The Webby Awards have been recognizing excellence on the internet since 1996, with the first awards ceremony taking place in 1997. The first Webby Awards honored websites in 12 categories.
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) has been the organization behind the Webby Awards since its inception. IADAS is a group of over 2,000 members from the digital community.
The Webby Awards have grown significantly over the years, with over 7,000 entries submitted in 2020 alone.
Check this out: List of Web Awards
Webby Award Winners
The Webby Awards 2016 had some amazing winners. The ceremony honored social movements, websites, entertainers, and more who were recognized for their inspiring talent and visionary innovation on the Internet.
Lena Dunham was a standout star who received a special achievement award for founding Lenny Letter. Jessica Alba was also honored as a standout entrepreneur.
The Onion was awarded the Webby Lifetime Achievement award. Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner received the Webby Special Achievement award.
The winners of the Webby Awards included The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, who won Best Social Content and Marketing. First Lady Michelle Obama won two Webbys in the Online Film & Video Category.
Funny or Die won Best Individual Short (Comedy) for their work. Tracy Morgan won Best Scripted Branded Entertainment. The Weeknd won Best Music Video.
Tyler Oakley was recognized as the Best Web Personality. Straight Outta Compton won Best Digital Campaign. SNL 40 won Best Events and Live Webcast, Online Film & Video: Variety.
Game of Thrones took home the award for Best Overall Social Presence. Jimmy Kimmel Live! won Online Film & Video: Viral. Vanity Fair won Online Film & Video: Documentary.
Zoolander Returns to the Runway won three Webbys, including Best Live Experience in Branded Entertainment. The 69th Annual Tony Awards won Best Event in Social. YouTube Music Awards won Best Music Video Channel.
House of Cards won FU 2016 for Best Integrated Campaign.
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Yearly Winners
The Webby Awards have been honoring the best of the internet since 1996. The winners are selected by a group of academy judges, including notable figures like Jimmy Kimmel and Vint Cerf.
In 2004, the winners included Mercedes-Benz USA (Automotive), Google (Best Practices), Merck (Health), and Skype (Telecommunications).
The Webby Awards have also recognized outstanding individuals, such as Robert Kahn, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 for co-inventing the TCP/IP protocols. Prince was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award that year for his "visionary" use of the internet.
Here's a list of some notable winners from the 2006 Webby Awards:
- Webby Breakout of the Year: MySpace.com and its founders Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe
- Webby Artist of the Year: Gorillaz
- Webby Entrepreneur of the Year: Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and HDNet
- Webby Person of the Year: Thomas Friedman, New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The World is Flat: A Brief History of The 21st Century
The 2014 Webby Awards recognized Banksy as the Person of the Year, De La Soul as the Artist of the Year, and the Jamaican Bobsled Team as the Athlete of the Year.
Notable Winners
The Webby Awards honored some truly inspiring winners in 2016. Lena Dunham was recognized for founding Lenny Letter and receiving a Special Achievement Award.
The Onion received the Webby Lifetime Achievement Award, a well-deserved recognition for their contributions to the web. Jessica Alba was honored as the Webby Entrepreneur of the Year for her entrepreneurial spirit.
The #BlackLivesMatter founders, Opal Tometi and Alicia Garza, were awarded the Webby Social Movement of the Year, a testament to their powerful movement. Making a Murderer took home the Webby Film & Video Breakout of the Year Award.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon won the Best Social Content and Marketing award, while First Lady Michelle Obama received two Webbys in the Online Film & Video Category.
A different take: List of Photo and Video Apps
Other Categories
The Webby Awards have a wide range of categories to recognize outstanding achievements in the digital world.
The People's Voice Awards, which are open to the public, have honored websites like CNN's iReport, which allows users to submit their own news stories.
The Webby Awards have also recognized excellence in mobile and tablet apps, such as the Weather Channel's app, which was a winner in 2011.
The Webby Awards have a strong focus on innovation and creativity, as seen in the award-winning website for the game "Angry Birds".
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a big deal to win a Webby?
Winning a Webby is a prestigious honor, considered the highest recognition of excellence on the internet. It's a badge of distinction that sets you apart as a leader in your field.
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