The Online Journalism Award

The Online News Association (ONA) was founded in 1999 by a group of professional online journalists, who decided to organize a platform for those who believe that Internet is the most powerful communications medium to arise since the dawn of television. The Association has more then 1,200 professional members, that is: "members whose principal livelihood involves gathering or producing news for digital presentation". ONA administers the prestigious Online Journalism Awards since May 2000, as a joint effort of with the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, a comprehensive set of journalism prizes honoring excellence Web journalism. This year, two Spanish new media won the awards for non-English language sites. 

El Pais won the Non-English General Excellence to a Large Site:

"The winner sets the benchmark by which others are measured. On a bedrock of first-class journalism it has built a brilliant suite of infographics that are rich in information, yet easy to consume. The site is a shining example of how traditional media can blossom in the digital arena."

http://www.elpais.com/global/

Sitou won the Non-English General Excellence Award to a Small Site:

"The winner is a brilliant example of the new, smaller independent online news, information and community sites. It balances rigorous journalism with the most innovative application of Web 2.0 practices, all packaged in a gorgeous design with unique attention to small touches of navigational genius."
http://www.soitu.es/

General Excellence, Large Site: CNN

"A site that made substantial changes in the past year, making it one of the more dynamic destinations out there. One that takes user content seriously and integrates it into the whole, opening a new era of networked content. One judge predicted "everyone will copy it."

http://www.cnn.com/

General Excellence, Medium Site: LasVegasSun.com

"A winner with an impressive visual approach to journalism that helped them stand out as being a little bit different and very strong. One of the best newspaper Web sites I have seen, with high quality multimedia content that is integral to the site, not an afterthought or secondary element."

http://www.lasvegassun.com/

General Excellence, Small Site: ArmyTimes.com

"The winner clearly knows its audience, speaks to it honestly and helps it speak to itself. It is relentlessly helpful, packed with news and information that focuses on the needs of its users. What it gets back is an engaged community."

http://www.armytimes.com/

Knight Award for Public Service: WashingtonPost.com, Fixing D.D. Schools

"The winning entry is an excellent package that focuses on a specific issue of tremendous importance to the community. A very strong investigation, very well-written stories, and obviously a matter of great public import. If I was a parent in Washington DC I would be studying this."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/interactives/dcschools/