An end of year list by NowPublic.com shows how far user-generated content played a role in the big news events of the year.

According to its CEO, Len Brody:

2008 not only proved the concept of user-generated news, but also tipped the scales. The pillars of mainstream media, including the Associated Press, BBC, CBS and CNN have all made significant efforts to embrace the new model.

Top of the list are the Mumbai attacks, a tragic event that demonstrated the value of raw and unfiltered information. It ends with the false report on Steve Jobs heart attack, a salutary tale of the perils of not checking this raw information.

The 10 moments are:

1. Mumbai Attacks

2. Natural disasters: Sharing Emergency Information

3. Olympic Torch Relay Protests in San Francisco

4. Obama and “Bittergate”

5. Republican Convention Protests Change Tack

6. Ushahidi: Crowdsourcing Crisis Information in Africa

7. CNN’s News Wire Plans

8. Mob Rule: Mark Zuckerberg’s SXSW Interview

9. Twitter Gets US student Out of Egyptian Jail

10. False Report About Steve Jobs Heart Attack

What would you add to the list?

(Full disclosure: NowPublic’s news director Rachel Nixon is my wife).