After the jump, you'll find the finalists for FishbowlDC's Rising Star competition. Congrats to everyone for being nominated and making it into the 2nd round in our first "Rising Star" competition. The winners will accompany mediabistro.com and FishbowlDC to the National Press Foundation Dinner, with a seat next to a high-profile guest (and if you're a high profile guest who wants to go, let us know).

Plus: We'll be giving away seats to lucky winners we'll pick at random. Click here to enter the raffle (send your name, affiliation and contact info).

Now, before you write in to complain about so-and-so not getting included, etc., etc., let's explain a few things.

1.) If you didn't get nominated, you didn't get considered. The pool of contenders was chosen by you.
2.) Some (actually, many) people were not included because, in our opinion, they were already "risen", not "rising" (For instance: Ed Henry was nominated. Funnily enough, so was Helen Thomas). So, for some of you, it's a compliment.
3.) We did our best to limit the number of finalists from each publication, from certain beats, and from each medium (print, radio, broadcast, etc.).
4.) Most importantly, we're well aware that the list is imperfect. We did our best. Our apologies in advance if you felt snubbed. Dorian, Inky and Patrick discussed the finalists but the finalists were mostly determined by consulting with employees at various news organizations for their insight, thoughts and advice.

Okay, so this is how it's going work: After the jump is the list of finalists. If you're already attending the National Press Foundation Annual Awards Dinner on February 22, let us know. Unfortunately, we'll have to remove your name from consideration, since that means you won't be able to sit with us (*tear*). Also, if you simply don't want to be considered, please also let us know. Then, with the list tweaked as/if needed, we will open up voting Thursday morning and it will go through Monday.

Click below for the finalists...

For the nominations that came with flattering comments, we've included those after the names.

WASHINGTON POST:

Ernesto Londono

Zachary Goldfarb: "Kid is probably 23-24 and files from time to time at the Post...looks like he's going to slide right into the Post's political coverage. Way to go."

(Note: We already assume that Londono can't make it, being in Iraq and all, so we'll put Dan Zak -- "An '05 college graduate as a staff writer there? Seriously." -- in his place for the voting. We still thought Londono should be recognized).

CBS:

Jennifer Hoar

Scott McCrary: "[H]as several years of local news experience, but in the last year and a half has covered Washington politics as a national producer like a veteran."

WASHINGTON EXAMINER:

David Francis: "He's only been in the biz for 2.5 years but has made a name for himself in Washington, first in trade publications and most recently at a DC daily covering the Webb/Allen campaign, northern Virginia and demographics."

Rachel Barth

EXPRESS:

Michael Grass: "[I]f you know his work infusing blogging and journalism at Express' Web site, along with developing Google Map mashups, you know why he should be nominated. To me, he is the "local" blogger of record, which started when he launched DCist.com, a blog that was ahead of the curve long before every mainstream media outlet started launching blogs. He's transforming The Post from the inside, but nobody realizes it yet."

POLITICO:

Ryan Grim: "formerly City Paper, now Politico, also Slate and occasionally Harper's, probably more even."

Helena Andrews

REASON:

David Weigel: "In addition to freelancing just about everywhere, Weigel has single-handedly brought the magazine's political coverage to a new level. He's not even 25 yet and he already kicks some major D.C. journalism ass."

TIME:

Perry Bacon

HARDBALL:

Jeremy Bronson: "he also does lots of great on air reports. really young too. good stuff."

FOX NEWS:

Hadley Gamble: "where's that hadley gamble on your list?"

WASHINGTON TIMES:

Kara Rowland: "...thoroughly explains complicated issues, such as utility regulations in Maryland or local media. She has also written about a September 11th widow's healing process."

Christina Bellantoni: "...congressional reporter extraordinaire..."

Jen Haberkorn

NPR:

David Greene: "...jumped from the Baltimore Sun and now braves many a cold night to share the latest doings at the White House."

THE HILL:

Aaron Blake

Jackie Kucinich: "Jackie is a relentless reporter who quickly earns the trust of her sources. Her stories last year about tunnel workers being exposed to asbestos on Capitol Hill were second to none. "

ROLL CALL:

Tory Newmyer: "He's a DC native, so he doesn't need to take the city by storm, he already owns it." "He's been doing great work covering ethics reform."

Sue Davis

THE NATIONAL JOURNAL FAMILY:

Shane Harris: "Shane has impressed me with his smart, insightful coverage of topics that really matter to our national security."

Marc Ambinder

Mike Memoli

Nora McAlavanah

AL JAZEERA:

Josh Rushing: "...up and coming journalism star..."

FREELANCE:

Arthur Delaney: "ABCNews, CityPaper, The Hill. Taking town by storm!"

Michael Patrick Carney: "the freelance investigative reporter who writes about taxis, kids who steal cars and NFL teams that take advantage of cheerleaders."

GOVERNING MAGAZINE:

Josh Goodman: "Since he graduated in 2005 he has worked for Governing magazine, recently becoming what I can only imagine is the youngest full-time staff writer in the history of the publication."

LEGAL TIMES:

Emma Schwartz

AMERICAN LAWYER:

Anna Palmer

CHRIS MATTHEWS SHOW:

Reihan Salam

MEET THE PRESS:

Shawna Thomas

BLOOMBERG:

Ryan Donmoyer: "Best freaking tax reporter in town and a versatile utility man too."

Brian Weiss

WJLA:

Lauren Dunn

TWO MUNDOS MAGAZINE:

Jeanette Dove

CHANNEL 8:

Tyler Evans: "He's solid in the field and often has to one-man-band his stories which makes it more impressive. "

CHANNEL ONE:

Lila Meredith. "She is a tenacious go-getter with a personality that leaves a memory with anyone that meets her."

FEDERAL COMPUTER WEEK:

Josh Rogin

"EMBEDDED JOURNALIST":

Bill Roggio