HumorFeed Picks Top Ten Satire News Stories of 2005

Press release: January 17, 2005
With 2005 fading fast in the rear view mirror, many publications have taken stock of the year by tallying the top ten movies, books, or style trends. Thanks to HumorFeed.com's first annual Satire News Competition, the world can now add a list of "top ten internet satire news articles" to that roster, and by month's end will have a "top three" as well.
HumorFeed is a selective, cooperative association of satire news and parody websites formed in 2003. As of today it consists of nearly sixty member sites from the US, UK, and Canada. Over the past two weeks, its members have been working to nominate the top ten stories from over 3,500 headlines listed on HumorFeed during 2005.
"HumorFeed's a unique group because of the involvement of its members," said E.F. Watley, administrator of the site. "People really gave this process a great deal of consideration and I think the result is a list of terrific stories."
The best ten stories, according to HumorFeed, are as follows (in alphabetical order, by website):

• Avant News: President Bush Paints Self Into Corner
• BBspot: Microsoft's Antispyware Tool Removes Internet Explorer
• Brainsnap:Christian Fundamentalists Suspected of Terrorist Bombings
• BSNews: President Bush Sells Louisiana Back to the French
• Confusion Road: Terri Schiavo Dies; Congress Orders Feeding Tube Reinserted
• Department of Social Scrutiny: Government Responds to Charles and Camilla's Wedding with ID Card Follow-up
• The Fake News: One Hot White Chick Injured in Tsunami Disaster
• John Fanzine: Scientists Discover Most Boring Substance Ever
• Opinions You Should Have: Existence of Poor People A Surprise, Says Bush
• Studio 8 Entertainment: Popeless World Plunges Into Chaos

In the final stage of the competition, a panel of five independent judges will select the top three stories from these ten finalists. The judges bring to bear an unprecedented collection of expertise in both journalism and satire; they include senior writer John Markoff from the New York Times, correspondent Eric Weiner from National Public Radio, and Robert Zelnick, chairman of the Journalism department at Boston University. Balancing out the serious side of the panel are Andrew Marlatt, former webmaster of the legendary SatireWire.com and nationally syndicated humor columnist Madeleine Kane.
"We wanted perspective from the "legitimate" journalism community as well as from qualified experts in humor," said Watley. "HumorFeed's hallmark is the quality of its membership; we wanted a competition which could provide a uniquely professional judging process."
The top three winners will be announced on February 1. '

For more information contact E.F. Watley, editor@watleyreview.com