BWA Bloghttp://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/en-US2012-02-22T19:53:50ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)2012 Black Weblog Awards Schedulehttp://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2012/2/6/2012-black-weblog-awards-schedule.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2012-02-06T18:20:22ZAfter reviewing our 2011 Annual Survey, the Black Weblog Awards are happy to announce the schedule for the  2012 Black Weblog Awards. You spoke and we listened. As a result, we’ve made some changes to our schedule and process this year. 

 

2012 Nominations Start Later

We’ve moved the Black Weblog Awards back to the second half of the year. The nomination process will kick off following the Black Social Media Weekend 2012 in Philadelphia, PA.  We hope to see you and your fellow bloggers in Philadelphia!

 

 

New Categories

We asked Black Weblog Awards participants to suggest new categories to add to the 2012 awards season. You will be able to vote on which categories you would like to see added to the ballot beginning March 1, 2012. Visit www.blackweblogawards.com to vote. 

 

Two Rounds of Voting

This year we will be having two rounds of voting.  This should give smaller blogs an opportunity to rally their audiences to make it into the finals. We hope this process increases awareness of some amazing and unique voices in Black social media. 

 

New Ballots

In the past, nominations and voting have taken place using a single ballot. This year each category will have its own separate nomination and voting ballot. Our hope is to to prevent the practice of nominating your very favorite blog in every category.  The criteria for each category will be placed on each individual nomination form to assist fans in determining whether their favorite blog is appropriate for a particular category. 

 

New Promotional Guidelines

This year bloggers will be able to promote their blogs  with promotional buttons on the nomination ballot, however,  you may not promote your blog on a nomination form for the category in which you hope to compete. For example, if you are vying for Best Beauty Blogger, you cannot place a promotional button on the Beauty Blogger nomination form. You can, however, promote your blog on the Best Food Blog nomination form or the Best Music Blog nomination form.   We want to address one of the most important concerns of many bloggers, which is recognition and audience building, while making sure that nominations are based on reader interest ALONE. The number of promotional buttons will be limited and distributed on a first come first serve basis. Reserve nomination form promotional button.

 

Sponsors

For companies, organizations and non-profits interested in sponsoring the 2012 Black Weblog Awards, contact lianne [at] blackweblogawards [dot] com. Title, category, and awards ceremony sponsorships are available. 

 

2012 Black Weblog Awards Schedule
 
Voting on New Categories: March 1 - April 2, 2012


New Categories Published: May 11, 2012


Nominations for 2012 Awards Open: July 11, 2012 - Sep 3, 2012


 Semifinalist Voting: September 15 -October 1, 2012


Finalist Voting: October 8- October 23, 2012


Black Weblog Winners Announced: November 1, 2012

 

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact our team via our contact form which you can find in the menu bar above. As always you can follow us on the Facebook and Twitter. 

 

 

All the best,

 

Black Weblog Awards

]]>2011 Black Weblog Awards Judges' Vote Winnershttp://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2011/12/29/2011-black-weblog-awards-judges-vote-winners.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2011-12-29T17:54:36ZEach Black Weblog Award category has two winners: a popular vote based on votes cast by readers and the judges' vote selected by a panel of authorities in the fields of social media, design and writing. The popular vote winners were announced in July.

However, the selection of the winners of the judges’ vote took much longer because each and every blog nominated in each category was reviewed by a judge. In some categories, this meant reviewing over 300 entries. And the winners of the 2011 Black Weblog Awards Judges' Awards are...

2011 Black Weblog Award Winners 



LIVE AWARDS SHOW

HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE WEBLOG AWARDS- TAKE OUR SURVEY

]]>Black Weblog Awards Presents: "New Blogger on the Block"http://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2011/11/14/black-weblog-awards-presents-new-blogger-on-the-block.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2011-11-14T15:48:59ZDSC_0900Keep filling out our annual  BWA survey! We're reading your responses as they come in. One theme that permeated many of the responses was a desire to have the Black Weblog Awards platform promote as many Black bloggers as possible and highlight the work of a wider group of bloggers. We hear you!

That's why we've created a new feature called "New Blogger on the Block."  This is an opportunity for new Black bloggers to get their blogs in front of the tens of thousands of people who are part of the Black Weblog Awards network.

Selected blogs will be featured in our newsletter, on Twitter, Facebook, and this site.  

We're rolling out other programs for more experience bloggers, but the New Blogger on the Block feature is for those of you who have been blogging for less than one year. 

To be considered complete the New Blogger on the Block Submission Form. 

]]>Shape the Future of the 2012 Black Weblog Awards - Take Our Survey!http://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2011/11/13/shape-the-future-of-the-2012-black-weblog-awards-take-our-su.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2011-11-13T20:55:27Z2011 was a historic year for the Black Weblog Awards. We held the first live presentation of the Black Weblog Awards in Los Angeles. Help us shape the future of the Black Weblog Awards by taking our 2011 Annual Survey.

2011 BLack Weblog Awards

]]>Here and Now: The Infidel Guy Showhttp://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2011/2/17/here-and-now-the-infidel-guy-show.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2011-02-17T15:00:09ZSpotlight best faith-based blog interview past winners reginald v. finley sr. the infidel guy showThis week, we're talking with another of our Black Weblog Award winners – Reginald V. Finley, Sr. from The Infidel Guy Show. The Infidel Guy Show won the Black Weblog Awards in 2007 and 2008 in the Best Faith-Based Blog category (Judges' Vote).

BWA Staff: How did you first learn about the Black Weblog Awards?

The Infidel Guy Show I was actually contacted by a staffer who discovered me as being a prominent black media figure on the web.

BWA Staff: In 2007 and 2008, you won in the Best Faith-Based Blog category. How far have you gone with your blogging since then?

The Infidel Guy Show I have honestly taken a hiatus to focus on school, family and career. The economy has hurt us all and I am no exception.

BWA Staff: How did the BWA's help you in gaining exposure?

The Infidel Guy Show I have been discovered by hundreds of black intellectuals and thinkers that were happy to finally find someone that shares their views and have encouraged them to stand up against false ideas and beliefs.

BWA Staff: What do you see in the future for the awards?

The Infidel Guy Show I have no idea honestly.

BWA Staff: What is your ultimate blogging goal?

The Infidel Guy Show I hope to be one those household names that is passed down from generation to generation. I wish to be immortal through my deeds.]]>Here and Now: Brother Jesse Bloghttp://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2011/2/10/here-and-now-brother-jesse-blog.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2011-02-10T15:00:15ZSpotlight best microblog best personal blog blog of the year brother jesse blog interview past winnersThis week, we're talking with another of our Black Weblog Award winners – Jesse Muhammad from Brother Jesse Blog. Brother Jesse Blog won the Black Weblog Awards in 2009 in the following categories: Best Microblog (Popular Vote), Best Personal Blog (Popular Vote), and Blog of the Year (Popular Vote).

BWA Staff: How did you first learn about the Black Weblog Awards?

Brother Jesse Blog: I first learned about the BWAs via Twitter.

BWA Staff: In 2009, you won in three categories. How far have you gone with your blogging since then?

Brother Jesse Blog: Since then my blog has greatly expanded and the work has increased! I had to get assistance and no longer be a one man army.

BWA Staff: How did the BWA's help you in gaining exposure?

Brother Jesse Blog: The exposure I received from the BWA's has been astronomical. Mind you, I won in 2009 and I am still riding the wave of those awards. The referral traffic from the BWA site to my blog has helped a lot. I humbly thank you all for creating the BWA's because it is helping many of us in more ways than you know.

BWA Staff: What do you see in the future for the awards?

Brother Jesse Blog: I see it expanding to have a live show where winners can be invited to a particular city to receive trophies and it is broadcasted all over the world. Also, I see us building a real unified force amongst all present and past winners to build up the proposed Black Bloggers Association. You all would be great to lead that campaign and I would back it up with all of my resources 1000%.

BWA Staff: What is your ultimate blogging goal?

Brother Jesse Blog: To utilize my blogging platform to elevate thought, inspire action and arm readers with tools that will forge true change.]]>Blogging Story: Beverly Mahonehttp://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2011/2/9/blogging-story-beverly-mahone.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2011-02-09T15:00:54ZSpotlight blogging storyThis blogging story comes to us from Beverly Mahone of Boomer World and Baby Boomer Talk & Other Stuff. 

beverlymahone I am an African-American Blogger who started blogging "officially" in 2006 at the age of 48. As someone who spent nearly 30 years in radio and television news, I was always a writer but the style of writing was different. My former publicist suggested I start blogging about the subject matters in my soon-to-be-published first book (Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age), which I did and quickly developed an audience.

Menopause was a hot topic at the time (no pun intented) so I used my own personal experiences to share with other women. I also blogged about dating at midlife, having younger bosses and raising children -- all topics many middle-aged women could relate to.

I currently have two blogs -- Boomer World and Baby Boomer Talk & Other Stuff -- and my personal site BeverlyMahone.com. I make it a point to cover different subject matters on each one. BeverlyMahone.com deals mostly with my professional work. Baby Boomer Talk & Other Stuff covers my personal rants and family matters and Boomer World deals with subjects of interest to my generation. When I was in the news business, I had to write a certain way -- being objective. What I have discovered now is that I am a journalist UNPLUGGED!


How did you begin blogging? Who (or what) influenced or inspired you? What has blogging brought to your life? We want to know! Send your post to staff@blackweblogawards.com in text (500 words or less), audio, or video, and we’ll post them on the Black Weblog Awards blog! Visit our Blogging Story post for more information.]]>Blogging Story: Antonio Maurice Danielshttp://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2011/2/7/blogging-story-antonio-maurice-daniels.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2011-02-07T15:00:00ZSpotlight antonio maurice daniels blogging story revolutionary paideiaThis blogging story comes to us from Antonio Maurice Daniels of Revolutionary Paideia. 

My initial desire to blog was inspired by Dr. Marc Lamont Hill’s excellent blog. His blog demonstrated that blogging could serve as a useful vehicle for me to express my thoughts with the general public on any issue. Although I had this burning desire to start my blog, I kept delaying it because I thought that it would be difficult to setup. One of my best friends, Santresa Glass, who was a blogger prior to me becoming one, kept pushing me to simply start my blog. I finally gave into her insistence on starting my blog immediately. I found WordPress and was amazed at how easy it was to get a blog setup and start blogging immediately.

I contend that I have an interesting perspective on just about all issues, and believe that the general public needs to benefit from my unique perspectives on a range of diverse issues. My aspiration was to create a blog that energized people to engage in serious thought on sundry topics. Since I have controversial views, I resolved to let my blog be an extension of this dimension of myself. I, therefore, decided to name my blog Revolutionary Paideia and engendered a motto for it: “Unsettling, Unnerving, and Unhousing Since 1981.”

My blog has been tremendously successful and I have articles featured on several sites. Although I had not heard about the Black Weblog Awards before, people nominated me this year for certain categories and I was highly appreciative of their confidence in me. My blog has inspired people, stirred up controversy, helped people, angered people, caused people to see different perspectives they previously did not consider, but, more importantly, my blog has actually compelled people to think critically. We need an America that has a deeper commitment to critical thought, and my blog has been instrumental in generating critical discourse and thought.

I never knew that blogging could affect me in such profoundly affirmative ways. I have met so many new friends through blogging and have established many new professional connections. I have to admit that blogging has helped me to stay out of some serious trouble too. When I am tremendously angry with people, I have found that writing a blog post helps me to stay out of jail and saves them from my wrath. Let’s thank blogging for that! Amen! I just have to keep it real and that’s what goes on at my blog everyday — I keep it real!

As a Ph.D. student in Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, my dominant research interest focuses on ameliorating the educational experiences and outcomes of Black male college student-athletes. Revolutionary Paideia gives me an opportunity to write about the multifarious problems facing Black males throughout the educational pipeline and to contemplate solutions for advancing Black males.

I plan to turn Revolutionary Paideia into an independent non-profit think tank. Revolutionary Paideia the think tank will be a place where scholars can federate to offer solutions to critical American and global problems.


How did you begin blogging? Who (or what) influenced or inspired you? What has blogging brought to your life? We want to know! Send your post to staff@blackweblogawards.com in text (500 words or less), audio, or video, and we’ll post them on the Black Weblog Awards blog! Visit our Blogging Story post for more information.]]>Here and Now: Very Smart Brothashttp://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2011/2/3/here-and-now-very-smart-brothas.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2011-02-03T15:00:15ZSpotlight best group blog best humor blog best writing in a blog interview past winners very smart brothasThis week, we're talking with another of our Black Weblog Award winners – Very Smart Brothas. Headed by Panama Jackson and The Champ, Very Smart Brothas won in the following categories: Best Group Blog (Judges' - 2009; Popular and Judges' - 2010), Best Humor Blog (Judges' - 2010), and Best Writing in a Blog (Popular - 2009).

BWA Staff: How did you first learn about the Black Weblog Awards?

Very Smart Brothas: We're not sure, it's been so long but we definitely heard about it the first year it launched.

BWA Staff: In 2009, you won Best Group Blog and Best Writing In A Blog for 'Very Smart Brothas'.  How far have you gone with your blogging since then?

Very Smart Brothas: We still blog everyday like we have before.

BWA Staff: How did the BWA's help you in gaining exposure?

Very Smart Brothas: We're pretty sure it has helped with some growth in traffic, which we are very appreciative of.

BWA Staff: What do you see in the future for the awards?

Very Smart Brothas: Hopefully more growth and more people participating.

BWA Staff: What is your ultimate blogging goal?

Very Smart Brothas: We have many, but the first one is a book deal.]]>Blogging Story: Atinuke Diverhttp://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2011/2/2/blogging-story-atinuke-diver.htmlBlack Weblog Awards2011-02-02T15:00:43ZSpotlight atinuke diver blogging story yes we're togetherThis blogging story comes to us from Atinuke Diver of Yes, We're Together.. 

Atinuke Diver I began blogging, after years and years of talking to my then boyfriend, now husband, about writing a book: a resource for interracial couples. I began writing at the age of 5, studied Creative Writing in college, and edited a campus magazine, so blogging seemed like a natural way for me to nourish my creativity and craft as a writer while holding down a full-time job as a lawyer. Throughout our courtship, engagement, and marriage, I’ve collected many funny stories and teachable moments and wanted share them in a way that was both helpful and funny. I had "Yes, We're Together" in my head for some time as a title, so I registered yesweretogether.com and started writing.

My husband and I started dating during my second year of law school. At the time, I asked a recently engaged classmate –also in an interracial relationship- if she could recommend any books on interracial relationships. Sadly, she couldn’t, and lamented that her church’s required reading for pre-marital counseling failed to address the concerns of interracial and intercultural couples. I hope to write that book someday.

My inspiration comes primarily from the village that raised me: my parents, siblings, aunties, uncles, teachers, coaches, ministers, bus drivers, camp counselors, family friends, tutors – the countless number of people who invested in me and make my success possible. I’m also inspired by everyday living which can be really entertaining! To be a good writer you need to be a good observer and thankfully I’m a pretty nosy person by nature. I always carry a notebook with me because I get writing ideas all day every day, and I always want to be prepared for when inspirations hits – taking a shower, riding the subway, sitting in a waiting room, shopping at the mall, anywhere!

As my husband says, blogging brings out the best in me. Doing something that I love has made me a more engaged and confident writer. I never question whether working on “Yes, We’re Together” is a good use of my time and look forward to the day where I’m writing full-time.


How did you begin blogging? Who (or what) influenced or inspired you? What has blogging brought to your life? We want to know! Send your post to staff@blackweblogawards.com in text (500 words or less), audio, or video, and we’ll post them on the Black Weblog Awards blog! Visit our Blogging Story post for more information.]]>