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{{Infobox award
| name = The Webby Awards
| image = Webby Awards.svg
| imagesize = 150px
| caption = Webby Awards logo
| description = "Excellence on the Internet including Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video and Mobile content."<ref name="about">{{cite web| url=http://www.webbyawards.com/about/| title=About The Webby Awards| publisher=Webby Awards| accessdate=2017-11-14}}</ref>
| presenter = [[International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences]]
| country =
| year = {{start date and age|1996}} (International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences)
| website = {{url|webbyawards.com}}
}}
A '''Webby Award''' is an [[List of prizes, medals and awards|award for excellence]] on the [[Internet]] presented annually by The [[International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences]], a judging body composed of over two thousand industry experts and technology innovators. Categories include [[websites]]; advertising and media; online film and video; mobile sites and apps; and social.<ref name="about"/>
Two winners are selected in each category, one by members of The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and one by the public who cast their votes during Webby People’s Voice voting.<ref name="about"/> Each winner presents a five-word acceptance speech, a trademark of the annual awards show.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Castillo|first1=Michelle|title=The Most Memorable 5-Word Webby Award Speeches Expressing gratitude in sound bites|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/most-memorable-5-word-webby-award-speeches-157864|publisher=AdWeek|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
Hailed as the "Internet’s highest honor,"<ref>{{cite news|last1=HEFFERNAN|first1=VIRGINIA|title=Broadcast Spoofs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-medium-t.html?_r=0|publisher=[[New York Times]]|accessdate=5 May 2015|date=2008-04-20}}</ref> the award is one of the oldest Internet-oriented awards, and is associated with the phrase "The [[Academy Award|Oscars]] of the Internet."<ref>Richtel, Matt. ''[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE5D8123EF934A35752C0A96F958260 NEWS WATCH; Forget the Oscars, Here Come the Webbys]''. [[New York Times]]. 7 January 1999.</ref><ref>Kaplan, Karen ''[http://articles.latimes.com/1998/dec/14/business/fi-53879 Awards Count On Firm for Accuracy]''. [[Los Angeles Times]]. 14 December 1998.</ref><ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/advertising/history-of-guardian-online A brief history of guardian.co.uk]''. [[The Guardian]]. 30 April 2010.</ref>
== History ==
[[File:WebbyAwards-2008-ChocolateRain.jpg|thumb|2008 Webby Awards, [[Chocolate Rain]].]]
The Webby Awards began in 1996, sponsored by the Academy of Web Design and [[Cool Site of the Day]]. The first Webby Awards were produced by Kay Dangaard at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel as a nod to the first site of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars). That first year, they were called "Webbie" Awards. The first "Site of the Year" winner was the pioneer webisodic serial [[The Spot]].
Today's Webby Awards were founded by [[Tiffany Shlain]] when she was hired by ''The Web Magazine'' to re-establish them. The event was held in San Francisco from 1996 to 2004 and quickly became known for their "5 word Acceptance Speeches". After the first year the awards became more successful than the magazine and IDG closed the publication. Shlain continued to run The Webby Awards with the help of Maya Draisin until 2004.<ref name="hist">{{cite web| url=http://www.webbyawards.com/about/history.php |title=Webby History |publisher=Webby Awards |date= |accessdate=2009-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jul/07/news/cl-48818 |title=From the Valley of the Geeks Comes the Digital Diva |first=Booth |last=Moore |date=July 7, 2000 |publisher = [[LA Times]] |accessdate = 2011-10-20}}</ref>
The [[International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences]], which selects the winners of The Webby Awards, was established in 1998 by co-founders [[Tiffany Shlain]], Spencer Ante and Maya Draisin.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=127350&page=1 |title = hat Transcript: Internet Expert Tiffany Shlain |first=James |last=F. |date=September 15, 2000 |publisher=[[NBC]] |accessdate = 2011-10-20}}</ref> Members of the Academy include [[Kevin Spacey]], [[Grimes (musician)|Grimes]], [[Questlove]], Internet inventor [[Vint Cerf]], [[Instagram]]’s Head of Fashion Partnerships [[Eva Chen (editor)|Eva Chen]], comedian [[Jimmy Kimmel]], [[Twitter]] Founder [[Biz Stone]], [[Vice Media]] Co-Founder and CEO [[Shane Smith (journalist)|Shane Smith]], [[Tumblr]]’s [[David Karp]], Director of Harvard’s [[Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society]] [[Susan P. Crawford]], [[Refinery29]]’s Executive Creative Director Piera Gelardi, and CEO and cofounder of [[Gimlet Media]] [[Alex Blumberg]].<ref name="judges">{{cite web| url=https://www.webbyawards.com/about/judges/| title=Webby Awards Judges| publisher=Webby Awards| accessdate=2017-11-14}}</ref>
The Webby Awards is owned and operated by the Webby Media Group, a division of Recognition Media, which also owns and produces the Lovie Awards in Europe and Netted by the Webbys, a daily email publication launched in 2009. David-Michel Davies, CEO of Webby Media Group, current Executive Director of the Webby Awards and co-founder of Internet Week New York, was named Executive Director of the Webby Awards in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/10/business/media/10award.html |title = After Winning Advertising Awards, an Invitation to Pay for the Trophies |first=Stephanie |last=Clifford |date=August 9, 2009 |publisher = NY Times |accessdate = 2009-08-09}}</ref>
In 2009, the 13th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries.<ref name="burne_press_release">{{cite press | url = http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=156 | title = Webby Awards to honor David Byrne and Lorne Michaels for lifetime achievement | publisher = Webby Awards | date = May 28, 2008| accessdate = 2008-06-01 }}</ref> That same year, more than 500,000 votes were cast in The Webby People's Voice Awards.<ref>Webby Awards (May 5, 2009) [http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=185 Winners for Best Interactive Advertising] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119003246/http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=185 |date=2012-01-19 }}. Press Release. Retrieved 2010-04-02</ref> In 2012, the 16th Annual Webby awards received 1.5 million votes from more than 200 countries for the People's Voice awards.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17907624 |title = Webbys: BBC News website wins People's Voice news award |date=May 1, 2012 |publisher = [[BBC News Online]] |accessdate = 2012-05-02}}</ref> In 2015, the 19th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 13,000 entries from all 50 U.S. states and over 60 countries worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=19TH ANNUAL WEBBY AWARD NOMINEES|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-releases/vice-jimmy-fallon-oscar-selfie-like-a-girl-campaign-tinder-vine-michelle-phan-tyler-oakley-spotify-refinery-29-product-hunt-hbo-go-and-more-unveiled-as-19th-annual-webby-award-nominees/|publisher=Webby Awards|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
== Nomination process ==
During the Call for Entries phase, each entry is rated by Associate Members of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. Entries that receive the highest marks during this first round of voting are included on category-specific shortlists and further evaluated by Executive Members of the Academy.
Executive Academy Members with category-specific expertise evaluate the shortlisted entries based on the appropriate Website, Advertising & Media, Online Film & Video, Mobile Sites & Apps, and Social category criteria, and cast ballots to determine Webby Honorees, Nominees and Webby Winners. [[Deloitte]] provides vote tabulation consulting for the Webby Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Release|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-releases/vice-jimmy-fallon-oscar-selfie-like-a-girl-campaign-tinder-vine-michelle-phan-tyler-oakley-spotify-refinery-29-product-hunt-hbo-go-and-more-unveiled-as-19th-annual-webby-award-nominees/|publisher=Webby Awards|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
In addition to the award given in each category by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, another winner is selected in each category as determined by the general public during People’s Voice voting. Winners of both the Academy-selected and People’s Voice-selected awards are invited to the Webbys.<ref>[http://entries.webbyawards.com/home/judging "Judging Process"]. Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref>
== Awards granted ==
{{see also|List of Webby Award winners}}
The Webby Awards are presented in over a hundred categories among all four types of entries. A website can be entered in multiple categories and receive multiple awards.
In each category, two awards are handed out: a Webby Award selected by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and a People's Voice Award selected by the general public.<ref name="categories">{{cite web|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/categories.php |title=Categories |publisher=Webby Awards |date= |accessdate=2009-10-08}}</ref>
Past winners include [[Amazon.com]], [[eBay]], ''[[Travel + Leisure]]'', [[Simply Hired]], [[Kayak.com]], [[Yahoo!]], [[iTunes]], [[Google]], [[FedEx]], [[BBC News]], [[CNN]], [[MSNBC]], ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Annie Lennox]], [[NPR]], ''[[Salon Magazine]]'', [[Facebook]], [[Meetup (website)|Meetup]], [[Wikipedia]], ''[[Deleted - The Game]]'', [[Flickr]], [[ESPN]], [[Comedy Central]], [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]], [[The Office (U.S. TV series)|''The Office'']] webisodes, [[SwiftKey]], ''[[My Damn Channel]]'', [[NASA]], [[George Takei]], [[Airbnb]], ''[[The Onion]]'', [[Kickstarter]], [[Mashable]], [[Zach Galifianakis]], [[Justin Bieber]], [[Rhett and Link]], and ''[[Humans of New York]]''.
Each year, the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences also honors individuals with Webby Special Achievement Awards. Past Webby Special Achievement winners include [[Al Gore]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[David Bowie]], [[Meg Whitman]], [[Tim & Eric]], [[Sir Tim Berners-Lee]], [[Lorne Michaels]], [[Craig Newmark]], [[Thomas Friedman]], [[Stephen Colbert]], [[Michel Gondry]], the [[Beastie Boys]], [[Kevin Spacey]], [[Banksy]], [[Lawrence Lessig]], [[Van Jones]], [[Gillian Anderson]], [[Tituss Burgess]], [[Ellie Kemper]] and [[Jerry Seinfeld]].<ref name="categories"/>
== Ceremony ==
Since 2005, The Webby Awards has been presented in New York City.<ref>Webby Awards (April 5, 2005). [http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=60 "For First Time Ever, Webby Awards will take place in New York City"] Press Release. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> Comedian [[Rob Corddry]] hosted the ceremony from 2005 to 2007. [[Seth Meyers]] of [[Saturday Night Live]] hosted in 2008 and 2009, B.J. Novak of [[NBC]]'s [[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]] in 2010, and Lisa Kudrow in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webbyawards.com/|title=Home|publisher=}}</ref>
Comedian, actor, and writer [[Patton Oswalt]] hosted from 2012 to 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=BACLE|first1=ARIANA|title=Patton Oswalt to host Webby Awards for third time|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2014/03/25/patton-oswalt-webby-awards-host|publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref> Comedian [[Hannibal Buress]] will host the 19th Annual Webby Awards.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vitto|first1=Laura|title=Comedian Hannibal Buress to host the 2015 Webby Awards|url=http://mashable.com/2015/03/31/hannibal-buress-webby-awards/|publisher=[[Mashable]]|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
The Webbys are famous for limiting recipients to five-word speeches, which are often humorous, although some exceed the limit. In 2005 when accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award, former Vice President [[Al Gore]]'s speech was "Please don't [[Florida election recount|recount]] this vote." He was introduced by [[Vint Cerf]] who used the same format to state, "We all invented the Internet."<ref name=nyt>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/arts/08webb.html
|title=Accepting a Webby? Brevity, Please
|accessdate=2008-06-15 |last= Carr |first=David |authorlink=David Carr (journalist)
|date=June 8, 2005 |publisher= New York Times |work= Arts}}</ref> In 2008, [[Stephen Colbert]] shouted “Me. Me. Me. Me. Me”<ref name="sp08">[http://www.webbyawards.com/press/archived-speeches.php#2008 Speeches, 2008] Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> when accepting his award for Webby Person of the Year. Accepting the award for Best Political Blog in 2008, [[Arianna Huffington]]’s speech was “President Obama ... Sounds good, right?"<ref name="sp08"/>
Other popular speeches include "Can anyone fix my computer?"<ref name="sp07">[http://www.webbyawards.com/press/archived-speeches.php#2007 Speeches, 2007]. Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> (the [[Beastie Boys]]); "Everything you think is true"<ref name="sp06">[http://www.webbyawards.com/press/archived-speeches.php#2006 Speeches, 2006]. Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> ([[Prince (musician)|Prince]]); "Thank God Conan got promoted"<ref name="sp">[http://www.webbyawards.com/press/speeches.php Speeches] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815040513/http://www.webbyawards.com/press/speeches.php |date=2011-08-15 }}. Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> ([[Jimmy Fallon]]), "Free, open... Keep one Web"<ref name="sp"/> ([[Sir Tim Berners Lee]]), “Holy - Fucking - Shit, [[Buzz Aldrin]]"<ref>{{cite video |date= June 15, 2010 |title= Jake & Amir of CollegeHumor.com 5 Word Speech |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFmZDCLY6PI |publisher=YouTube |format=Flash |accessdate=2011-04-30}} (Official video).</ref><!-- official video--> ([[Jake Hurwitz]]), and "[[Holocaust]]. [[Holocaust denial|Did it happen?]] Yes." ([[Sarah Silverman]]).
In 2013, the creator of the [[GIF|Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)]], [[Steve Wilhite]], accepted his Webby and delivered his now famous five-word speech, "It’s pronounced 'Jif' not 'Gif'."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Doug|title=It's settled! Creator tells us how to pronounce 'GIF'|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/22/tech/web/pronounce-gif/|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
== Criticism ==
The Webbys have been criticized for their pay-to-enter and pay-to-attend policy (winners and nominees also have to pay to attend the award ceremony), and thus for not taking most websites into consideration before distributing their awards.<ref name=tribune>{{cite news|publisher=Chicago Tribune| date=May 14, 2008| <!--url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/may/14/news/chi-hypertext-webbys-0514may14--> url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-05-14/features/0805120221_1_webby-awards-digital-arts-awards-show| title=Critics pour vitriol on Webby Awards| first=Steve| last=Johnson| accessdate=2010-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = What? You've Not Been Honored by the Webbys? | work = [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]| first = Jack| last=Shafer | date = April 9, 2008 | url = http://www.slate.com/id/2188581/| accessdate=2010-04-02}}</ref><ref name="WSJ09">Taylor, Marisa (May 7, 2009) [https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/05/07/the-annual-controversy-over-the-webby-awards/ The annual controversy over the Webby awards.] [[Wall Street Journal]], ''Digits'' blog. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> [[Gawker]], its [[Valleywag]] column, and others, have called the awards a scam, with Valleywag saying, ''"...somewhere along the way, the organizers figured out that this goofy charade could be milked for profit."''<ref name=valleywag>{{cite web | first = Owen | last=Thomas | title = The Webby Awards Remain the Best Scam Going | date = April 5, 2009 | publisher = [[Valleywag]] | url = http://gawker.com/5240982/the-webby-awards-remain-the-best-scam-going |accessdate=2010-04-02}}</ref>
In response, Webby Awards executive director David-Michel Davies told the Wall Street Journal that entry fees “provide the best and most sustainable model for ensuring that our judging process remains consistent and rigorous and is not dependent on things like sponsorships that can fluctuate from year to year.”<ref name="WSJ09"/>
== See also ==
{{Portal|Internet}}
* [[Streamy Awards]]
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
== Further reading ==
* Joanna Glasner, [https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2006/05/70850 "Usual Suspects Dominate Webbys"] - ''[[Wired News]]'', May 9, 2006
* Jack Shafer, [http://www.slate.com/id/2188581/ "What? You've Not Been Honored by the Webbys?"], ''Slate'' Magazine, April 9, 2008
* Leslie Walker, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A26760-2003Jun6¬Found=true "Webby Awards Salute Online Originality"], ''[[Washington Post]], June 8, 2003
== External links ==
* {{official website|http://webbyawards.com/}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/TheWebbyAwards Webby Awards] at ''[[YouTube]]''
{{Webby Awards}}
[[Category:Computer-related awards]]
[[Category:American science and technology awards]]
[[Category:Web awards]]
[[Category:Blog awards]]
[[Category:Web development]]
[[Category:Internet film festivals]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1996]]
[[Category:Webby Awards| ]]
| name = The Webby Awards
| image = Webby Awards.svg
| imagesize = 150px
| caption = Webby Awards logo
| description = "Excellence on the Internet including Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video and Mobile content."<ref name="about">{{cite web| url=http://www.webbyawards.com/about/| title=About The Webby Awards| publisher=Webby Awards| accessdate=2017-11-14}}</ref>
| presenter = [[International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences]]
| country =
| year = {{start date and age|1996}} (International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences)
| website = {{url|webbyawards.com}}
}}
A '''Webby Award''' is an [[List of prizes, medals and awards|award for excellence]] on the [[Internet]] presented annually by The [[International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences]], a judging body composed of over two thousand industry experts and technology innovators. Categories include [[websites]]; advertising and media; online film and video; mobile sites and apps; and social.<ref name="about"/>
Two winners are selected in each category, one by members of The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and one by the public who cast their votes during Webby People’s Voice voting.<ref name="about"/> Each winner presents a five-word acceptance speech, a trademark of the annual awards show.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Castillo|first1=Michelle|title=The Most Memorable 5-Word Webby Award Speeches Expressing gratitude in sound bites|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/most-memorable-5-word-webby-award-speeches-157864|publisher=AdWeek|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
Hailed as the "Internet’s highest honor,"<ref>{{cite news|last1=HEFFERNAN|first1=VIRGINIA|title=Broadcast Spoofs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/magazine/20wwln-medium-t.html?_r=0|publisher=[[New York Times]]|accessdate=5 May 2015|date=2008-04-20}}</ref> the award is one of the oldest Internet-oriented awards, and is associated with the phrase "The [[Academy Award|Oscars]] of the Internet."<ref>Richtel, Matt. ''[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE5D8123EF934A35752C0A96F958260 NEWS WATCH; Forget the Oscars, Here Come the Webbys]''. [[New York Times]]. 7 January 1999.</ref><ref>Kaplan, Karen ''[http://articles.latimes.com/1998/dec/14/business/fi-53879 Awards Count On Firm for Accuracy]''. [[Los Angeles Times]]. 14 December 1998.</ref><ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/advertising/history-of-guardian-online A brief history of guardian.co.uk]''. [[The Guardian]]. 30 April 2010.</ref>
== History ==
[[File:WebbyAwards-2008-ChocolateRain.jpg|thumb|2008 Webby Awards, [[Chocolate Rain]].]]
The Webby Awards began in 1996, sponsored by the Academy of Web Design and [[Cool Site of the Day]]. The first Webby Awards were produced by Kay Dangaard at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel as a nod to the first site of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars). That first year, they were called "Webbie" Awards. The first "Site of the Year" winner was the pioneer webisodic serial [[The Spot]].
Today's Webby Awards were founded by [[Tiffany Shlain]] when she was hired by ''The Web Magazine'' to re-establish them. The event was held in San Francisco from 1996 to 2004 and quickly became known for their "5 word Acceptance Speeches". After the first year the awards became more successful than the magazine and IDG closed the publication. Shlain continued to run The Webby Awards with the help of Maya Draisin until 2004.<ref name="hist">{{cite web| url=http://www.webbyawards.com/about/history.php |title=Webby History |publisher=Webby Awards |date= |accessdate=2009-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jul/07/news/cl-48818 |title=From the Valley of the Geeks Comes the Digital Diva |first=Booth |last=Moore |date=July 7, 2000 |publisher = [[LA Times]] |accessdate = 2011-10-20}}</ref>
The [[International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences]], which selects the winners of The Webby Awards, was established in 1998 by co-founders [[Tiffany Shlain]], Spencer Ante and Maya Draisin.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=127350&page=1 |title = hat Transcript: Internet Expert Tiffany Shlain |first=James |last=F. |date=September 15, 2000 |publisher=[[NBC]] |accessdate = 2011-10-20}}</ref> Members of the Academy include [[Kevin Spacey]], [[Grimes (musician)|Grimes]], [[Questlove]], Internet inventor [[Vint Cerf]], [[Instagram]]’s Head of Fashion Partnerships [[Eva Chen (editor)|Eva Chen]], comedian [[Jimmy Kimmel]], [[Twitter]] Founder [[Biz Stone]], [[Vice Media]] Co-Founder and CEO [[Shane Smith (journalist)|Shane Smith]], [[Tumblr]]’s [[David Karp]], Director of Harvard’s [[Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society]] [[Susan P. Crawford]], [[Refinery29]]’s Executive Creative Director Piera Gelardi, and CEO and cofounder of [[Gimlet Media]] [[Alex Blumberg]].<ref name="judges">{{cite web| url=https://www.webbyawards.com/about/judges/| title=Webby Awards Judges| publisher=Webby Awards| accessdate=2017-11-14}}</ref>
The Webby Awards is owned and operated by the Webby Media Group, a division of Recognition Media, which also owns and produces the Lovie Awards in Europe and Netted by the Webbys, a daily email publication launched in 2009. David-Michel Davies, CEO of Webby Media Group, current Executive Director of the Webby Awards and co-founder of Internet Week New York, was named Executive Director of the Webby Awards in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/10/business/media/10award.html |title = After Winning Advertising Awards, an Invitation to Pay for the Trophies |first=Stephanie |last=Clifford |date=August 9, 2009 |publisher = NY Times |accessdate = 2009-08-09}}</ref>
In 2009, the 13th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries.<ref name="burne_press_release">{{cite press | url = http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=156 | title = Webby Awards to honor David Byrne and Lorne Michaels for lifetime achievement | publisher = Webby Awards | date = May 28, 2008| accessdate = 2008-06-01 }}</ref> That same year, more than 500,000 votes were cast in The Webby People's Voice Awards.<ref>Webby Awards (May 5, 2009) [http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=185 Winners for Best Interactive Advertising] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119003246/http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=185 |date=2012-01-19 }}. Press Release. Retrieved 2010-04-02</ref> In 2012, the 16th Annual Webby awards received 1.5 million votes from more than 200 countries for the People's Voice awards.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17907624 |title = Webbys: BBC News website wins People's Voice news award |date=May 1, 2012 |publisher = [[BBC News Online]] |accessdate = 2012-05-02}}</ref> In 2015, the 19th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 13,000 entries from all 50 U.S. states and over 60 countries worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|title=19TH ANNUAL WEBBY AWARD NOMINEES|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-releases/vice-jimmy-fallon-oscar-selfie-like-a-girl-campaign-tinder-vine-michelle-phan-tyler-oakley-spotify-refinery-29-product-hunt-hbo-go-and-more-unveiled-as-19th-annual-webby-award-nominees/|publisher=Webby Awards|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
== Nomination process ==
During the Call for Entries phase, each entry is rated by Associate Members of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. Entries that receive the highest marks during this first round of voting are included on category-specific shortlists and further evaluated by Executive Members of the Academy.
Executive Academy Members with category-specific expertise evaluate the shortlisted entries based on the appropriate Website, Advertising & Media, Online Film & Video, Mobile Sites & Apps, and Social category criteria, and cast ballots to determine Webby Honorees, Nominees and Webby Winners. [[Deloitte]] provides vote tabulation consulting for the Webby Awards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Release|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-releases/vice-jimmy-fallon-oscar-selfie-like-a-girl-campaign-tinder-vine-michelle-phan-tyler-oakley-spotify-refinery-29-product-hunt-hbo-go-and-more-unveiled-as-19th-annual-webby-award-nominees/|publisher=Webby Awards|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
In addition to the award given in each category by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, another winner is selected in each category as determined by the general public during People’s Voice voting. Winners of both the Academy-selected and People’s Voice-selected awards are invited to the Webbys.<ref>[http://entries.webbyawards.com/home/judging "Judging Process"]. Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref>
== Awards granted ==
{{see also|List of Webby Award winners}}
The Webby Awards are presented in over a hundred categories among all four types of entries. A website can be entered in multiple categories and receive multiple awards.
In each category, two awards are handed out: a Webby Award selected by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and a People's Voice Award selected by the general public.<ref name="categories">{{cite web|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/categories.php |title=Categories |publisher=Webby Awards |date= |accessdate=2009-10-08}}</ref>
Past winners include [[Amazon.com]], [[eBay]], ''[[Travel + Leisure]]'', [[Simply Hired]], [[Kayak.com]], [[Yahoo!]], [[iTunes]], [[Google]], [[FedEx]], [[BBC News]], [[CNN]], [[MSNBC]], ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Annie Lennox]], [[NPR]], ''[[Salon Magazine]]'', [[Facebook]], [[Meetup (website)|Meetup]], [[Wikipedia]], ''[[Deleted - The Game]]'', [[Flickr]], [[ESPN]], [[Comedy Central]], [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]], [[The Office (U.S. TV series)|''The Office'']] webisodes, [[SwiftKey]], ''[[My Damn Channel]]'', [[NASA]], [[George Takei]], [[Airbnb]], ''[[The Onion]]'', [[Kickstarter]], [[Mashable]], [[Zach Galifianakis]], [[Justin Bieber]], [[Rhett and Link]], and ''[[Humans of New York]]''.
Each year, the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences also honors individuals with Webby Special Achievement Awards. Past Webby Special Achievement winners include [[Al Gore]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[David Bowie]], [[Meg Whitman]], [[Tim & Eric]], [[Sir Tim Berners-Lee]], [[Lorne Michaels]], [[Craig Newmark]], [[Thomas Friedman]], [[Stephen Colbert]], [[Michel Gondry]], the [[Beastie Boys]], [[Kevin Spacey]], [[Banksy]], [[Lawrence Lessig]], [[Van Jones]], [[Gillian Anderson]], [[Tituss Burgess]], [[Ellie Kemper]] and [[Jerry Seinfeld]].<ref name="categories"/>
== Ceremony ==
Since 2005, The Webby Awards has been presented in New York City.<ref>Webby Awards (April 5, 2005). [http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=60 "For First Time Ever, Webby Awards will take place in New York City"] Press Release. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> Comedian [[Rob Corddry]] hosted the ceremony from 2005 to 2007. [[Seth Meyers]] of [[Saturday Night Live]] hosted in 2008 and 2009, B.J. Novak of [[NBC]]'s [[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]] in 2010, and Lisa Kudrow in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webbyawards.com/|title=Home|publisher=}}</ref>
Comedian, actor, and writer [[Patton Oswalt]] hosted from 2012 to 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=BACLE|first1=ARIANA|title=Patton Oswalt to host Webby Awards for third time|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2014/03/25/patton-oswalt-webby-awards-host|publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref> Comedian [[Hannibal Buress]] will host the 19th Annual Webby Awards.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vitto|first1=Laura|title=Comedian Hannibal Buress to host the 2015 Webby Awards|url=http://mashable.com/2015/03/31/hannibal-buress-webby-awards/|publisher=[[Mashable]]|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
The Webbys are famous for limiting recipients to five-word speeches, which are often humorous, although some exceed the limit. In 2005 when accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award, former Vice President [[Al Gore]]'s speech was "Please don't [[Florida election recount|recount]] this vote." He was introduced by [[Vint Cerf]] who used the same format to state, "We all invented the Internet."<ref name=nyt>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/08/arts/08webb.html
|title=Accepting a Webby? Brevity, Please
|accessdate=2008-06-15 |last= Carr |first=David |authorlink=David Carr (journalist)
|date=June 8, 2005 |publisher= New York Times |work= Arts}}</ref> In 2008, [[Stephen Colbert]] shouted “Me. Me. Me. Me. Me”<ref name="sp08">[http://www.webbyawards.com/press/archived-speeches.php#2008 Speeches, 2008] Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> when accepting his award for Webby Person of the Year. Accepting the award for Best Political Blog in 2008, [[Arianna Huffington]]’s speech was “President Obama ... Sounds good, right?"<ref name="sp08"/>
Other popular speeches include "Can anyone fix my computer?"<ref name="sp07">[http://www.webbyawards.com/press/archived-speeches.php#2007 Speeches, 2007]. Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> (the [[Beastie Boys]]); "Everything you think is true"<ref name="sp06">[http://www.webbyawards.com/press/archived-speeches.php#2006 Speeches, 2006]. Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> ([[Prince (musician)|Prince]]); "Thank God Conan got promoted"<ref name="sp">[http://www.webbyawards.com/press/speeches.php Speeches] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815040513/http://www.webbyawards.com/press/speeches.php |date=2011-08-15 }}. Webby Awards. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> ([[Jimmy Fallon]]), "Free, open... Keep one Web"<ref name="sp"/> ([[Sir Tim Berners Lee]]), “Holy - Fucking - Shit, [[Buzz Aldrin]]"<ref>{{cite video |date= June 15, 2010 |title= Jake & Amir of CollegeHumor.com 5 Word Speech |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFmZDCLY6PI |publisher=YouTube |format=Flash |accessdate=2011-04-30}} (Official video).</ref><!-- official video--> ([[Jake Hurwitz]]), and "[[Holocaust]]. [[Holocaust denial|Did it happen?]] Yes." ([[Sarah Silverman]]).
In 2013, the creator of the [[GIF|Graphics Interchange Format (GIF)]], [[Steve Wilhite]], accepted his Webby and delivered his now famous five-word speech, "It’s pronounced 'Jif' not 'Gif'."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Doug|title=It's settled! Creator tells us how to pronounce 'GIF'|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/22/tech/web/pronounce-gif/|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=5 May 2015}}</ref>
== Criticism ==
The Webbys have been criticized for their pay-to-enter and pay-to-attend policy (winners and nominees also have to pay to attend the award ceremony), and thus for not taking most websites into consideration before distributing their awards.<ref name=tribune>{{cite news|publisher=Chicago Tribune| date=May 14, 2008| <!--url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/may/14/news/chi-hypertext-webbys-0514may14--> url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-05-14/features/0805120221_1_webby-awards-digital-arts-awards-show| title=Critics pour vitriol on Webby Awards| first=Steve| last=Johnson| accessdate=2010-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = What? You've Not Been Honored by the Webbys? | work = [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]| first = Jack| last=Shafer | date = April 9, 2008 | url = http://www.slate.com/id/2188581/| accessdate=2010-04-02}}</ref><ref name="WSJ09">Taylor, Marisa (May 7, 2009) [https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/05/07/the-annual-controversy-over-the-webby-awards/ The annual controversy over the Webby awards.] [[Wall Street Journal]], ''Digits'' blog. Retrieved 2010-04-02.</ref> [[Gawker]], its [[Valleywag]] column, and others, have called the awards a scam, with Valleywag saying, ''"...somewhere along the way, the organizers figured out that this goofy charade could be milked for profit."''<ref name=valleywag>{{cite web | first = Owen | last=Thomas | title = The Webby Awards Remain the Best Scam Going | date = April 5, 2009 | publisher = [[Valleywag]] | url = http://gawker.com/5240982/the-webby-awards-remain-the-best-scam-going |accessdate=2010-04-02}}</ref>
In response, Webby Awards executive director David-Michel Davies told the Wall Street Journal that entry fees “provide the best and most sustainable model for ensuring that our judging process remains consistent and rigorous and is not dependent on things like sponsorships that can fluctuate from year to year.”<ref name="WSJ09"/>
== See also ==
{{Portal|Internet}}
* [[Streamy Awards]]
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
== Further reading ==
* Joanna Glasner, [https://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2006/05/70850 "Usual Suspects Dominate Webbys"] - ''[[Wired News]]'', May 9, 2006
* Jack Shafer, [http://www.slate.com/id/2188581/ "What? You've Not Been Honored by the Webbys?"], ''Slate'' Magazine, April 9, 2008
* Leslie Walker, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A26760-2003Jun6¬Found=true "Webby Awards Salute Online Originality"], ''[[Washington Post]], June 8, 2003
== External links ==
* {{official website|http://webbyawards.com/}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/TheWebbyAwards Webby Awards] at ''[[YouTube]]''
{{Webby Awards}}
[[Category:Computer-related awards]]
[[Category:American science and technology awards]]
[[Category:Web awards]]
[[Category:Blog awards]]
[[Category:Web development]]
[[Category:Internet film festivals]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1996]]
[[Category:Webby Awards| ]]
