JUNEAU (Alaska) - THE National Society of Newspaper Columnists chose Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the winner of its annual Sitting Duck Award, a tongue-in-cheek honour that pokes fun at the most ridiculed newsmakers in the United States.

Mrs Palin beat out Democrat Rod Blagojevich, the ousted former governor of Illinois allegedly caught trying to sell President Barack Obama's Senate seat, according to the Juneau Empire newspaper.

Mr Blagojevich was the runner-up. Mrs Palin was noted for making headline after headline, month after month.

The selection was made last week at a conference in Ventura, California.

There's no physical award to go with the Sitting Duck title. -- AP