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The 2021 Webby Media Industry Index

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Meet the top 5 Media Companies honored at the hallmark 25th Annual Webby Awards.

The media landscape has rapidly shifted over the last few years. Traditional media companies are finding more creative ways to produce content. Even more, publishers and entertainment companies are telling the stories behind their programming in more editorial ways. The media companies honored during the 25th Annual Webby Awards are using the Internet to tell great stories and reach wider audiences.

The 5 companies featured in our 3rd Annual Webby Media Industry Index represent creatives who are doing just that. Our index showcases the 5 media companies with the most Webby-recognized projects across all categories in the 25th Annual Webby Awards (2021). In addition, we’ve highlighted a few pieces of work by each of the featured companies. 

HOW IT WORKS: To start, we analyzed which industries over indexed in the 25th Annual Webby Awards. We then ranked which companies produced the highest-performing projects. *Companies are listed with the highest-performing projects top to bottom. Webby Wins are weighed more heavily in calculations.*

The 2021 Media Industry Index

BY THE NUMBERS 

  • Comedy Central leads the competition with 14 wins, 9 nominations and 10 honors. 
  • Media companies entered with projects across a wide-range of disciplines, most notably virtual experiences to promote original content, explainer videos, and work that performs well in craft categories like Best Art Direction and Best Use of 360-Video. 
  • HBO’s recognized work reflects the industry-wide shift of streaming services to lean into immersive experiences and editorial storytelling for their original programming, including Insecure, Lovecraft Country and Legendary.
  • The most successful media companies in the 25th Annual Webby Awards were awarded across the breadth of Webby Awards honors including: Websites, Video, Branded Content, Podcasts, Apps and Virtual & Remote.

BEHIND THE RANKS

1. Comedy Central

The media company is the leading brand for all things funny, delivering the best stand-up specials, sketch shows, adult animation, late-night programming and more. During the 25th Annual Webby Awards Comedy Central performed well in our Video Craft categories, for best writing, animation and political satire. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah represents most of its wins, with original video and social content. View the work below.

  • Skip Ad – 2021 Winner, Comedy: Longform
  • The Daily Show – 2021 People’s Voice Winner, Best Overall Social Presence
  • Dope Man – 2021 Honoree, Comedy: Longform

2. HBO 

As a television network and streaming service, HBO has been recognized for decades as one of the most respected and innovative entertainment brands in the world. Last year, with the cancellation of in-person gathering, HBO leaned into virtual and immersive activations to promote original shows Insecure and Lovecraft Country. View the work below.

  • HBO Max – 2021 Winner, Entertainment, Winner & People’s Voice Winner, Best User Experience, People’s Voice Winner, Best Visual Design – Function, and Best Streaming Service

3. National Geographic

National Geographic has been igniting the explorer in all of us for 133 years through groundbreaking storytelling. They offer 360 experiences across television channels, magazines, books, video, events, and digital and social platforms. Last year, National Geographic was honored in Video Craft categories, including Best Use of Filter/Lenses and Best 360-Video to tell more dynamic environmental and sociopolitical stories. View the work below.

  • National Geographic Social Media – 2021 Winner & People’s Voice Winner, Best Photography & Design 2021, Winner, Best Overall Social Presence, Nominee, Education & Discovery
  • Everest AR – 2021 Winner & People’s Voice Winner, Best Use of Filters/Lenses
  • Field Notes – 2021 People’s Voice Winner, Corporate Social Responsibility

4. Condé Nast

Founded in 1909, Condé Nast is a global media company that produces some of the world’s leading print, digital, video and social brands. During the 25th Annual Webby Awards, their work reflected Condé Nast Spain’s move to commission short films with great art direction, as well their execution of celebrity-driven content. View the work below.

5. CNN 

CNN is a multinational news-based television channel, and CNN Digital is the world leader in online news and information. Their mission is to inform, engage and empower the world. While the majority of CNN’s entered work represents political news, they are also using animation to tell more interesting stories, as well as produce branded content for partners. View the work below.

  • Go There (CNN) – 2021 Winner, News & Politics Series & Campaigns 
  • Life After – 2021 Winner, Animation Series & Channels 
  • CNN – 2021 Nominee, Best Streaming Service, and News & Politics 

To join the best media companies in the world, enter the 26th Annual Webby Awards. New categories for Email Newsletters, Best Installation or Experience, Best Social Campaign, Best Content Series, and more. The Final Entry Deadline is on Friday, December 17th!

READ THE FULL SERIES

The Webby Podcast Industry Index is part of our larger Webby Industry Index Series that showcases the companies who have made the highest caliber of work across their respective industries. Read the full series to see this year’s best Agencies, Brands, Game Creators, Podcast Companies, Production Companies and Tech Companies.

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