October 25th, 2007
2008 Digital Media Awards… and not nominating yourself
From an email I received yesterday:
The 6th Digital Media Awards is now accepting entries into the category Best in Blogging. Entries are submitted online at www.digitalmedia.ie , and entry into this category is free.
The Digital Media Awards strive to evolve with the changing digital media sector, and to reflect the most up-to-date technologies in our choice of categories. Last year was the first time we introduced a category for blogging, and it was a huge success, with Bloggorah being awarded the prestigious prize. This year, we will be judging the blogging entries based on the following criteria:
Continuity
Quality of Content
Audience InteractionAll that is required for your entry is a link to your blog, along with a maximum of 500 words supporting explanation.
Winners in all 17 categories will be announced at the Digital Media Awards ceremony, taking place on Thursday 7th of February 2008 in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood. We are delighted to welcome Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources as our Guest of Honour.
The closing date for entries is Monday November 19th 2007 at 5pm, though early submission is advised. You can submit as many entries as you wish, and you may enter more than one entry into the same category if appropriate.
Are you really supposed to vote for yourself? Damien? Twenty? Surely a nomination for yourself isn’t really a nomination? ( “I SHOULD win because… me, me, me”). If I could find the time to write 500 words about one blog, there are certainly a few deserving of a vote. Pity you can’t pick five blogs and write a hundred words about each… it might encourage more people to vote. I know the 500 words thing is a maximum recommendation, but it might be a bit off-putting to have to drum up - my inner word count queen comes out here - half a feature sized block of a text about one blog. And imagine running amok with 500 words about your own blog.? I’m sure narcissism is alive and well in the blogosphere, but I just wouldn’t vote for myself. That said, it’s great that the Awards have a blogging category so I’ll certainly be voting.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:12 am
They helpfully mention that Bloggorah won the prestigious prize in the blogging section last year. But Bloggorah suspended its operations months ago and is sorely missed.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Surely someone else is supposed to nominate you. Like you say it’s a bit off nominating yourself.
It’s sort of like one of those ‘And tell us in 30 words why you should win the prize’ things. Erm, because I’m totally cool and stuff. Weird.
October 25th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Do they also charge you to nominate yourself? Do they then charge you to attend also, after you have paid for a nomination?
October 25th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
You just don’t want to have to type 500 words with one hand! (Just kidding; hope you’re on the mend.)
I don’t think it’s that unusual to be invited to nominate yourself for an award - it’s not that you’re actually voting for yourself, you’re just throwing your hat into the ring. It will be up to the judges to “vote” for you.
UPDATE: I just checked the Digital Media Awards website (which by the way is a Flash-ridden nightmare to navigate), and do you know you have to pay EUR130 to ENTER? So sorry, Sinead, much as i love and admire your blog, i ain’t forking out 130 yo-yos to nominate you! That may be why they are asking bloggers (and others, one assumes) to nominate themselves.
Did they mention the entry fee (which, by the way, is ex VAT!) in the email to you? I’m guessing not.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
It’s free for bloggers, they made a big point of that in the email they sent me that I didn’t really want.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
It’s easy to miss, but in the first paragraph it says that entries for the blogging category are free.
October 25th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Oops, you are right. Must’ve put my glasses on upside down today! Still, the award website does say there is a fee when you click onto the ‘blogging category’ page. It’s only when you get to the ‘entry form’ page that it says it’s free for bloggers.
October 25th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
I got one of those too. Have they written to every blogger in the country?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:25 am
Yeah got that too. It’s littering the “trash” bin now……
October 26th, 2007 at 9:09 am
Does this mean I have to dumb down to Blogorrah standards to be in with a chance? Anyhow, its not about winning, its about taking part. Or something like that!
October 28th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
This is how all these industry awards work. You pay to nominate yourself. You then pay again to buy a table at the awards (usually €1200 or more). Needless to say, you book a table before the shortlist is announced. They are all the same.
October 29th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
I also got one. Spamming bastards.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Want to share a table, OFTR? You send me €15,000 and I’ll sort the rest.
October 30th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
No worries Twenty. I’ll bring the hookers though. I don’t trust you.
October 31st, 2007 at 12:18 am
I didn’t get an email… sniff..
October 31st, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Okay, now I feel bad that I didn’t get this e mail. I’ve got spam envy - I really have to sort myself out