NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 12/28/06 -- A small cluster of power bloggers -- focused on politics, blogging and humor -- were responsible for the top 100 blog posts for 2006, according to word-of-mouth measurement firm Nielsen BuzzMetrics. The top blog -- based on the number of inbound links from other blogs between January 1 and November 30, 2006 -- was mother.livejournal.com's petition against changes in the livejournal interface. The single post was linked to in 801 posts by 786 other blogs.

"A minority of highly influential blogs continues to influence the broader conversation on the web," said Jonathan Carson, CEO, Nielsen BuzzMetrics. "However, unique circumstances and events, such as the LiveJournal protest against proposed interface changes, can resonate with passionate stakeholders and catapult lesser-known blogs to the top."

Crooks and Liars' posts on Stephen Colbert's monologue at the White House, and Keith Olbermann commentary on Rumsfeld, were the number 2 and 3 posts, respectively. The Colbert post was linked to in 622 posts on 603 blogs, and the Olbermann was linked to in 359 posts on 340 blogs.

David Sifry, founder and CEO of blog-search engine Technorati, had the fourth most popular post, with his latest state-of-the-blogosphere report. The post was linked to in 339 posts on 298 blogs.

                               Nielsen BuzzMetrics
                             Top Blog Posts of 2006
                 Ranked by Number of Messages/Blogs That Link To
                          January 1-November 30, 2006

Rank  Blog Headline           URL                        Messages  Authors
1     2006 PETITION AGAINST   http://mother.livejournal   801       786
      CHANGES IN THE          .com/962238.html
      LIVEJOURNAL INTERFACE
2     Colbert Does the White  http://www.crooksandliars   622       603
      House Correspondents'   .com/2006/04/29.html#a8104
      dinner:
3     Keith Olbermann         http://www.crooksandliars   359       340
      Delivers One Hell Of a  .com/2006/08/30/keith-
      Commentary on Rumsfeld  olbermann-delivers-one-hell-of-a-commentary-on-rumsfeld/
4     State of the            http://www.sifry.com/       339       298
      Blogosphere, August     alerts/archives/000436.html
      2006
5     Keith Olbermann's       http://www.crooksandliars   330       322
      Special Comment on      .com/2006/09/11/keith-
      Bush: Who has left      olbermanns-special-commnet-
      this hole in the        on-bush-who-has-left-this-
      ground? We have not     hole-in-the-ground-we-have-
      forgotten, Mr.          not-forgotten-mr-president-
      President. You have.    you-have-may-this-country-
      May this country        forgive-you/
      forgive you
6     SUPPORT DENMARK: WHY    http://michellemalkin.com/  307       277
      THE FORBIDDEN CARTOONS  archives/004413.htm
      MATTER
7     SNL: If Al Gore were    http://www.crooksandliars   286       271
      President               .com/2006/05/14.html#a8280
8     Milking it?             http://eureferendum.        284       251
                              blogspot.com/2006/07/milking-it.html
9     State of the            http://www.sifry.com/       282       255
      Blogosphere, February   alerts/archives/000419.html
      2006 Part 1: On
      Blogosphere Growth
10    State of the            http://www.sifry.com/       269       236
      Blogosphere, April      alerts/archives/000432.html
      2006 Part 1: On
      Blogosphere Growth

About Nielsen BuzzMetrics

The Nielsen BuzzMetrics service, marketed by BuzzMetrics, Inc., is the global standard in measuring consumer-generated media and word of mouth. Nielsen BuzzMetrics helps more than 100 leading global companies interpret and leverage the buzz surrounding them -- clients like Canon, Comcast, Ford, General Motors, HBO, Kraft, Microsoft, Nokia, P&G, Sony, Target and Toyota, as well as the top 15 pharmaceutical concerns. Partners include the world's largest marketing-services firms, and innovative new-marketing agencies. The company has also collaborated with distinguished research organizations such as the Pew Internet and American Life Project. BuzzMetrics, Inc. is an affiliate of VNU, owner of such renowned research names as ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research. For more information, visit www.nielsenbuzzmetrics.com

Contact:
Sandra Parrelli
Sandra.parrelli@buzzmetrics.com
646-654-7772