FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Patrick Kowalczyk, patrick@mkpr.com
Jill Feldman, jill@mkpr.com
Michael Kaminer Public Relations, 212.627.8098
NIELSEN//NETRATINGS AND THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF DIGITAL
ARTS AND SCIENCES HONOR THE INTERNET’S RISING STAR
AT THE 7TH ANNUAL WEBBY AWARDS
New York — (March 12, 2003) –
Nielsen//NetRatings, the global standard for Internet audience measurement and analysis, and The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which presents the Webby Awards, have teamed up for the second year to honor the Web’s fastest growing site with the Rising Star Award. The coveted award will be presented at the 7th Annual Webby Awards on June 5, 2003 in San Francisco.
The Rising Star Award is based on Nielsen//NetRatings’ Internet audience rankings, saluting the site that grows the fastest in the U.S. during the month of April 2003, as compared to the first three months of the year.
Emode (www.emode.com), which specializes in online self-assessments, won the first-ever Rising Star Award at The 6th Annual Webby Awards in June 2002.
“The Rising Star Award is exciting because it gives us a glimpse into the trends that are shaping the future of the Web,” said Maya Draisin, executive director of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. “The Webby Awards have always honored sites based on the building blocks of good Web development. Our partnership with Nielsen//NetRatings allows us to also recognize sites that excel at attracting an audience.”
“We’re delighted to take part in honoring the fastest growing Web destination, giving both consumers and industry decision-makers the chance to recognize the best and the brightest online,” said Sean Kaldor, vice president of corporate marketing, NetRatings. “Our partnership with the Webby Awards to recognize the top site based on quantitative metrics educates online consumers about up-and-coming Internet destinations.”
Hailed as the “online Oscars” by Time Magazine, The Webby Awards is the leading international honors for Web sites. The Webby Awards are presented by the Academy, a diverse organization that includes over 420 members such as musicians Beck and David Bowie, Internet inventor Vint Cerf, political columnist Arianna Huffington, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, “Smart Mobs” author Howard Rheingold, Oracle chairman Larry Ellison, and The Body Shop president Anita Roddick.
About the Webby Awards
Founded in 1996, The Webby Awards is the leading international honors for consumer Web sites and individual achievement in technology and creativity. The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences selects the nominees, winners, and presents the awards event. Sponsors of The 7th Annual Webby Awards include media partners Business 2.0, Fortune and Fortune Small Business magazines; Event partners PricewaterhouseCoopers and Nielsen//NetRatings; Official Sponsors The Creative Group, IDG, Absolut Vodka, Comstock Images, and Rackspace Managed Hosting. For more information visit http://www.webbyawards.com/.
About the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences
The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences is dedicated to the creative, technical, and professional progress of the Internet and evolving forms of interactive media. The Academy’s goal is to assemble a brilliant panel of leading new media experts, visionaries, journalists, and luminaries to propel the Internet and Interactive Technology into the future. The Academy is an intellectually diverse organization that includes over 420 members such as musicians Beck and David Bowie, Internet inventor Vint Cerf, political columnist Arianna Huffington, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, “The Simpsons”creator Matt Groening, “Smart Mobs” author Howard Rheingold, Oracle chairman Larry Ellison, and The Body Shop president Anita Roddick.
Members also include web developers, internet experts and technology writers and editors from publications such as The New York Times, Wired, Forbes, Spin, Fast Company, Travel + Leisure, the Los Angeles Times, Dwell and wallpaper. For more information, visit http://www.iadas.net.
About Nielsen//NetRatings
Nielsen//NetRatings is the global standard for Internet audience measurement and analysis and is the industry’s premier source for online advertising intelligence with its NetView, AdRelevance, @Plan and WebRF services. Covering 70 percent of the world’s Internet usage, the Nielsen//NetRatings services offer syndicated Internet and digital media research reports and custom-tailored data to help companies gain valuable insight into their business. For more information, please visit www.nielsen-netratings.com.