I'm enormously flattered to be one of the judges for this year's New Statesman New Media Awards. Initially I harboured a sneaking suspicion this role had less to do with my personal critical capacity than the fact that there aren't too many independent bloggers writing about the use of new media in nonprofits, government, engagement and so on ... but our first meeting yesterday was very reassuring and motivating. We were all made to feel most welcome and special.
Organisers Kathryn Corrick and Charlotte Eisenhart were very reassuring about the nature of the task, explaining how they will be short listing, sending us finalists to review, and organising a further session where we hopefully agree the winners.
A lengthy lunch with copious refreshment was on offer for this, but my fellow judges were so businesslike that they were prepared to compromise on tea (well, maybe with cocktails) to make sure everyone could make it.
Expect decisions early July. Meanwhile I must urge anyone interested to nominate here by May 31 projects that they admire. You can see last year's winners, and entries so far this year. The categories are:
Contribution to civic society award This award will go to the project that best uses new media technology to contribute to civic society.
Modernising government award This award will go to the most innovative use of new media technology to improve and modernise services at any level of government.
Elected representative award This award will go to the elected representative who best uses new media technology to communicate with the electorate. This award is open to councillors, MEPs, MPs, MSPs and Members of the Welsh Assembly, etc.
Education award This award will go to the body or project that has made the most significant contribution to education through the use of new media technology.
Information and openness award This award will go to the individual or organisation that best uses new media technology to provide an alternative, informative voice enhancing democratic debate.
Advocacy award This award will go to the individual or organisation that has most effectively influenced opinions and behaviour through the use of new media technology. Pressure groups, lobbying firms, charities, corporate public affairs departments and campaigning organisations are all eligible.
Young Innovator award This award recognises the impact of young innovators in our society. The winner will be involved with new media innovations that improve public life or contribute to civic society. They could have contributed to, created or run a project. These may include websites, blogs, online radio or any other new media project. There is a £500 cash prize for this category. Entrants must be under 26 on 01 Jan 2007.
The online nomination forum is really simple, and you can nominate projects to more than one category. Once the project is nominated it goes up on the site, where you and others can add ratings and comments. I confess I hadn't looked at the awards process very closely in previous years, but doing so now I'm really impressed with the way it is organised, and the scope that it gives for finding out about interesting projects - whether or not they win.
The great benefit of awards programmes - if done properly - seems to me not just the motivation and encouragement it offers to entrants, but the possible spin-off networking.
Later in the day I had a chance to see more of this, when the awards team and New Statesman publisher Spencer Neal hosted a debate about whether MPs will use their new £10,000 communication allowance effectively.
I was lined up with Derek Wyatt MP and Tom Steinberg to make an opening contribution, about which more later. Subsequent hospitality rather took its toll, so I'll shelve that piece until I've done a bit of work for clients who pay me to do new media stuff rather than just write about it.
At least I now have another reason to blog: gets you an invite to party with the real media players.
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