We recognise and celebrate the best of digital media

Registration extended: New Deadline 07 February 2024

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Categories 2024

*Gold winners of these categories will automatically enter WAN-IFRA’s World Digital Media Awards where they will compete with Gold winners from the African, European, Middle East, Latin American, North American and South Asian Digital Media Awards

* Best News Website

Entries must demonstrate combined excellence in content and UX, as well as value to readers and advertisers. Innovative design, intuitive customer journey, the use of multimedia (such as audio, video, infographics, photography, etc) to better tell the story, speed of access and the service’s overall contribution to revenue goals, such as ‘premium’ sections, will also be taken into consideration.

* Best Use of Video

Entries should demonstrate an ability to relate a story in a concise and objective way and improve the reader experience and engagement online with the news brand. There should be consideration of the appropriate online video format for specific platforms (e.g. Facebook vs YouTube). The technical quality of the shooting and realisation as well as the possible emotional and aesthetic impact of the video will also be taken into consideration.

* Best Data Visualisation

Entries should demonstrate excellence in design, usefulness and clarity of information conveyed, in the context of (for example) breaking news, information, entertainment or data-driven visual storytelling. Special attention will be paid to creativity and visual impact, as well as the effectiveness on mobile devices.

* Best Podcast

This category looks for innovative podcast initiatives to tell the news. Entries must demonstrate mastery of the format, strong quality of execution, an added value to the listeners, and a measurable loyal audience.

* Best Newsletter

This category is open to companies that have successfully included newsletters as a part of their editorial offering. The newsletter should have carefully tailored content serving a specific purpose, a user-friendly interaction, coherent design, an original editorial angle and format, and measurable audience results in terms of growth and engagement.

* Best in Audience Engagement

Entries should demonstrate an original offering that measurably grows user engagement, and actively reflects the voice and tone of the news brand. Entries should provide evidence of an audience spending more time with the brand’s content, or converting from social platforms to own platforms.

* Best Digital Subscription/Reader Revenue Project

This category recognises projects by publishers that are aimed at increasing the subscriber base for the digital product, for paid and/or free users. Entries should demonstrate real results and metrics, understanding of brand strengths, clarity for the reader or customer, and an effective call to action. Entries should provide evidence of solid conversion and/or retention results.

*Best Use of AI in the Newsroom

This category is open to publishers that demonstrate innovative use of AI / generative AI for content correction, content creation (articles, summaries, etc.), workflow efficiency, simplified research or search, topic idealisation, translation, personalisation / interaction – in text, images, audio or video.

*Best Use of AI in Revenue Strategy

For this, entries should demonstrate how they are using AI to help drive revenue. For example, dynamic pricing models and strategies for reader revenue models. Personalisation or content recommendations for loyal subscribers (building retention) or potential subscribers (acquisition). Automated onboarding of subscribers. Automated marketing offers. Or how AI is being used in advertising. Entries should be able to demonstrate the impact of these efforts in terms of data, engagement, overall revenue and lessons learned. of data used, the results, and how it impacted overall revenue.

*Best Native Advertising

Entries should demonstrate added value to readers/users via excellence in content marketing across multiple platforms. Entries will be measured on creativity, effective use of each media platform, brand voice and providing the best user experience in a post-ad blocking media environment.

*Best Innovative Digital Product

Use of news technologies and creative formats to catch more revenue, audiences and subscriptions

*Best Fact Checking Project

This category is open to publishers who have come up with a project to inform readers of the misinformation in the society and verify the stories through fact checking tools. The project can be about special products or new sections addressing information needs that enhance the trust in publisher’s brand. Entries should demonstrate how information gaps in society were addressed, innovative use of resources and smart planning to quickly meet the challenges posed by the crisis.

Best Lifestyle or Sports Site

This category is open to lifestyle, entertainment or sports products, including websites, mobile sites, apps, microsites or dedicated verticals. Entries must demonstrate a strong quality in content, consistency in UX and an added value for readers and clients. Innovative design, multimedia to improve the narrative, ease of navigation, site speed and the overall distribution of the information will be taken into consideration.

Media Partner

Contact us for more information

Wilson Leong

General Enquiries / Registration

wilson.leong@wan-ifra.org