FINAL ENTRY DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20TH ENTER NOW
Webby Index November 16, 2022

The 2022 Webby Media Industry Index

Here are the top Webby-winning media companies that are telling compelling stories across all mediums.

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
1/8

National Geographic Social Media

All Eyes on Mars
2/8

All Eyes on Mars

Artifacts Pulled from the Rubble of 9/11 Become Symbols of What Was Lost
3/8

Artifacts Pulled from the Rubble of 9/11 Become Symbols of What Was Lost

A Reckoning in Tulsa 
4/8

A Reckoning in Tulsa 

5/8

National Geographic on Instagram
6/8

National Geographic on Instagram

NatGeo\'s Mars Rover AR Experience with NASA
7/8

NatGeo's Mars Rover AR Experience with NASA

Turn Down The Heat
8/8

Turn Down The Heat

BREAKING DOWN THE WINS

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
1/8

HBO Max - Streaming Service

HBO Max Orbit
2/8

HBO Max Orbit

HBO Max Recommends
3/8

HBO Max Recommends

We Stay Looking
4/8

We Stay Looking

Allen vs. Farrow
5/8

Allen vs. Farrow

Succession Podcast
6/8

Succession Podcast

Human By Orientation PRIDE 2021 
7/8

Human By Orientation PRIDE 2021 

HBO Max: See Us
8/8

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
1/3

Behind the Desk: The Story of Late Night

Silence is not an Option
2/3

Silence is not an Option

Chasing Life
3/3

Chasing Life

BREAKING DOWN THE WINS

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
1/6

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

Comedy Central: Your Worst Fears Confirmed
2/6

Comedy Central: Your Worst Fears Confirmed

RuPaul\'s Drag Race: All Stars 6
3/6

RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 6

Comedy Central: Stand-Up for Your Mental Health Livestream
4/6

Comedy Central: Stand-Up for Your Mental Health Livestream

2021 VMAs
5/6

2021 VMAs

Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah 
6/6

Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse - The Daily Show with Trevor Noah 

BREAKING DOWN THE WINS

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
1/2

Washington Post TikTok Guy - Dave Jorgenson

Post Reports: A Tax Haven in America’s Heartland
2/2

Post Reports: A Tax Haven in America’s Heartland

BREAKING DOWN THE WINS

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.

Drag