#Webby16

It sounds weird typing this, but this May 21st we will be hosting the 16th Annual Webby Awards at Hammerstein Ballroom in NY. I say weird, because having worked on thirteen of these sixteen Webby Awards, I know how unique it is for an Internet organization to be on the world wide web for so long. I’d by lying if I didn’t say sometimes it makes me feel kinda old. 

When The Webbys launched in 1996, there was no Google. There was no Napster or Travelocity. Obviously there was no Facebook or Twitter, but there was no MySpace or Friendster either. Not only was there no iPhone, but barely anyone even used mobile phones. There were certainly no mobile sites, though there were car phones. There weren’t any apps on them though.

I’ve worked on The Webbys for thirteen years because it celebrates something I care a lot about, and love. It is also, sixteen years later, something I’m excited about doing every day. Though I didn’t start The Webby Awards, I am by far its most seasoned caretaker, and I love it like my own. 

A lot of you know that I’m not a prolific Internet publisher; I’ve always felt like The Webby Awards was my once-a-year blog post. But this year, as we lead up to Webby 16 on May 21st, I thought I’d share more about how it all goes down, and why I love it so much.