Forbes, kings of the list feature, launch what's bound to be a fresh annual feature with their Web Celeb 25. The ranking make great play of the democracy of the internet in terms of celebrity:
The ranks of the world's celebrities used to be dominated by millionaire actors, athletes and musicians, but the Internet has leveled the playing field. A kid with a video camera has access to as large an audience as the biggest Hollywood star. A mom with a blog can attract more readers than a best-selling author. And an opinionated entrepreneur can become a guru to millions.
Video bloggers (both fake and real) get a good shout, with the #1 spot is taken by LonelyGirl15, and appearances by Amanda Congdon and the excellent Ze Frank. Elsewhere, it's a mix of Silicon Valley and the worlds of American media and politics (Robert Scoble, Michael Arrington, as well as Guardian contributors Jeff Jarvis and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga).
But apart from a few good eggs, what a pedestrian list! I'm sure there's more outside the American bubble that's worth pointing to. What are your suggestions?
