Web Awards

You’re feeling pretty good about your web site. But do you get the recognition you deserve? Do your stakeholders appreciate that you’ve got a great site?

Here are a few of our favorite web site awards that are both applicable and meaningful. This list was put together primarily for local governments, but some of these awards have categories for all. If you’d like more information on private-sector or other awards, please contact us.

Best of the Web by the Center for Digital Government

These awards include Bests for city and county portals, and Achievement Awards for categories such as Government-to-citizen. In our experience with government web sites, these are the most sought-after laurels.

http://www.centerdigitalgov.com/new/products.php?tid=4&loc=Surveys%20and%20Awards
(This page is the starting point, with links to Digital Cities, Digital States, etc. and Best of the Web.)

Brown University’s Global E-Government Survey

Classic recognition of E-Government at each level, with the strong cachet of this academic and research center. These recognitions probably confer more serious credibility than, say, MTV’s.
http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/2006-07/06-006.html

City or County Web Site by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA)

These awards are targeted for “programming” such as broadcasting, but you may find you’re eligible due to the content you deliver and media you use.
http://www.natoa.org/ (choose Conference/Events, then choose Awards)

International Web Page Awards

Judges are selected from among the nominees!
http://www.webpageawards.com/

MuniNetGuide Top Picks – Exceptional Local Government Websites

MuniNet Guide provides an online guide and a directory to municipal-related content on the Internet.
http://www.muninetguide.com/top_picks.php

National Association of Chief Information Officers (NASCIO)

The organization targets CIOs of states – see the digital government awards category.
http://www.nascio.org/awards

National Association of Counties (NACO)

Awards are given in about 15 categories to county officials, their employees and the counties themselves.
http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Awards

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

PRSA members include those representing government. Several categories of awards.
http://www.prsa.org/_Awards/main

Savvy Awards by 3CMA, City-County Communications and Marketing Association

Savvy Awards incorporate the City Hall Public Information Awards Competition; categories include citizen – government relationships.
http://www.3cma.org/savvy06

Solutions awards and Technology Leadership awards by the Public Technology Institute (PTI)

PTI recognizes local governments that have applied technology to improve services to the community. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?
http://www.pti.org/services.asp (Choose Award Programs)

Stockholm Challenge

Are you ready to go global? These international awards draw heavy competition – but a collaborative program in Portland, Oregon recently won in the category of e-Government. Could you? Sweden is nice in May.
http://www.stockholmchallenge.se

Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) Exemplary Systems in Government (ESIG) awards

URISA asks whether you’ve improved the delivery and quality of government services via Information Technology, recognizing sites for both single and cross-department processes.
http://www.urisa.org/awards/esig

Webbyawards

“The Oscars of the Internet” – that’s how the New York Times describes them. Webbies are prestigious beyond the world of governments: the whole world is watching. There are 65 categories including Government, Services, and more.
http://www.webbyawards.com

This list should help you to find awards that could recognize your site. We have also compiled a worksheet that identifies some criteria and approaches for achieving an award-worthy site. You’ll want to ensure your web site is a contender – if you’d like to receive the worksheet, please contact us.