MAPLight.org Nominated for Best 'Politics' Website for 12th Annual Webby Awards

MAPLight.org nominated with four other 'Politics' category nominees: NPR.org Political; The Pew Forum; Truthdig; and FactCheck.org.

(BERKELEY, Calif.) - MAPLight.org, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization illuminating the connection between money and politics, is thrilled to announce its nomination for the best 'Politics' Web site of 2008.

The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states. Winners will be announced on May 6, 2008 and honored at a gala in New York City on June 10th.

"It is a great honor to be recognized alongside such esteemed organizations as NPR, FactCheck, and the Pew Forum,” said Daniel Newman, executive director of MAPLight.org. "This honor reflects the tremendous support we're receiving for our work on government transparency, holding our politicians accountable.

And like Oscar shining its searchlights in Hollywood, MAPLight.org is shining its spotlight on the campaign contribution politicians receive, and whether those politicians vote with special interests, or the interests of the people."

"The Webby Awards honor the outstanding Websites that are setting the standards for the Internet," said David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards. "MAPLight's Webby Award nomination is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators."

MAPLight.org provides unprecedented government transparency, shining a light on our broken system of money-dominated politics. They track all campaign contributions given to members of Congress, and how every member of Congress votes on every bill, revealing connections between money and politics never before possible to see.

MAPLight.org’s research department uses Web 2.0 data mashup technology to combine three data sets: campaign contribution data from the Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org) and National Institute on Money in State Politics, special interest support and opposition for each bill in Congress (MAPLight.org research team), and legislative voting records and bill information (THOMAS via GovTrack.us).

Cited in the NY Times, Washington Post and National Journal, MAPLight.org's Web site is fast becoming a favorite tool for journalists nationwide.

The Webby Awards is presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, a 550-person judging academy whose members include Internet co-inventor Vinton Cerf, R/GA’s Chief Bob Greenberg, "Simpson's" creator Matt Groening, Arianna Huffington, and Harvey Weinstein. From now through May 1st, online supporters of MAPLight.org can cast their own votes in The Webby People’s Voice Awards presented by Nokia at: http://pv.webbyawards.com.

The Webby Awards are known worldwide for its famous five-word speech limit. Past headline-grabbing speechmakers include Al Gore (“Please don’t recount this vote”), Beastie Boys (“Can anyone fix my computer?”), and Prince (“Everything you think is true.”). "If chosen," Newman said, " my five words would be, 'Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant,' paraphrasing Justice Louis Brandeis."

Hailed as the "Oscars of the Internet” by the New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile web sites. Established in 1996, the 12th Annual Webby Awards received a record 9,500 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide.

The Webby Awards is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: Adobe; The Creative Group; .ORG; The Barbarian Group; Level3; Adweek; Fortune; Variety; Wired; IDG: Brightcove; PricewaterhouseCoopers; 2advanced.Net; KobeMail and Museum of the Moving Image. About MAPLight.org

MAPLight.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Berkeley, California. Its search engine at MAPLight.org illuminates the connection between Money And Politics (MAP) via an unprecedented database of campaign contributions and legislative outcomes. Data sources include: GovTrack.us; Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org); Federal Election Commission (FEC); and National Institute on Money in State Politics. Support and opposition data is obtained through testimony at public hearings, proprietary news databases and public statements on the Web sites of trade associations and other groups. To learn more visit MAPLight.org.