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Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2013-01-07/Featured content

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Featured content

Featured content in review

This edition covers content promoted between 30 December 2012 and 5 January 2013.
Line graph
Stacked bar graph
Two graphs of the featured content promoted this year, using the data in the table below. The line chart on the left shows the individual rates of promotion of each type of featured material, by month. The stacked bars on the right show the contribution of each featured-content forum towards the total number of new promotions, by month.
Legend
  Articles
  Lists
  Pictures
  Topics
  Portals
*Note: This does not include demoted content; numbers for featured pictures count sets as one promotion

Over the past year, 963 pieces of featured content were promoted. The most active of the featured content programs was featured article candidates (FAC), which promoted an average of 31 articles a month. This was followed by featured picture candidates (FPC; 28 a month). Coming in third was featured list candidates (FLC; 20 a month). Featured topic and featured portal candidates remained sluggish, each promoting fewer than 20 items over the year.

Although this was a decrease in overall numbers, adjusted for the lack of featured sounds (which was marked historical on 2 January 2012, after having been marked inactive on 25 October of the preceding year), the rate of promotions actually increased. As covered last year, 2011 saw 1,053 pieces of content promoted (917 if we subtract featured sounds). The average number of promotions for FAC and FPC increased, while FLC's rate has remained constant.

As covered last week, numerous pieces of featured content have been created to address systemic bias. However, trends remain similar to last year. At FAC, common topics include male political and military figures, ships, television episodes, and songs, generally from the US, Britain, and Australia. FLC has remained been dominated by discographies and sports figures, predominantly from the US and Britain but with an increase in South Asian-related lists. FPC has seen many animal species, works of art by European and American artists, and similar subjects.

Looking forward, there is nothing but questions. Will the rate of successful nominations continue to increase? If so, at what cost? Will featured topics, portals, and sounds ever reach the main page? Will Jenna Jameson?

Featured content promotions in 2012
Month Articles Lists Pictures Topics Portals Total
January 29 18 28 1 2 78
February 31 21 38 0 1 91
March 34 17 29 2 0 92
April 28 8 37 0 1 71
May 28 8 37 1 0 74
June 26 14 19 0 0 59
July 30 18 18 0 0 66
August 38 42 10 2 1 93
September 39 26 33 1 0 99
October 37 28 22 1 2 90
November 36 20 27 2 0 85
December 24 16 24 1 0 65
Total 375 239 331 11 7 963

And now, the Signpost is proud to present the first new featured content of 2013.

Cize-Bolozon viaduct
European Goldfinch
Yeoman Warder
Apollo and Daphne

Four featured articles were promoted this week:

  • Omphalotus nidiformis (nom) by Casliber and Sasata. Omphalotus nidiformis, also known as the ghost fungus, is a mushroom from Australia and Tasmania known for its bioluminescence. The poisonous fruit bodies, up to 30 cm (12 in) across, are usually white or cream and found on dead or dying trees. First described in 1844, it was once considered a member of the same genus as the edible oyster mushroom.
  • Bert T. Combs (nom) by Acdixon. Combs (1911–1991) was an American jurist and politician who served, among other positions, as governor of Kentucky. A lawyer by training, in 1951 he was selected for the Court of Appeals and, eight years and one failed election later, elected Governor; while in office he instituted a series of reforms funded by tax surpluses. Four years after his term ended he became a justice of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Washington v. Texas (nom) by Lord Roem. Washington v. Texas is a 1967 US Supreme Court case in which the court decided that the constitutional right of criminal defendants to force the attendance of witnesses for their side is applicable to both state and federal courts, as part of the defendants' "due process" rights. This right was later narrowed by the court's ruling in 1988 that "countervailing public interests" could be balanced against a defendant's right to present witnesses.
  • Danie Mellor (nom) by Hamiltonstone. Mellor (b. 1971) is an Indigenous Australian artist who works in printmaking, drawing, painting, and sculpture, often treating the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian cultures. A lecturer at the Sydney College of the Arts, Mellor has had exhibitions at numerous locations throughout the country.

Two featured lists were promoted this week:

  • The Veronicas discography (nom) by Till. The Veronicas, an Australian pop duo, have released five albums, three extended plays, eleven singles, and twelve music videos since making their debut in 2005. Domestically their best-performing single to date is "Hook Me Up", while "Untouched" was more successful internationally.
  • List of Canada's Wonderland attractions (nom) by Dom497. Canada's Wonderland, a theme park, is currently home to 65 attractions, including a water park. More are added annually.

Twelve featured pictures were promoted this week:

Steneosaurus bollensis