The Webby Awards call for entry

Hailed as “one of the most prestigious awards in the world” by the BBC and the “Internet’s highest honor” by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is an international award honouring excellence on the Internet, including websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile websites.

Winners will have a chance to follow in the footsteps of such past Webby winners as World Wide Web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee ("Free... open... Keep one Web,"), Al Gore (“Please don’t recount this vote.”), and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone (“Creativity is a renewable resource.”), in broadcasting their speech via the official Webby Awards YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/webby).

Following this year’s ceremony, the Webby channel was #1 on YouTube for several days, with almost 1.5 million video views to date.

View the “What will be your five-word speech be?” video clip featuring past winners delivering their five-word speeches at: http://www.youtube.com/webby?x=u0BTmdv6C3E.

2009 Webby winners from Australia included:

· Greenpeace - Send a Whale www.send-a-whale.com/ (Rich Media Advertising: Non-Profit/Educational)
To see the five-word acceptance speech for Greenpeace, go to - http://www.youtube.com/webby?x=rreV1nCfNZs

· CommeSec iPhone commsec.com.au/iphone (Mobile Marketplace and Services)

· Lonely Planet www.lonelyplanet.com (Best Travel)

· Tourism Australia's - www.australia.com (Best tourism)

“The Webby Awards gives winners – from up-and-coming designers to marketing strategists to acclaimed actors and directors – a chance to shine in a global spotlight,” said David-Michel Davies.

“We’re looking forward to honoring the innovators from Australia who are pushing the Internet forward in exciting new directions.”

According to the Australian Webby ambassador Simon Goodrich, managing director of portable content, the 13th Annual Webby Awards received a record nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries.

The Webby Awards is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Several Internet leaders from Australia are members of the Academy including Lonely Planet publications director of global business development Chris Boden, ABC innovation manager of digital & interactive TV Chris Winter and AIMIA national president Guy Gadney.

Nominees for the 14th Annual Webby Awards will be announced in April 2010, and winners will be honored at a ceremony in New York City on June 14, 2010.

www.webbyawards.com