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April 20, 2005
Holyrood and the Webby Awards
The Online Parliamentarian report that Holyrood have paid to enter the Webby Awards! What a joke! Can it really be true?
I can’t remember when I discovered the Webbies “the only award show for Internet sites that matters”. Actually I think they found me. I wasn’t sure whether I needed or was worthy of an award, but when I saw the entry fee was between 95 and 195 dollars, I realized it was a scam.
incunabula.typepad.com/parliament/2005/04/thewebbyaward.html
UPDATE 21 April 05
Here is link to a Scottish Parliament news release dated 10 May 2004. It refers to the competition last year. (Apparently this year’s announcement is no longer on the website.)
www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-04/pa04-030.htm
I have found the spam email the Webby Awards sent me in December 2001. They offered me a discount if I applied early! See below:
X-Sender: drwatson@mail.webbyawards.com (Unverified)
Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2001 13:47:27 -0800
To: interestedentrants@webbyawards.com
From: Doc Watson drwatson@webbyawards.com
Subject: Webby Awards Call for Entries Has Begun - Discount to 12-21-01
You are receiving this email because you registered to be notified when the call for entries began. Thank you for your interest.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The 6th Annual Webby Awards Seek The Best of the Web.
The Web sites that people go to daily for information, entertainment, community products and services. The Web sites who model the best practices for this year and will set the standards as we enter the Internet’s second decade.
We know you’re out there. Stand up.
Enter Your Site Now for an Early Bird Discount http://www.webbyawards.com/main/submit/index.html
You are large and small, alternative or mass-market, creating content and services in any of our 30 categories from Activism to Commerce, Travel to Education, Film to Personal Web Site, NetArt to Technical Achievement, and our best of the best, Best Practices.
You deserve to be recognized for your achievements; to receive acknowledgement from the leading international honor in technology, creativity and individual achievement; to receive exposure only the top award can bring — placing you on the map or reminding people that you’re still the best — more traffic, new visitors, new customers, new members to your community.
You’re there. You’re setting standards, you’re pushing boundaries. Let us see you. Stand up. Stand out.
Enter Your Site Now for an Early Bird Discount http://www.webbyawards.com/main/submit/index.html
Early Deadline: 12.21.01 Final Deadline: 01.31.02
The 6th Annual Webby Awards Honoring the best in creativity, technology and individual achievement. http://www.webbyawards.com
Sponsors include: IDG (http://www.idg.com), Creative Group (http://www.creativegroup.com), SBC Communications, Inc. (http://www.sbc.com), and Elias Arts (http://www.eliasarts.com).
All balloting is audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.pwcglobal.com)
Posted by Simon Holledge at April 20, 2005 02:49 PM
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Comments
I guess a Freedom of Information Act style enquiry should yield the required result as to whether or not they've actually spent money on this.
Any volunteers? (I'm too lazy.)
I really do have, amongst other things, all paws crossed that they haven't been this stupid.
Posted by: The Bagged Bear at April 20, 2005 07:54 AM
Well, they have! I have posted the link above.
Posted by: Simon Holledge at April 20, 2005 11:24 AM
Ah, so you did!
Well I guess at least they aren't going to be on their own in looking daft, scant consolation I know but the Guardian will be joining them.
Posted by: The Bagged Bear at April 20, 2005 02:32 PM
I suppose it's possible they were genuinely invited to improve the credibility of the whole thing.
I left a message on the Guardian asking about this.
Posted by: Simon Holledge at April 20, 2005 06:14 PM
Ah! The Guardian removed my comment asking if they paid to enter the contest! Hmm . . .
Posted by: Simon Holledge at April 21, 2005 02:36 AM
Oh dear. And I thought I was naive on the interweb! (I probably still am but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have fallen for this one.)
Posted by: Garry at April 21, 2005 01:12 PM