Featured content in review

This edition covers content promoted between 30 December 2012 and 5 January 2013.

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

Featured articles

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.

Featured lists

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.

Featured pictures

Twelve featured pictures were promoted this week:

Riin Tamm (nom; related article), created by Kulpsoo and nominated by Crisco 1492. Tamm (b. 1981) is an Estonian geneticist and science populariser working at the University of Tartu and specialising in genetics.

Yeoman Warder (nom; related article), created by the Detroit Publishing Company, restored and nominated by Adam Cuerden. The Yeomen Warders, also known as Beefeaters, are the ceremonial guardians of the Tower of London. Historically tasked with guarding the prison, they have become tourist attractions.

Arp 273 (nom; related article), created by NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team and nominated by Tomer T. Arp 273 is a group of interacting galaxies 300 million light years away. The group was first described in 1966.

Apollo and Daphne (nom; related article), created by Antonio del Pollaiolo and nominated by Crisco 1492. The artist Pollaiolo's subject is the Greek myth of the god Apollo's futile quest to wed the beautiful nymph Daphne. Apollo and Daphne have been frequent subjects in art.

Sawtooth Valley (nom; related article), created by Acroterion and nominated by Fredlyfish4. The Sawtooth Valley is a 30-mile (48 km) valley in central Idaho in the US. Home to many lakes, its length is traversed by Idaho State Highway 75.

Bode Museum (nom; related article), created by Der Wolf im Wald and nominated by Elekhh. The Bode Museum in Berlin, Germany, opened in the early 20th century and is named after its first curator. The building was designed by Ernst von Ihne.

John Jay (nom; related article), created by Gilbert Stuart and nominated by Pine. Jay (1745–1829) was an American statesman known as the first Chief Justice of the United States. He served between 1789 and 1795, later becoming governor of New York.

Steneosaurus (nom; related article), created by Archaeodontosaurus and nominated by ZxxZxxZ. Steneosaurus is an extinct genus of crocodyliform which has been found in Europe and Northern Africa. It flourished from the Early Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous.

Dense fog over Indian subcontinent (nom; related article), created by NASA/MODIS and nominated by Tatiraju.rishabh. Fog is a type of cloud – a collection of liquid water droplets or ice crystals – which is suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface.

Assault on Fort Sanders (nom; related article), created by Kurz and Allison, restored and nominated by Adam Cuerden. The Battle of Fort Sanders during the Knoxville Campaign of the American Civil War was fought on November 29, 1863. The Confederate James Longstreet attacked the defensive lines of Union leader Ambrose Burnside but failed to break through.

European Goldfinch (nom; related article), created by Kookaburra 81 and nominated by Tomer T. The European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) is a small bird in the finch family. It is found across Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia.

Cize-Bolozon viaduct (nom; related article), created by Kabelleger and nominated by Elekhh. The Cize-Bolozon viaduct is a road–rail bridge crossing the Ain gorge in France which was first opened in 1875. The original was destroyed during the Second World War and rebuilt not long after.