to view mab91c's profile

This just in...Michael Jackson...still dead! News at 11.

January 11, 2010

Click to view MarqBoucher's profile
Yup! This is definely the talk about new of the year. Good pick!

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January 25, 2010

The young men are still under Police Custody awaiting a so-called trial. We just want the world to know the injustice being perpetrated by Muslims cabal in Nigeria. One of the soldiers wore a Liard-an Islamic armband charm. These soldiers shot at the door and broke windows louvers before gaining access to house to arrest these Christians young men. FLV Converter Video DVD Creator DVD to MOV Mac DVD blu ray burner MPEG to WMV Converter for Mac Blu Ray Ripper M2TS Converter Mac AVI Converter OS X iPod Touch Video Converter DVD to iPod Converter DVD to iPhone Converter iPod Touch Copy

February 5, 2010

Click to view weddingphoto's profile
There were some good stories this year - some ven made the news in sleepy Suffolk

February 13, 2010

Click to view Mrhahn's profile
Obama news was the hype and Micheal Jackson's death was shocking .. but i was always with Coffee of the Month Clubs Gourmet Coffee Clubs

February 26, 2010

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