2008 Woodie Awards
Webbies changes
By: Amanda King
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: News
The School of Communications' Webbies awards are breaking traditions this year, in a series of moves communications administrators said are an attempt to re-center the ceremony around students. Webster University faculty will host the event - a departure from past years' shows, which were hosted by comedians the likes of Vince Morris and Hal Sparks.
The Webbies special events class chose assistant professor Larry Baden and adjunct faculty Bernie Hayes from the SOC as hosts. The pair have been meeting with the special events class to develop a script for the April 7 show.
The two were chosen because of their popularity within the SOC and because of Hayes' extensive experience as an emcee, said senior public relations major and co-coordinator for the event, Patricia Thomas.
"We really wanted someone people would recognize and who they see on a daily basis," Thomas said. "The chemistry between Larry and Bernie is fantastic."
Banter between the two, along with short video vignettes will replace the traditional entertainment segment formerly produced by the Webbies production class, which was canceled last summer.
As of the extended entry deadline on March 3, special events coordinator Nancy Higgins had received more than 100 entries representative of all 10 award categories. The 2007 Webbies received more than 600 entries.
Among this year's entries for best video is "Lethal Webbies," the narrative produced by the 2007 Webbies production class that was not shown among controversy involving its use of stereotypes.
Senior film major Matt Murphy helped produce the video last year and chose to enter it into this
year's competition.
"So many people put so many hours into it, and I figured we should win," Murphy said. "I feel that it is one of the best video narratives to come out of WU."
Other changes to the Webbies are less visible. Submissions had to be in electronic format this year to makes judging easier, said assistant communications professor
Gary Ford.
"Before (students from the Webbies events class) were actually driving boxes of entries from one judge's house to another,"
Ford said.
Each category is judged by three professionals in the field who are recommended by faculty in the corresponding SOC department.
The Webbies will be held at 7 p.m. on April 7 in the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center. The special events class is also planning an after party and a red carpet lined with Ampersand reporters to imitate the Oscars, Thomas said.
The Webbies special events class chose assistant professor Larry Baden and adjunct faculty Bernie Hayes from the SOC as hosts. The pair have been meeting with the special events class to develop a script for the April 7 show.
The two were chosen because of their popularity within the SOC and because of Hayes' extensive experience as an emcee, said senior public relations major and co-coordinator for the event, Patricia Thomas.
"We really wanted someone people would recognize and who they see on a daily basis," Thomas said. "The chemistry between Larry and Bernie is fantastic."
Banter between the two, along with short video vignettes will replace the traditional entertainment segment formerly produced by the Webbies production class, which was canceled last summer.
As of the extended entry deadline on March 3, special events coordinator Nancy Higgins had received more than 100 entries representative of all 10 award categories. The 2007 Webbies received more than 600 entries.
Among this year's entries for best video is "Lethal Webbies," the narrative produced by the 2007 Webbies production class that was not shown among controversy involving its use of stereotypes.
Senior film major Matt Murphy helped produce the video last year and chose to enter it into this
year's competition.
"So many people put so many hours into it, and I figured we should win," Murphy said. "I feel that it is one of the best video narratives to come out of WU."
Other changes to the Webbies are less visible. Submissions had to be in electronic format this year to makes judging easier, said assistant communications professor
Gary Ford.
"Before (students from the Webbies events class) were actually driving boxes of entries from one judge's house to another,"
Ford said.
Each category is judged by three professionals in the field who are recommended by faculty in the corresponding SOC department.
The Webbies will be held at 7 p.m. on April 7 in the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center. The special events class is also planning an after party and a red carpet lined with Ampersand reporters to imitate the Oscars, Thomas said.
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