The Pritzker Military Library was recognized among the elite of the Internet with the 2008 Webby Awards, the leading international honor for the Web, as announced yesterday. In addition, the Library received a rare further distinction with recognition as an Official Honoree in two categories, for both Podcasts and Live Events & Broadcasts, which the Webby Awards recognizes as work "exhibiting remarkable achievement." This is the second consecutive year the Library has been recognized in the Events category and the first in the Podcast category.

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 & Video, and Mobile Websites. The awards are judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization that includes David Bowie, Harvey Weinstein, Arianna Huffington, Matt Groening, Internet inventor Vinton Cerf, and RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser.

"The Webby Awards honors the outstanding work that is setting the standards for the Internet," said David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards. "The Pritzker Military Library’s two selections as an Official Honoree are a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its creators.”

"To be included among the best in these two areas is an extraordinary honor," said Ed Tracy, Executive Producer of Programs and host of the Library's Medal of Honor series. "This is a credit to our superb production team headed by Andrew Edeker, David Cannek and Leighton Shell and our IT staff headed by Troy Perkins who have worked tirelessly to bring the stories of our American military history and our current affairs programming to an international audience through the Internet.”

The 12th Annual Webby Awards received nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries and all 50 states. Out more than the 10,000 entries submitted, fewer than 15% received this honor and were deemed an Official Honoree. The Pritzker Military Library joins a select few as an Official Honoree in multiple categories.

In the category of Events and Live Broadcasts, the Pritzker Military Library was joined by eight other organizations, including the National Hockey League and Universal Studios Hollywood. The Pritzker Military Library produces more than 50 free, public events per year with award-winning authors, Medal of Honor recipients, and panel discussions moderated by veteran broadcast journalist John Callaway.

Programs are recorded in front of a live audience at the Library, webcast live on the Internet, and recorded for later broadcast on WYCC-TV/Channel 20. Pritzker Military Library Presents will air its 100th television broadcast on Friday, April 11, 2008. The special 100th broadcast will also be available for viewing online at pritzkermilitarylibrary.org beginning the same day.

In the category of Podcasts, the Pritzker Military Library was joined by twelve other organizations including CNN, NPR, The New Yorker, and ESPN. Podcasts have become an integral part of the Library’s outreach, with several thousand subscribers across international boundaries. Each free, public event at the Pritzker Military Library is made available as an audio podcast. In addition, older programs from the Library’s archives are designated as Featured Podcasts for each month. For April 2008, the Featured Podcast is an interview by John Callaway with Iwo Jima veterans Col. Gerald F. Russell, USMC, (RET.) and William Hudson.

"We are delighted with the two honors for the Library," stated Ryan Yantis, Executive Director at the Pritzker Military Library. "Our live audience brings an exciting element to all of our programs. We want to thank our season and program sponsors and all of our associate members who are committed to creating a better understanding of the contributions of our Citizen Soldiers to a new and expanding audience."