Paul D. Shinkman, wtop.com
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WASHINGTON — 2011 was a fascinating year for journalism, carrying stories that impacted D.C.-area residents’ day-to-day lives and breaking news that will stand out forever in the annals of history.

We witnessed an entire world region rise up against dictatorships in the spring, the emergence of occupiers in the fall, the brink of a massive government showdown, the horrible tornado that leveled Joplin, Mo., a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in August that shook up an unprepared Washington area and damaged a cathedral, the deaths of multiple dictators and terrorists, and so much more.

Most importantly, some Pennsylvania middle-schoolers went to Hooters for lunch.

We’ve compiled a list of the 10 most-viewed stories from this year at wtop.com. They cover a myriad of issues, including the inclement weather that left hundreds of thousands without power and the introduction of the ever-popular WTOP weekly list “Friday Freebies.”

Check them out:

10) Pa. 8th-graders’ field trip includes Hooters lunch (June 1)

9) Cathedral damage means King ceremony to relocate (Aug. 24)

8) Check out these Tax Day discounts and freebies (April 18)

7) Treehouse faces demolition in dispute with Fairfax County (Oct. 10)

6) Westboro Baptist protests ‘brute-beast’ Ft. Meade students (April 14)

5) Egypt’s al-Zawahri likely to succeed bin Laden (May 2)

4) Some Pepco customers still without power (Jan. 31)

3) White House suspect thought he was Jesus (Nov. 18)

2) Michelle Obama: Students need to confront fears (Nov. 9)

1) No deal yet as possible government shutdown looms (April 15*)

We’d like to hear what stories were the most important to you this year. Use #WTOP2011 on Twitter or post to the comments section here. Check out what some WTOP staffers thought:

*Headline changed as story updated

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(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)