Born Digital Awards 2011

Ryan Opaz would like to hear from you!

The 2011 Born Digital Awards are now open for entries. There was some criticism of the first edition that some of the winners were well established writers. However, if emerging writers etc. are good they should be prepared to compete against the best. I hope that this second edition will attract lots of entries. Remember that this is not an Anglophone competition as entries in all languages are welcomed. Entries close at midnight (GMT) 31st January 2012.

The awards are organised by Vrazon (Gabriella and Ryan Opaz plus Robert McIntosh). I'm delighted that the Circle of Wine Writers is now a partner of these awards, showing our determination to value the contribution made by writers, video-makers etc who have blogs. Winners of all categories, except for Best Winery Content, will be invited to become a member of the Circle of Wine Writers free of charge for a year. This applies only to non-members and continued membership thereafter will be on the same basis as the rest of our members – that they continue to communicate about wine. 

Gabriella Opaz  in Brescia (4th European Wine Bloggers' Conference)

Details from the BDA site:

'Now in their second year the Born Digital Wine Awards are an attempt to give value to the new wave of online wine journalism. Each year, the best examples of electronic publishing, including videos and photography, from across the world will be reviewed by a panel of top industry professionals, with prizes awarded in a range of categories. The CWW is now a partner with these awards.

The inaugural year of the awards, received several hundred entries from 16 different countries around the world, culminating in an awards presentation at the London International Wine Fair, in May.  The judging panel were extremely impressed by the quality and breadth of content.  As the digital world advances rapidly, Born Digital will attempt to mirror this progress. Results being the addition of a new award category and an evolving panel of proficient and innovative judges.

All nominated content must first be published in an electronic format, online.  

These awards will be judged in English but the content can be submitted in any language. Each author submitting a story in a language other than English will be encouraged to submit a translation at the same time. For those who cannot afford to, or choose not to, the Born Digital Wine Awards will pay for a professional translation of the article to be submitted with the original.

A prize of 1,000 euros will be awarded to the first place winners, as well as a free pass to the 2012 European Wine Bloggers Conference and a one-year membership to Jancis Robinson’s Purple Pages.  In addition, winners of all of the award categories* will be invited to become members of the Circle of Wine Writers with the initial year being without charge (assuming they are not already members).

2011 categories

Best Investigative Wine Story

Best Editorial Wine Writing

Best Wine Tourism Feature

Best Wine Themed Video

Best Winery Self Produced Content

Best Wine Photo Essay *** new category ***

Submissions for the 2011 Born Digital Wine Awards are now OPEN!

The 2nd Annual Born Digital Wine Awards is accepting submissions until midnight GMT on January 31st, 2012.

Judging Panel

Michel Bettane, Elin McCoy, Patrick Schmitt, Hervé Lalau, Fongyee Walker, Ulf Sjodin, Tim Atkin MW, Wink Lorch, Richard Ross and Jay Selman

Details of the judges here (http://borndigitalwineawards.com/judges/)

Robert McIntosh@Brescia

Welcome to a new era of wine communication...