Blue State Digital Honored In Four Categories In The 18th Annual Webby Awards

NEW YORK, April 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue State Digital (BSD) announced today that it has been honored in multiple categories for its work with Freedom to Marry, the NAACP, A World At School and Malaria No More in the 18th Annual Webby Awards. Hailed as the "Internet's highest honor" by The New York Times, The Webby Awards recognized BSD's creative leadership in building and mobilizing communities to take action on behalf of some of the world's leading advocacy groups and nonprofits.

Freedom to Marry received honors for best Online Film and Video in the Public Service and Activism category. The video, Same Skin, demonstrates the inequality of federal marriage discrimination by placing two soldiers, one straight and one gay, side by side to show that while all service members receive the same battle wounds, the Defense of Marriage Act treats gay military members, veterans, and their families unfairly.

In honor of the 50th Anniversary March on Washington, the NAACP led a rally to continue the fight for civil liberties and civil rights. A microsite was created, which featured iconic movies and photos of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1963 march. The site galvanized the American people to join the movement and was recognized as an honoree in the Web: Cultural Institution category.

Malaria No More received honors for the Power of One campaign under the Web: Charitable Organizations/Non-profits category. Malaria kills a child every minute, so BSD helped MNM create a bold, action-oriented site for the Power of One, where a one-dollar donation provides a life-saving test and treatment for a child in Africa.

A World At School was recognized for best Social in the Public Service and Activism category. The multi-channel campaign helped bring hundreds of thousands of people all around the world to stand by Malala Yousafzai in her call for global unity to ensure that all girls and boys can go to school. Online supporters continue to tweet #malaladay and #iammalala and sign petitions to bring education to all.  

"Our work with advocacy organizations is always rewarding," said BSD CEO Joe Rospars. "We're thrilled that these web, social and video projects received recognition, and hope it raises more awareness for these inspirational partners."

The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. The IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award Winners, is comprised of web industry experts, including media mogul Arianna Huffington, Skype CEO Tony Bates, Mozilla CEO and Chair Mitchell Baker, Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom, mobile-phone inventor Martin Cooper, and Creator of the "Gif" Steve Wilhite. The 18th Annual Webby Awards received 12,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states. Out of all the 12,000 entries submitted, fewer than 15% received this honor and were deemed an Official Honoree.

About Blue State Digital
Founded in 2004, Blue State Digital (BSD) builds and mobilizes communities that take action on behalf of some of the world's leading brands, institutions, causes, and campaigns. Services include digital strategy, website design and development, campaign programming and execution, and on-going audience activation across email, social, video and paid media. Powering many of the projects is BSD Tools, a SaaS CRM software developed by the team from the ground up to organize and activate audiences online. Part of WPP Digital, BSD is headquartered in New York, with offices in Washington D.C., Boston, Los Angeles and London.

Contact: Kaitlyn Kurosky
HIGH10 MEDIA
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SOURCE Blue State Digital