Returning Power to the People in the Imperatives Awards

But what makes this Awards event different is that everyone in the industry will select the winners: making ‘The Imperatives' the industry's first opportunity to openly judge its peers. These awards will truly celebrate the progressiveness of the UK interactive sector and will be awarded to those who show true innovation, not merely the biggest budget.

According to Davina Lines, Managing Director at Netimperative: "We've democratised the awards process: taking it out from behind closed doors. With fourteen different categories from hottest start-up to the Wildcard, there is a place for everyone to have their say about what they think matters most. No more wondering why one company won over another, but an open-house policy where each opinion counts as to what constitutes the best and brightest in the digital industry'.

Netimperative is keeping the category entry cost low, to ensure that everyone can enter – from the largest international agency to the smallest start-up operation. At only ₤50 per category entry, anyone can afford to take part in what will be the industry's first opportunity to openly judge its peers.

Netimperative will task an expert judging panel to identify a shortlist for each category, to ensure that entries fulfil category criteria. Once reviewed, the shortlisted entries will be showcased on the Netimperative website. The industry can then take a look and cast their vote for the winners. So instead of the usual cries of ‘who are they?' or ‘why did they win?' everyone will know that the winners are being awarded plaudits from the judgement of industry peers.

The judging will culminate in a ceremony on Wednesday March 30th at the Café de Paris. To carry on the theme of opening up the Awards to the wider market, this will be no ordinary dinner dance, but a funky party to the early hours, with drinks, dancing, nibbles and DJ's – the price kept low to ensure that everyone can take part in the celebration.

Mike Butcher, Editor at Netimperative comments: "With the growing maturity of the market, and the increasing percentage of marketing spend going to online, we know that 2004 has seen the creation of some great work, and we want to let the industry decide whose work deserves to be recognised'.

The Imperatives offers everyone the chance to be involved. Companies and individuals will be recognised and judged by their peers in the UK Digital marketplace – making winning an Imperative Award both meaningful and prestigious.

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Editors Notes

The Imperatives Digital Awards:

Netimperative believes that the digital sector is in need of a new awards event that stands out from the usual crowd of dinner dances at Grosvenor House. These awards will truly celebrate the progressiveness of the UK interactive sector - awarded to those who show true innovation, not merely the biggest budget. They'll be voted on by the digital industry as a whole, as the shortlisted entries will be openly displayed on the Netimperative site.

The Awards Categories:

Special lifetime achievement award Hottest new start-up
Best use of search (campaign or application) Best site
Best interactive agency Best media owner
Best interactive advertising campaign Most innovative interactive brand owner
Best use of mobile (campaign or app) Best use of email
Best digital media blog Best use of digital entertainment
Best use of e-commerce (site or application) Wildcard
Each category entry will cost ₤50 plus VAT per entry.

The Party:

This will be held on the night of March 30th 2005, at the Café de Paris in London's Piccadilly. Each short listed company will be allocated two free tickets with an option to buy more; there will be a VIP area for 160 people and room for 525 on the main floor. The event will be themed as a nightclub event, rather than a hotel, with DJs, table entertainment, plenty of canapés/platters and free drink until the early hours. Tickets will cost ₤99 per person (plus VAT).

Netimperative:

Netimperative is a digital media business publisher, providing an independent editorial service covering a range of news, information, analysis and event products for businesses, observers and commentators interested in the digital marketplace. Its url is http://www.netimperative.com. It has been an impartial commentator and online news provider to the UK digital industry for over four years, and has built a solid reputation for the information and networking services it provides. It has an audience of over 20,000 individuals who work at a mix of media owners, offline brands, online brands and agencies.
www.netimperative.com
e:awards@netimperative.com

Contact details:

Katy Howell
Immediate future
PR for the digital industries
0845 408 2031