The Online Media Awards attracted entries from some of the world's leading websites including Al Jazeera, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, The Times, CNN, New York Times, Sky, Channel 4 / ITN, ITV, Sunday Times, BBC and Reuters, to name a few. This year’s awards are sponsored by iomart Group, Unanimis, Press Gazette, Cision, the Press Association, Society of Editors, NUJ and the British Journalism Review.
Entries were judged by a 25 strong international panel including Noel Young, Owner of ReportBoston.com and Chairman of the Judging Panel. Nick Wrenn, VP digital, CNN International and Bill Hagerty, Chairman of the British Review Journal also had their say. Previous director of the world association of newspapers, Eamonn Byrne judged as well as Liz Vercoe, previous deputy Editor at the Radio Times and David Mill, former Online Editor of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail and Group Online Editor of Mirror Group Newspapers. Also taking part was Chris Boffey, previous news editor at The Sunday and Daily Mirror, The Sunday Telegraph and The Observer and Anne Driscoll, award-winning journalist with work published in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Huffington Post and People.
The Guardian won website of the year which was also chosen as the Grand Prix – the top accolade selected from all of the evening’s winners. Overall the guardian took home 5 awards and a commendation.
The Chairman’s Award, chosen by Noel Young of ReportBoston.com, went to RadioTimes.com. Noel said “it’s a truly noteworthy achievement. A blast from the past which still makes its present felt every week on the British magazine front. Congratulations to the team from RadioTimes.com”.
BBC News Online and Channel 4 News both won 3 awards each but it wasn’t only big names that were recognised. BACP won the award for Best Health/Education News Site for TherapyToday.net.
In the Individual awards the Online Editor of the Year went to Anna Doble, Channel 4 News. Digital Writer of the year was presented to Geoff White also from Channel 4 News and Best Freelance writer was awarded to Simon Hooper for Al Jazeera English Online. Outstanding Digital Team of the Year was given to the.guardian.com.
The winners
GRAND PRIX – WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
The Guardian, for theguardian.com
CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
RadioTimes.com
ONLINE EDITOR OF THE YEAR
Anna Doble, Channel 4 News
DIGITAL WRITER OF THE YEAR
Geoff White, Channel 4 News
OUTSTANDING DIGITAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by the British Journalism Review
the.guardian.com
BEST SITE FOR NEWS-LED JOURNALISM
BBC News Online
BEST SPECIALIST SITE FOR JOURNALISM
Gannett Digital, for USA TODAY
BEST LOCAL/REGIONAL NEWS SITE
BBC Online - East Midlands
BEST NATIONAL/WORLD NEWS SITE
The Guardian, for theguardian.com
BEST CAMPAIGNING/INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
The Guardian, for The Guardian - The NSA Files
BEST COMMENTARY/BLOGGING
The Guardian, for Guardian Live Blogs
BEST VIDEO JOURNALISM
VICE Media, for VICE
BEST DESIGNED SITE
Get The Gloss
BEST TWITTER FEED
BBC News Online, for @BBCBreaking
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Channel 4 News, for Philippines family reunited - #c4newspopup - #WT4
BEST USE OF CROWD SOURCING OR CITIZEN JOURNALISM
BBC News Online, for BBC News Online Winter Watch
BEST BRAND DEVELOPMENT
The Scottish Sun
BEST COMMERCIAL INNOVATION
Dennis Publishing, for Adnostic
TECHNICAL INNOVATION
Channel 4 News/ITN, for #DataBaby - Technical Innovation
BEST APP – FOR SMART PHONE OR TABLET
Financial Times, for FT App
BEST FREELANCE WRITER
Simon Hooper, for Al Jazeera English Online
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER
David Rose, for Telegraph Media Group
BEST LIFESTYLE/LEISURE NEWS SITE
Radio Times.com
BEST BUSINESS/FINANCE SITE
Forbes Media, for The Transformation of Forbes.com
BEST HEALTH/EDUCATION NEWS SITE
BACP, TherapyToday.net
NATIVE ADVERTISING SOLUTION/CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
The Economist
