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Webby Awards to Launch Online Series Featuring Industry Leaders Debating Internet’s Biggest Challenges

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Patrick Kowalczyk: patrick@pkpr.com
Brian Abrams: brian@pkpr.com
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WEBBY AWARDS TO LAUNCH ONLINE SERIES FEATURING
INDUSTRY LEADERS DEBATING INTERNET’S BIGGEST CHALLENGES

From CNN Studios in NYC to The Hospital Club in London,
The Webby Debates Presented by Aquent Kick Off November 10th
www.webbyawards.com/debates

New York City (November 4, 2010) – The Webby Awards will launch an online video series featuring industry leaders debating the Internet’s most pressing issues, from pay walls to privacy to the value of social media.

The five-part series will take place at locations around the world, including CNN Studios in New York City and The Hospital Club in London, and will feature a diverse mix of experts, such as Financial Times managing editor Robert Shrimsley, Wine Library TV’s Gary Vaynerchuk, Guardian editor Janine Gibson, and TechCrunch columnist Paul Carr. The entire series is sponsored by Aquent, the global marketing and design staffing company.

The Webby Debates kick off November 10th in London as part of Internet Week Europe. The Telegraph’s Milo Yiannopoulos will moderate on the pros and cons of pay walls between Gibson of The Guardian and Shrimsley of the Financial Times. It will be filmed in front of a live audience at London’s The Hospital Club, a unique member club designed specifically for creative professionals.

The series will continue when Vaynerchuk and Paul Carr consider if social media is overrated during a debate moderated by CNN Money’s Laurie Segall and filmed at CNN’s New York studios. The debate will air on CNNMoney.com in late November.

All of the debates will be broadcast online at www.webbyawards.com/debates. The schedule, topics, and participants for the final four debates will be announced in the coming weeks.

“The Webby Awards is dedicated to advancing the Internet and a candid, open exchange of ideas is essential to moving the medium forward,” said David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards. “Viewers can look forward to lively, entertaining discussions that inspire, educate, engage, and provoke.”

“We are pleased to partner with The Webby Awards on this intriguing debate series,” said Aquent President Ann Webster. “We’re confident the series will spark lively discussion and shed light on the unique challenges facing the Internet.”

About The Webby Awards:

Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile web sites. Established in 1996, the 14th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Microsoft Expression; Aol; YouTube; Pepsi; Aquent; Yahoo!; HP; Sony Electronics; .CO; Corbis Images; Rackspace Hosting; Motorola; Southwest Airlines; East Media; IDG; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail; Museum of the Moving Image; Behance; Business Insider; Time Out New York; paidContent and The Guardian.ries worldwide. The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Microsoft Expression; Aol; YouTube; Pepsi; Aquent; Yahoo!; HP; Sony Electronics; .CO; Corbis Images; Rackspace Hosting; Motorola; Southwest Airlines;; East Media; IDG; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail; Museum of the Moving Image; Behance; Business Insider; Time Out New York; paidContent and The Guardian.

About Aquent:

Aquent is the only global talent agency that specializes in marketing and design. They pair outstanding talent with challenging jobs to create inspired, productive partnerships. Their Interactive Design practice is focused on advancing the careers of the incredible talent they represent and on giving their clients access to the best interactive talent on the planet. With 24 years of experience and over half a million matches made, Aquent is proud to work with thousands of leading organizations and top marketing and design professionals around the world to make truly inspired, innovative work possible. Learn more at http://www.aquent.com

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