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The Weblog Awards
Eighth Annual Weblog Awards: The 2008 Bloggies
Honor. Prestige. Wealth. These are some of the things that a Bloggie won't bring you. But that won't stop the Web from voting, because this is the annual non-profit competition that determines which blogs are the best of the best. Get ready to find out who the 2008 Weblog Awards are going to.
What You Need to Know
- A "weblog" is defined as a page with dated entries.
- The contest is open to any weblogs that existed for a period of time during the year 2007, so weblogs that were discontinued during 2007 are also eligible.
- Only one nomination form and one finalist voting form may be submitted per person.
- E-mail addresses are required to vote. You must use your own address and confirm the validation e-mail.
- If you attempt to submit a second ballot, your first one will be replaced.
- In the nomination phase:
- URLs are required.
- The maximum number of weblogs you may nominate for a category is three (3) for most categories and four (4) for Weblog of the Year.
- At least three (3) different weblogs total must be nominated.
- There is no limit to the number of categories a weblog may be nominated for.
- Nominees have to fit the category they are placed in.
- Weblogs may win a category over multiple years a maximum of three times.
These rules may change at any time, but they probably won't.
How It Works
From January 1, 2008 until 10:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5) on Friday, January 11, anyone could nominate their favorite weblogs.
That Sunday, January 13, 200 randomly selected voters received an e-mail. It will list the weblogs that have received the most nominations in ten categories. They had until 10:00 PM EST on Friday, January 18 to privately submit their five favorites (six for Weblog of the Year) for each category. The five (or six for Weblog of the Year) receiving the most votes will become finalists. I (Nikolai Nolan) only voted for the panel in the case of a tie for fifth place. This panel was on an opt-in policy.
On Tuesday, January 22, the finalists were announced and voting is open again to choose the winners.
Voting closed at 10:00 PM EST on Thursday, January 31. The winners were announced on March 10.
Where It Happened
The Weblog Awards ceremony was held at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas, USA on Monday, March 10 at 1:00 PM at the Trade Show Day Stage. Webloggers including previous Bloggie™ winners presented certificates and prizes to those present.
Those who aren't attending may join the excitement on IRC, in #Bloggies on irc.freenode.net. Winners will be announced live and a play-by-play of the ceremony will be given.
After the ceremony, the results will be posted on this page.
What the Winners Get
Because of the large amount of categories, I don't personally give a award to every winner, but the final four categories, including Weblog of the Year, received 2,008 US cents (US$20.08).
South by Southwest Interactive offered Bloggie finalists a special discount to attend the ceremony in March.
What's Changed With the Categories
Most categories will remain as they've always been. But because of revision or removal, it's time to bid farewell to:
- Best British or Irish Weblog
- Best African or Middle Eastern Weblog
- Best Craft Weblog
- Best Web Development Weblog
In exchange, these spiffy new categories take their place:
- Best African Weblog
- Best Art or Craft Weblog
- Best Fashion Weblog
- Best Gossip Weblog
Best Web Application for Weblogs
Something that helps you publish, make comments, anything that has to do with developing a weblog.
Hall of Fame: Movable Type has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best Australian or New Zealand Weblog
Hall of Fame: Loobylu has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best Asian Weblog
Weblogs from Asia, including the Middle East.
Hall of Fame: Weblog Wannabe has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best African Weblog
Winner
Nominees
Best European Weblog
Hall of Fame: PlasticBag.org and My Boyfriend Is a Twat have won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best Latin American Weblog
Winner
Nominees
Best Canadian Weblog
Hall of Fame: Photojunkie has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best American Weblog
Weblogs from the United States.
Winner
Nominees
Best Photography of a Weblog
Photoblogs and other weblogs that regularly feature photography.
Winner
Nominees
Best Art or Craft Weblog
Winner
Nominees
Best Food Weblog
Winner
Nominees
Best Fashion Weblog
Winner
Nominees
Best Weblog About Music
Winner
Nominees
Best Entertainment Weblog
Weblogs about movies, television, and/or theater.
Winner
Nominees
Best Weblog About Politics
Winner
Nominees
Best Computer or Technology Weblog
Hall of Fame: Slashdot has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best Topical Weblog
Weblogs with a definite topic other than the ones in the categories above.
Hall of Fame: Bookslut has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best GLBT Weblog
Webloggers in the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered community.
Hall of Fame: Little Yellow Different has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best Teen Weblog
Weblogs written by those 19 and under.
Winner
Nominees
Most Humorous Weblog
Winner
Nominees
Best Group Weblog
Weblogs written by an exclusive group.
Hall of Fame: Boing Boing has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best Community Weblog
Weblogs where everyone is invited to post.
Hall of Fame: MetaFilter has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best-Designed Weblog
Hall of Fame: Loobylu has won this category three or more times.
Winner
Nominees
Best-Kept Secret Weblog
The best underrepresented weblogs.
Winner
Nominees
Best New Weblog
Weblogs that began during the year 2007.
Winner
Nominees
Lifetime Achievement
Webloggers who have been blogging at least since January 1, 2003. This award may only be won once, so Jeffrey Zeldman, Evan Williams, Jason Kottke, Heather Powazek Champ, Tom Coates, Boing Boing, and Slashdot are not eligible.
Winner
Nominees
Weblog of the Year
This is it: the category for the best weblog overall.