Bookmarks now open to ‘wider range’ of entrants

The Bookmarks, a digital award showcase which aims to recognise excellence in digital advertising, has reorganised its categories, something it claims will open it up to “a wider range of digital publishers and agencies”.

The awards are an initiative of the Digital Media Marketing Association (DMMA).

According to DMMA and Bookmarks chairperson Nikki Cockroft, the categories were reorganised, not just to open up the awards but also to “ensure all submissions were compared to relevant competitors, and evaluated by judges with significant experience and expertise”.

The award categories for the 2011 Bookmarks include:

Websites and Microsites, Advertising and Search, Email Marketing, Community and PR, Applications and Tools,Games, Online Video and Audio, Integrated or Mixed Media (all Product Awards); as well as Achievement and Special Honours; Individual and Team Awards and Craft Awards.

“As well as submissions from the industry stalwarts we are also looking forward to entries from companies, brands and individuals who have not previously entered the awards,” Cockroft says.

“For example, we believe that retail is going to play a bigger role this year plus we have included new awards for Civil Society and Government/Public service,” she adds.

Bookmarks’ organisers claim that the addition of extra mobile categories will add a particularly interesting dimension to the awards.

“We have extended mobile to 5 categories this year from only 2 last year,” says Cockcroft. “We recognize the developments within the industry and growth and importance of the platform.”

The DMMA initiated the Bookmarks in 2008, in order to “strengthen the profile of the digital industry in South Africa and benchmark local talent against international standards”.

Judges for the awards have yet to be confirmed but organisers say they will be made up of local and international industry figureheads.