Just five words - no more
| 10:23 UK time, Wednesday, 14 June 2006
A lot of Americans like our News website. I was reminded of this on Monday night - by a lot of Americans - at the Webby awards in New York.
We were there to receive, for the second consecutive year, the two top prizes for best news website. A tough assignment, but someone had to go.
The ceremonies for the Webby awards - often dubbed the online Oscars (to the annoyance of the actual, offline Oscars) have a reputation for being unstuffy and a bit wacky (some pictures here). Last night's featured Prince, one of the prize winners, who sang a song, then threw his guitar away and disappeared. Damon Albarn's Gorillaz got a prize and in puppet form they did a comedy routine on behalf of their human creators.
Thomas Friedman told us globalisation meant the world really is flat, as he’s famously explained, and Robert Kahn recounted his role as one of the internet's founding fathers. He also delivered his acceptance speech in binary code. Decoded, it apparently said the future of the internet belongs to “digital objects and handles”. Peter Sharples of our live site team was one of our party at the bash and was able helpfully to explain what this meant to us in between speeches.
It made a lot of sense at the time.
Beyond that I recollect being interviewed by Guto Harri, making the obligatory five-word-only acceptance speech - "'We did it again, THANKYOU" (read the rest here) - going to the after-show party, then the airport after three hours’ sleep.
Main impression though: What we do is hugely respected by a group of the most influential people working on the web - and it was fantastic to witness that in person.
Comments
Thank you is two words.
You got to see Prince? Now I'm really jealous.
Oh, and congratulations!
This blog is random! Yes!
"Unstuffy and a bit wacky"? At least no-one cries when they recieve a webby award!
In my opinion this is a very good series of awards. It's great to see awards being given to so many different causes such as activism, not just awarding commercial achievements such as music. It's good that smaller groups and niche markets get recognition for their achievements.
I feel that despite the Webbys not being as well recognised at other awards, such as the Oscars, it's a great way to give motivation to less well known causes and to show that people appreciate what they are doing and that it is well worth it.
Plus it looked like a fun evening!