With 2009 coming to a close, end-of-year lists seem to be on everybody’s mind. So, like last year, below are some of the online “wows” I discovered over the last 12 months.  Limiting this list to nine was daunting, but here’s what I came up with … in no particular ranking:

1. Journalistics Blog – is a great resource for all journalists, one post in particular definitely stands out: “91 Journliasm Blogs and Websites You Will Love“.  Be prepared: it’s an incredible list (and a bit of a cheat for this post considering it’s a list of 91 links) — but deserved for its compilation … truly comprehensive one for those interested in journalism, media commentary, and technology.  Highly, highly recommended.

2. Edelman’s “The Social Pulpit: Barack Obama’s Social Media Toolkit” – not a website, but a .pdf document outlining Barack Obama’s social media plan during his 2008 presidential campaign. This document knocked me out when I first discovered it.  Don’t let the largeness of the numbers or budget dissuade you – Edelman beautifully lays out a plan that also provides universal lessons of reaching an audience via social media.  A must read.

3. Pictorymag.com – A crowd-sourced online destination for people to showcase their photos, documenting their lives and their cultures. I discovered this site late in the year, with one post in particular catching my eye:  “Overseas and Overwhelmed: 25 Stories of Culture Shock.”  Some extraordinary imagery accompanied by captions of the photographers in their own words.

4. Textile Museum of Canada’s “In Touch: Connecting Cloth, Culture + Art” – The “In Touch” site is a Canadian New Media Award winner (Best in Canadian Culture, Interactive category). Some may recall I commented on this site in a previous post.  If you haven’t surfed through it, be warned: it will be online for a limited time only, until March 31, 2010.  It’s gorgeous.

5. TweetCommons.com – If you need to find out if a particular Canadian MP is on Twitter, this site should be your first stop.  An aggregation of Twitter feeds, the site easily breaks them out by province and political affiliation.  Other features include who is “most talkative” and “most conversational”, and provides links to other similar international websites. (BONUS link: want to know how a Canadian MP voted? Check out How’d They Vote.)

6.  Celebrate Canada – Photographer Tim Van Horn is on a mission: to enable Canadians to be more aware of their country and who they are, their heart and soul.  His CanadianMosaic blog is a destination for pictures, links and commentary about the Canadian experience, especially leading up to the 2010 Olympics and Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017.

Finally, the use of social media by businesses – small or large – has exploded, particularly over the last year and shows no signs of slowing down.  For some, it is overwhelming; and perhaps for many, there is an irresistible urge to just jump on the bandwagon and get on with it.  There is something to be said for that, but, on its own/without discipline, that can be risky.  Just like any other (traditional) marketing-based initiative, the necessity to stay focused on what you want to accomplish and why (see # 2 above) cannot be overstated.

There are some incredibly smart people online, helping businesses navigate social media and promoting best practices — directly via posts and downloads, and indirectly by their conduct on Twitter, Facebook and the like.  Although I’m closing out my Top 9 with only three resources from the social media arena, be assured there are many more. But if you’re curious and your interest is genuine, these 3 are great destinations whether you’re a beginner or more experienced.

7. Mashable – To many in the social media sphere, Mashable.com is a household word and, frequently, the first online destination to verify breaking social media news — be it industry trends/acquisitions, denials of service, computer viruses, etc. Resources and tips are plentiful, not to mention its engaged readers who quite often post as interesting and useful commentary.

8. Social Media Examiner – Launched in mid-October of this year, Social Media Examiner.com is an extremely accessible free online magazine…well thought-out design, easy to navigate, its practical content is stocked with useful posts, tips, case studies and videos. A recent post in particular worthy of checking out, is their “Nominate Your Favorite Social Media Blog” top 10 contest (but note: contest closes December 31).

9. Dave Fleet – A communications and pr professional here in Toronto, Dave is actively engaged in many aspects of social media.  For me, this is one of his most interesting blog posts: 25 Questions to make your social media workflow work for you.”

And, in the spirit of the season, to make it an even 10, I’ll leave you with one more … a “meaningful diversion” … i think you’ll know what to do: All for Good.

So, those are my Top 9 for 2009. What about you? Any sites that have caught your mouse, and your eye?