Associated Press Top 100 Events of the Century

In 1999, a national panel of 67 broadcasters, editorial cartoonists,
editors, historians, journalists, and photographers ranked the 100 most
important news events of the 20th century. The U.S. bombing of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki, which led to the surrender of Japan in World War II, finished
first, followed by Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon in 1969 and the
Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Key Questions:

1. How many top stories occurred in each decade? What might account for the imbalance in events?

2. What kinds of events does the list emphasize: cultural, diplomatic,
medical, military, political, scientific, or social?

3. Do you agree or disagree with the rankings? What criteria, in your
opinion, should be used to determine the rankings?

4. What would you consider to be the most egregious omission or mistake in the ranking?