Here's a quick, easy way to start a friendly discussion . . . or lively debate: Tell who you think is the most important newsmaker of 2011. The newsweekly Time, other publications and the Associated Press wire service issue their choices near the end of each year, and sparks usually fly.
The latest Time cover, featuring "The Protester" as Person of the Year is no exception. "Time magazine has really done it this time with its . . . tribute to just about everyone it seems who can carry a picket sign," a Boston Herald editorial says.

The magazine's managing editor, Rick Stengel, says the magazine focuses on demonstrators in the Middle East and the Occupy Wall Street movement because "everywhere, it seems, people said they'd had enough. . . . They literally embodied the idea that individual action can bring collective, colossal change." Responding to critics who suggest alternate choices, such as the late Apple computer company founder Steve Jobs, he adds: "It's not a lifetime achievement award. Steve is someone I venerate, but it wasn’t really a year where he transformed anything."

Other year-in-review lists feature sports, celebrities and "best" books, films, music, TV shows and video games (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 leads Entertainment Weekly's list). Justin Bieber was. named the most-searched person of 2011, according to the Bing and Google search engines. MTV picks Katy Perry as Artist of the Year, an honor other media gave to the U.K. singer Adele. E! Entertainment Television lists Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 as the best film of 2011.
Each choice is bait for debate, of course -- a holiday season ritual to get readers talking, posting and linking to what they've seen.

Time defender says: "While many of us could have thought of numerous people that we felt deserved the award, the magazine got it right by naming the individuals across the world who still believed in the power of protest." -- Claudio Cabrera, Huffington Post blogger

Critic says: "Time’s Person of the Year, is upon us. . . . I don’t care. Probably neither do you. It’s a tired stunt . . . by another publication in decline." -- John McIntyre, Baltimore Sun blogger

Ex-editor says: "The problem with most of the year-in-review and year-ahead features is that they don’t include enough information and emotion to serve a true journalistic purpose. They’re done because we’ve always done them." -- John Robinson, former editor of editor of the News & Record in Greensboro, N.C.