A Time for the Internet, and a Time for Adderall

Because he's glutton for punishment, we sent Gawker operative Stephen Kosloff to the after party for the Webby awards last night. These are his stories. More »

The Webby Awards Remain the Best Scam Going

For a dozen years, the Webby Awards have tried to make the Web glamorous. But what they've really done is distill the hucksterism of the Internet into its purest form. More »

Webby Award winners a typical mix of celebs and self-promoters

Another year, another round of nominees who paid up to $475 to be considered for a Webby have been awarded their publicity prizes. The long-running promotional gambit started by early Valley PR pro Tiffany Shlain, now under new management, does give awards to "special honorees" whom I presume don't have to pay. Those deemed "special" provide big names for media coverage and a draw for award winners to shell out for tickets to the awards gala. This year, Stephen Colbert is the biggest name, having won "Person of the Year" for his achievements in promoting himself online when he was unable to do so on air during the TV writers' strike. Michel Gondry got the nod for "Film and Video Person of the Year" for convincing YouTubers to promote his movie Be Kind, Rewind. And Will.i.am's treacly Yes We Can video garnered the musician "Artist of the Year." Who didn't win? Any of the engineers who, you know, build the Web. (Photo by AP/Matt Rourke)

Jack Shafer Doesn't Want Your Stupid Webby Award Anyway

"It's with great shame that I confess that Slate is a nominee" in the Webby Awards, says Jack Shafer, the site's lead destroyer of all fun. He's upset that so many people get to come home with a trophy: 600 winners and over 1100 pre-announced "honorees," out of almost 10,000 contestants who paid $275 or more each to be considered. He estimates the awards show pulls in $2 million (which honestly doesn't sound like that much to me, considering costs). Of course Shafer's hate-on, like any promising Slate piece, has a caveat. More »

In And Out Of Jail Is The New In And Out Of Rehab