Online Journalism Award Finalists Announced

Posted on November 3, 2000

The finalists for the inaugural Online Journalism Awards (OJAs) have been announced by the Online News Association (ONA) and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. This contest, which honors excellence in Internet journalism, drew more than 600 entries from over 200 English-language media outlets around the world and was judged by a team of distinguished journalism leaders. The winners will be announced at a luncheon during the first national conference of the Online News Association at the Columbia Journalism School on Friday, Dec. 1, 2000.

Rich Jaroslovsky, president of ONA and managing editor of The Wall Street Journal Online, said: ``One of ONA's major goals is to recognize and honor journalistic excellence, and it's truly gratifying to see just how much tremendous work is being done online. Choosing the best from among this group is a difficult task -- but it's in all of our interests, and the public's, to set a high standard for this new medium.''

Online Journalism Awards Finalists for 2000 Contest
(for stories first put online between July 1, 1999 and June 30, 2000) The judges were allowed to name up to five finalists in each category, but in some cases chose to name fewer finalists.

``Original to the Web'' means the story or series were written exclusively for the Web site and are not repurposed in any way. ``In Collaboration with another medium'' means that editors on the Web site added value and content, interactivity or multimedia to the original content provided by the partner or co-created with the partner. e.g., a newspaper Web site could enter a series of Web articles that are expanded versions of a set of print articles.

1A. General Excellence in Online Journalism: Original to the Web

This category honors a Web site that successfully fulfills its editorial mission, effectively serves its audience, maximizes the unique abilities of the web and represents the highest journalistic standards. The sites will be judged on excellence of content, interactivity, multimedia, design, navigation and community tools. Entries consist of one main URL and up to 5 additional URLs (in order to highlight specific features).

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

1B. General Excellence in Online Journalism: In Collaboration

This category honors a Web site that successfully fulfills its editorial mission, effectively serves its audience, maximizes the unique abilities of the web and represents the highest journalistic standards. The sites will be judged on excellence of content, interactivity, multimedia, design, navigation and community tools. Entries consist of one main URL and up to 5 additional URLs (in order to highlight specific features).

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

2A. Breaking News: Original to the Web

This category honors the coverage of a spot- or breaking-news event or development that displays exceptional reporting. Clear presentation and a creative use of the medium will also be considered. Entries consist of a single piece, series or package.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

2B. Breaking News: Collaboration

This category honors the coverage of a spot- or breaking-news event or development that displays exceptional reporting. Clear presentation and a creative use of the medium will also be considered. Entries consist of a single piece, series or package.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

3A. Enterprise Journalism: Original to the Web

This category honors stories that either break news, are based on the reporters' own exclusive investigations or offer compelling and original analysis and interpretation. Clear presentation and creative use of the medium will also be considered. Entries consist of a single piece, series or package.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

3B. Enterprise Journalism: In Collaboration

This category honors stories that either break news, are based on the reporters' own exclusive investigations or offer compelling and original analysis and interpretation. Clear presentation and creative use of the medium will also be considered. Entries consist of a single piece, series or package.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

4A. Service Journalism: Original

This category honors coverage of a single topic that helps users improve the quality of their lives (health, personal finance, lifestyle, education, relationships, family). Emphasis will be placed on the entry's use of interactivity, personalization and/or community tools. Entries consist of a single piece, series or package.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

4B. Service Journalism: In Collaboration

This category honors coverage of a single topic that helps users improve the quality of their lives (health, personal finance, lifestyle, education, relationships, family). Emphasis will be placed on the entry's use of interactivity, personalization and/or community tools. Entries consist of a single piece, series or package.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

5A. Creative Use of the Medium: Original

This category honors an entry that makes best use of content, design, navigation, multimedia, interactivity, personalization and community tools in telling its story and serving its users. Emphasis will be placed on compelling use of the new technologies available for storytelling. Entries consist of a single story, a series or a package.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

5B. Creative Use of the Medium: In Collaboration

This category honors an entry that makes best use of content, design, navigation, multimedia, interactivity, personalization and community tools in telling its story and serving its users. Emphasis will be placed on compelling use of the new technologies available for storytelling. Entries consist of a single story, a series or a package.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

6. Online Commentary

One prize. This category honors a body of work by a single writer for commentary that appears only on the Web. Topics can range from news commentary to essays, reviews, criticism, opinion and humor. The writer should display an original voice, freshness of insight and clear writing. Creative use of the medium will also be considered. Entries consist of up to 5 examples each.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:


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