For the past few years, the media industry’s landscape has drastically changed. Publishers have launched dedicated arms of business to develop podcasts or tell new stories using immersive technology and Web3. While these are relatively new developments, a few trends remain the same, namely a doubling down on social video and content series. The media companies honored during the 26th Annual Webby Awards are using the Internet to tell great stories and reach wider audiences.
The 4th Annual Webby Media Industry Index is a roundup of five media companies that are publishing the most compelling and creative stories, across all mediums. Ranked in order, the index highlights the media publishers with the most success in the 26th Annual Webby Awards, across wins, nominations and honors. Additionally, we’ve highlighted a few pieces of work by each company. created the year’s best, and most innovative storytelling. These five companies are defining great storytelling during the precipice of a new era for the Internet.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- National Geographic led the competition with 9 wins, 8 nominations and 5 honors in the 26th Annual Webby Awards
- More media companies have invested in podcasting, developing ongoing shows and one-off, limited series to support existing programming. A few standouts include National Geographic’s “A Reckoning in Tulsa” and CNN’s Behind the Desk: The Story of Late Night.
- HBO, National Geographic and CNN made the index for the second consecutive year, with HBO leaning into both our Virtual & Remote and Apps & Software categories
BEHIND THE RANKS:
1. National Geographic
National Geographic has been igniting the explorer in all of us for more than 130 years through groundbreaking storytelling. They offer 360 experiences across television channels, magazines, books, videos, events, and digital and social platforms.
As longtime believers in the power of great stories, National Geographic was crowned the 2022 Webby Media Company of the Year for its diverse portfolio that includes documentary series, its app, podcasts and award-winning websites with stunning photography. Last season, National Geographic’s Instagram presence swept our Social categories. Other notable projects include immersive digital experiences, like All Eyes on Mars, National Geographic Earth Day 2021 and Los Angeles Confronts Its Shady Divide.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- National Geographic led the competition with 9 wins, 8 nominations and 5 honors in the 26th Annual Webby Awards
- More media companies have invested in podcasting, developing ongoing shows and one-off, limited series to support existing programming. A few standouts include National Geographic’s “A Reckoning in Tulsa” and CNN’s Behind the Desk: The Story of Late Night.
- HBO, National Geographic and CNN made the index for the second consecutive year, with HBO leaning into both our Virtual & Remote and Apps & Software categories
BEHIND THE RANKS:
1. National Geographic
National Geographic has been igniting the explorer in all of us for more than 130 years through groundbreaking storytelling. They offer 360 experiences across television channels, magazines, books, videos, events, and digital and social platforms.
As longtime believers in the power of great stories, National Geographic was crowned the 2022 Webby Media Company of the Year for its diverse portfolio that includes documentary series, its app, podcasts and award-winning websites with stunning photography. Last season, National Geographic’s Instagram presence swept our Social categories. Other notable projects include immersive digital experiences, like All Eyes on Mars, National Geographic Earth Day 2021 and Los Angeles Confronts Its Shady Divide.
A Few Winning Projects
National Geographic Social Media
All Eyes on Mars
Artifacts Pulled from the Rubble of 9/11 Become Symbols of What Was Lost
A Reckoning in Tulsa
National Geographic on Instagram
NatGeo's Mars Rover AR Experience with NASA
Turn Down The Heat
BREAKING DOWN THE WINS
- National Geographic on Instagram
2022 Winner and People’s Choice Winner for Best Photography & Design in Social - National Geographic Social Media
2022 People’s Choice Winner for Sustainability & Environment in Social
2022 People’s Choice Winner for Education & Discovery in Social - A Reckoning in Tulsa
2022 Winner for Diversity & Inclusion in Podcasts - All Eyes on Mars
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Best Use of Video or Moving Image in Websites and Mobile Sites - Artifacts Pulled from the Rubble of 9/11 Become Symbols of What Was Lost
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Best Use of Photography in Websites and Mobile Sites - National Geographic Earth Day 2021
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Best Performance in Virtual & Remote: - NatGeo’s Mars Rover AR Experience with NASA
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Best Use of Filters/Lenses in Social - Turn Down The Heat
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Sustainability & Environment in Social
View their full list of Webby Award-winning work here.
2. HBO
Part of the WarnerMedia family, HBO is a television network and streaming service that is home to the shows and films that the Internet loves to talk about. For decades, they have greenlit iconic shows, from Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Wire to new original series like Insecure and Euphoria.
HBO has really pioneered the space for networks to use podcasts, and emerging tech, to support original television programming.This is part of what makes HBO’s Succession Podcast a hit with audiences. The podcast gave listeners a window into the real stories of Succession, with journalist Kara Swisher unpacking world events that mirrored the stories in the series. Another standout is the HBO Max – Orbit experience that let viewers experience HBO’s content library, simply by moving their body or uttering a few works. See some of HBO’s award-winning work below.
A Few Winning Projects
HBO Max - Streaming Service
HBO Max Orbit
HBO Max Recommends
We Stay Looking
Allen vs. Farrow
Succession Podcast
Human By Orientation PRIDE 2021
HBO Max: See Us
BREAKING DOWN THE WINS
- HBO Max Orbit
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Best Responsive/Adaptive Design in Websites and Mobile Sites
2022 Nominee for Best Realtime Experience in Virtual & Remote
2022 Nominee for Brand or Partner Experience in Virtual & Remote - HBO’s Succession Podcast
2022 Winner for Television & Film in Podcasts
2022 Nominee for Television & Film Individual Episode in Podcasts - Allen v Farrow
2022 Winner and People’s Voice Winner for Documentary in Podcasts - Human By Orientation PRIDE 2021
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Media, Entertainment & Sports in Virtual & Remote
2022 Honoree for Diversity & Inclusion in Virtual & Remote - HBO Max – Streaming Service
2022 Winner and People’s Voice Winner for Best Streaming Service in Apps and Software - HBO Max: See Us
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Diversity & Inclusion (Series & Campaigns) in Social - HBO: We Stay Looking
2022 Winner for Scripted (Fiction) in Podcasts - HBO Max Recommends
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Technical Achievement in Apps and Software
View their full list of Webby Award-winning work here.
3. CNN
CNN is a multinational news-based television channel, and CNN Digital is the world leader in online news and information. As a news source, heir mission is to inform, engage and empower the world, from political coverage to documentary films and informative podcasts.
During the 26th Annual Webby Awards, CNN received recognition for its multiple podcast shows, including When Diana Met, hosted by Aminatou Sow and Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The latter stood out with the episode “Why Am I So Angry?” explores why we experience anger as an emotion, and how to make it work for us instead of against us. See more of CNN’s work below.
A Few Winning Projects
Behind the Desk: The Story of Late Night
Silence is not an Option
Chasing Life
BREAKING DOWN THE WINS
- Chasing Life: “Why Am I So Angry?”
2022 Winner & People’s Voice Winner for Health & Wellness in Podcasts - Behind the Desk: The Story of Late Night
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Entertainment in Podcasts - Silence is Not an Option: “When Catwoman Met Lady Bird”
2022 Nominee, Diversity & Inclusion in Podcasts - Running as Equals
2022 Nominee for Sports in Video
View their full list of Webby Award-winning work here.
4. MTV
Making the Media Industry Index for the first time is MTV Entertainment Group, which falls underneath Paramount. For decades, MTV has served as the leading entertainment brand for young adults. Its team has a legacy of shaping popular culture through music entertainment like TRL and reality television series The Real World.
The media company has grown greatly since its founding in 1981, but still creates noteworthy video work. During the 26th Annual Webby Awards, MTV received recognition for its remote production of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah during the height of the pandemic. It also received honors for its social series to promote RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 6, as well as work for Comedy Central like the social series Your Worst Fears Confirmed.
A Few Winning Projects
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Comedy Central: Your Worst Fears Confirmed
RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 6
Comedy Central: Stand-Up for Your Mental Health Livestream
2021 VMAs
Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
BREAKING DOWN THE WINS
- 2021 VMAs
2022 Winner for Events in Social - Trevor Noah – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
2022 Winner and People’s Voice Winner for Best Host or Speaker in Virtual & Remote - Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse – The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
2022 Webby Winner for Best Social Video Series in Social - Comedy Central: Your Worst Fears Confirmed
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Culture & Lifestyle (Series & Campaigns) in Social - RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 6
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Television & Film (Series & Campaigns) in Social - Comedy Central: Stand-Up for Your Mental Health Livestream
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Health & Wellness in Social
View their full list of Webby Award-winning work here.
5. The Washington Post
Also making the Media Industry Index for the first year is The Washington Post. A legacy newspaper and media outlet, it has grown to cover breaking news, live coverage, investigations and analysis through a multimedia approach.
The Post broke out in last year’s competition by developing its presence on TikTok, led by Dave Jorgensen. It was also honored for its coverage of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. See a few of The Washington Post’s projects below.
A Few Winning Projects
Washington Post TikTok Guy - Dave Jorgenson
Post Reports: A Tax Haven in America’s Heartland
BREAKING DOWN THE WINS
- Washington Post TikTok Guy – Dave Jorgenson
2022 Winner for Best Creator in Social - Post Reports: A Tax Haven in America’s Heartland
2022 Winner and People’s Voice Winner for Business in Podcasts - Washington Post Live Coverage of the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol
2022 People’s Voice Winner for Events & Live streams in Video
View their full list of Webby Award-winning work here.
This is part of the 2022 Webby Industry Index series, which ranks companies with the highest-performing work in the 26th Annual Webby Awards. Read the full series for insights into the year’s best agencies, brands, game creators, media companies, podcast companies, production companies and tech companies.
Show that you’re telling the best stories through the Internet, like those honored in the 2022 Webby Agency Index. To join their ranks, enter the 27th Annual Webby Awards before the Final Entry Deadline on Friday, December 16th.
