Media

Oxford to award those who have helped to shape the Internet

6 April 2011

How do you use the Internet to its full potential and engage an audience in the most effective way? Innovators who have led the way are to be recognised by Oxford University in a special awards ceremony. The Oxford Internet Institute (OII) is inviting nominations from the public for the ‘OII Internet and Society Awards’, being held as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of its foundation. There are four separate categories: best UK Internet journalist; best UK Internet politician; best UK Internet non-profit NGO; and best UK Internet public body. Nominations need to be in by 15 April 2011 at http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/awards/

The winners will be invited to collect their trophies at a special ceremony in September 2011, which will be attended by big names from the Internet world. They include Google evangelist ‘Vint’ Cerf and David Clark of MIT, both regarded as among the leading forefathers of the Internet. The OII will also present its own lifetime awards, honouring individuals who it judges to have played a uniquely significant and long-lasting role in shaping the Internet.

OII Director, Professor William Dutton, said: ‘Ten years ago, when the OII set up, many regarded the Internet as a novelty that would pass. How wrong they were. It is difficult to overstate the significance and impact of the Internet over the last ten years. It has reconfigured access to information and people in every aspect of everyday life and work. It has become an essential resource for an increasing number of users.

‘Journalists and politicians have learned how to harness the power of social networking sites through blogs, twitters, Facebook and other social media sites. As importantly, networked individuals have shown how through the internet they are bringing governments to account, even in nations with low percentages of users, as witnessed during the pro-democracy protests across North Africa and the Middle East. Election campaign strategies have changed because of the Internet. NGOs and public bodies are also embracing the opportunities of the Internet to provide up-to-date information more quickly and enrol volunteers for humanitarian campaigns around the world.

'Social media and related Internet technologies are now a core communication and information resource, thanks in no small part to the innovative ways they have been used by the creative people we wish to honour on 22 September. We want to recognise individuals who have led the way in shaping the new ecosystem that is the Internet.’

For more information, contact the University of Oxford Press Office on +44 (0)1865 280534 or email press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk

Notes for editors

Award categories
Awards will be made in five categories:

  • Best UK Internet journalist for journalists working for online and offline news organisations, which may include trade and specialist press
  • Best UK Internet politician for national or local politicians who have made excellent use of the Internet in the exercise of their public duties, or who have made the most significant contribution to the spread, use or shaping of the Internet for the public good
  • Best UK Internet non-profit for non-government organisations whose work has made a significant contribution to the spread, use or shaping of the Internet for public good
  • Best UK Internet public body for the national or local government body, or Quango, that has made best use of the Internet to promote public good
  • Lifetime awards honouring individuals who have played a uniquely significant and long-lasting role in shaping the Internet
Nomination and selection
The first four categories of awards are open to nomination by members of the public. Nominations may be made through this website until 15 April 2011. After that date, the final selection will be made by the OII's Management Committee. Lifetime awards are not open to public nomination. The Committee's decisions are final.

The Oxford Internet Institute (OII)
The OII was founded as a department of the University of Oxford in 2001. The OII is a leading world centre for the multidisciplinary study of the internet and society, focusing on internet-related research and teaching, and on informing policy-making and practice. The OII's research faculty, academic visitors and research associates are engaged in a variety of research projects covering social, economic, political, legal, industrial, technical and ethical issues of the internet in everyday life, governance and democracy, science and learning, and shaping the internet. See http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk