Q1. Why is there a Black Weblog Awards event?

A1. The Black Weblog Awards is around to recognize and showcase those Black bloggers in the blogosphere who are doing great things and making moves.

To that end, here are our top five reasons that the Black Weblog Awards exists:

• They help guide people to the best. These awards serve as recognition as those who are doing the best in our shared craft of blogging.
• It helps Black blogging continue. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, when it comes to technology, Black people have always been early adopters, and blogging is no exception. As the craft becomes more mainstream and less democratized, the art of telling our stories or sharing our knowledge becomes greater with increased recognition.
• It is a great help to new readers or discoverers of these other realms of the blogosphere. There is no single “Black blogosphere”. Just as the Black experience spans through many different points throughout the diaspora, so does Black blogging. While the entirety of it is still largely unknown to most people, those who discover Black bloggers and what they are talking about can take their exploration further to see many different perspectives on the Black experience and how they are being documented.
• It is a boon to Black bloggers. Black bloggers can be strengthened to create more content through recognition, not to mention gather an audience who may be hungry for their point of view.
• It shows that we matter and that we are here. Our lives, our stories and our voices matter. Issues that are important to us matter. And more importantly, looking back through history and how it is documented is important for future generations.

Q2. When do the Black Weblog Awards begin?

A2. Historically, the Black Weblog Awards have began on August 1. In 2010, the Black Weblog Awards begins with a nomination period from June 1 – July 25, and a voting period from August 1 – August 31.

Q3. When can I vote for Black Weblog Awards finalists?

A3. August 1, 2010 – August 31, 2010.

Q4. When will the Black Weblog Awards winners be announced?

A4.September 1, 2010.

Q5. How long have the Black Weblog Awards existed?

A5. The Black Weblog Awards were created in May of 2005, with the first Black Weblog Awards event in August of 2005.

Q6. Are prizes available for the winners?

A6. In past years, prizes were available for the winners of the Awards in their respective categories. Every year, this has changed depending on the amount of sponsorship dollars available. If you would like to donate prizes to the Black Weblog Awards, please contact us.

Q7. How can I get my product or service in front of Black Weblog Awards winners, nominees, and readers?

A7. If you would like to help sponsor the Black Weblog Awards site, please contact us and we will send you our media kit.

Q8. Who created the Black Weblog Awards?

A8. Maurice Cherry is the creator and chairman of the Black Weblog Awards. With nearly 15 years of online and blogging experience, Maurice has authored several blogs, written for popular websites, produced podcasts, and worked with companies, non-profits, and politicians on social media campaigns and Internet marketing. Maurice is also creative principal at 3eighteen media, a small design studio and consultancy firm in Atlanta, GA.

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Q9. How can I contact you about press inquiries?

A9. Please e-mail us at press[at]blackweblogawards[dot]com, and include your name, e-mail address, and information about your publication or show.

Q10. Why wasn’t my site nominated?

A10. The new change in procedure now allows bloggers to nominate their own blogs and microblogs for a Black Weblog Award. We also extended the nomination period to allow more time for blog submissions. If your site was still not nominated, we would suggest you sign up for our e-mail newsletter, subscribe to our site, or follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook to get the latest updates about the Awards.

Q11. Can I nominate my blog in more than one category?

A11. Yes, you can nominate your blog for multiple categories. There is not a limit for the number of categories you can nominate your blog for, but use your best judgment. Do not nominate your blog for every category; it will be flagged and your nomination will be removed when we do our vote audit.

Q12. I submitted my nomination via e-mail, your contact form, or through Twitter or Facebook. Does my vote count?

A12. No. Only nominations that are submitted via the Black Weblog Awards website’s nomination form count towards nominees.

Q13. Why do I have to vote for a finalist in every category before my ballot is submitted?

A13. The Black Weblog Awards recognizes bloggers out there that work hard doing something which they love, and they love sharing that with all of us. As evidenced by the increasing number of categories over the years, that knowledge spreads across many different realms of knowledge and experience, and we think it would do those blogs who are finalists a great disservice if they didn’t have an equal shot at everyone’s vote.

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Q14. Does my blog have to be in English to be nominated?

A14. For our primarily English-speaking judges and staff, blogs nominated must be in English. However, for categories which do not depend on language (Best Blog Design, Best Photography Blog, etc.), non-English sites are eligible. If the category is Best Video Blog Series, videos must be either dubbed or subtitled in English.

Q15. How should I determine which category I should nominate my blog for?

A15. Over the years, we have expanded our categories based largely on what blogs were available, popular, and frequent in the blogosphere. With over 30 categories, there is bound to be some overlap between categories based on your blog’s focus. It’s up to the blog owner to determine which category their blog fits in for nomination. For special categories like Best Microblog and Best Blog Post Series, please check the rules for nomination instructions.