Tag Archives: blog of the year awards

The Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year awards (sometimes abbreviated to the BOTYs) have taken place annually at the party’s Federal Conference since 2006.

Helen Duffett

Blog of the Year Awards 2012: The Shortlists

By Helen Duffett | Sat 22nd September 2012 - 7:33 pm

Nominations for the Liberal Democrats’ Blog of the Year Awards 2012 closed on 14 September. Since then, the judges, Kirsty Williams (Assembly Member for Brecon and Radnorshire and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats), Nick Thornsby (Lib Dem Blogger of the Year 2011), Tim Gatt (ITV News Digital Output Editor), Stephen Tall (Co-Editor, Lib Dem Voice), Alan Muhammed (Lib Dem Voice’s social media manager), & Helen Duffett (that’s me – Co-Editor (Associate) Lib Dem Voice) have been poring over the entries for the five categories.

It’s been a big task, and a fun one, to distil so many excellent examples of Lib Dem blogging and e-campaigning into lists of the best.

Congratulations if you’ve been shortlisted, but if you haven’t: remember that the shortlists are based on the judges’ subjective opinions. The awards are intended to be a fun way to celebrate the talent in the Lib Dem blogosphere, whilst introducing you to some blogs you might not have read before.

Next, a plug for the awards ceremony itself. If you’re at party conference in Brighton, do come along to the Pavilion Room, Grand Hotel, Brighton, from 9.45pm tonight, Saturday 22nd September.

Now, without further ado, here are the shortlists: (Drumroll, please)

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Posted in Best of the blogs and Conference | Also tagged , , , , , , , , and | 3 Comments
Helen Duffett

Blog of the Year Awards 2012: Vote for Best non-Lib Dem politics blog

By Helen Duffett | Fri 21st September 2012 - 5:08 pm

It’s time to cast your votes (by STV) in the category for Best non-Lib Dem politics blog in the Lib Dem Voice Blog of the Year Awards 2012.

Simply use the app below and vote by 5:30 tomorrow.

The results will be announced at the BOTYs ceremony at Conference tomorrow night (10pm, Pavilion Room at the Grand Hotel, Brighton) and will appear online shortly afterwards. Follow the ceremony on Twitter using the hashtag #LDBOTY.

Poll closed, results tonight



Poll for LibDemVoice Blog of the Year Awards brought to you

…

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Posted in Best of the blogs and Conference | 1 Comment
The Voice

Less than 21 hours to get your BOTY nominations in…..

By The Voice | Thu 13th September 2012 - 8:35 pm

It’s almost two weeks since Helen Duffett invited us to submit our nominations for the prestigious Liberal Democrat Voice Blog of the Year.  Nominations close at 5pm tomorrow so if you haven’t done yours yet, you had better get your finger out. You are allowed to nominate your own blog – and nobody will ever know that you did. All the relevant details and the categories are reproduced below. If you are at Conference, the winners will be unveiled at an every expense spared ceremony at Conference. Better get that tux dry cleaned….

Make your choices and get them in …

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Posted in Conference and News | Also tagged , , , , and | 2 Comments
Helen Duffett

Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2012 – nominations now open

By Helen Duffett | Wed 29th August 2012 - 4:53 pm

BOTY 2
The Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards, run by Lib Dem Voice, are back for their seventh year. As usual, they’ll be awarded in a budget lavish ceremony at the party’s autumn conference in Brighton.

Click on the following links to see last year’s Shortlist and the Winners.

This year’s awards are as follows:

Continue reading »
Posted in Best of the blogs | Also tagged , , , , , and | 1 Comment
Helen Duffett

Blog of the Year Awards 2011: The Winners #LDBOTY

By Helen Duffett | Sat 17th September 2011 - 10:35 pm

What’s loosely termed the awards “ceremony” for the 2011 Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards has just drawn to a glittering close. As the last firework fades in Birmingham’s night sky, I’m delighted to announce the winners:

Continue reading »
Posted in Best of the blogs | Also tagged , , , , and | 1 Comment
Helen Duffett

Blog of the Year Awards 2011: The Shortlists

By Helen Duffett | Fri 16th September 2011 - 10:10 am

Nominations for the Liberal Democrats’ Blog of the Year Awards 2011 closed on 2 September. Since then, the judges Helen Duffett (that’s me), Richard Flowers, Olly Grender, Katie Razzall, Stephen Tall and Martin Tod have been poring over the entries for the six categories.

It’s been a big task, and a fun one, to distil so many excellent examples of Lib Dem blogging and e-campaigning into lists of the five best.

Congratulations if you’ve been shortlisted, but if you haven’t: remember that the shortlists are based on the judges’ subjective opinions. The awards are intended to be a fun way to celebrate the talent in the Lib Dem blogosphere, whilst introducing you to some blogs you might not have read before.

First, a reminder that the winner of the Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog category will be decided by a public vote here on Liberal Democrat Voice, so please have a read of the nominated blogs and then head on over to the sidebar to cast your vote.

Next, a plug for the awards ceremony itself. If you’re coming to party conference in Birmingham, do come along to the Andante Suite, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Birmingham, from 9.45pm on Saturday 17th September.

Now, without further ado, here are the shortlists: (Drumroll, please)

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Posted in Best of the blogs | 11 Comments
Helen Duffett

Have you nominated your Lib Dem Blog of the Year?

By Helen Duffett | Tue 30th August 2011 - 10:23 am

Time’s ticking till close of nominations for the Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011, so here’s a reminder of the categories and an exhortation to vote!

Nominate up to 3 favourites in any or all of these categories:

  • Best new Liberal Democrat blog (started since 1st September 2010)
  • Best blog from a Liberal Democrat holding public office (The Tim Garden Award)
  • Best use of blogging / social networking / e-campaigning by a Liberal Democrat
  • Best posting on a Liberal Democrat blog (since 1st September 2010)
  • Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog
  • Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year 2011

    • Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs | Leave a comment
    Helen Duffett

    Reminder: Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011 – nominations now open

    By Helen Duffett | Wed 24th August 2011 - 10:23 am

    As announced last week, it’s time to nominate your favourite bloggers, campaigners and social networkers in the BOTYs – the sixth annual Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards.

    This year’s awards are as follows:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs | Leave a comment
    Helen Duffett

    Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011 – nominations now open

    By Helen Duffett | Fri 19th August 2011 - 1:26 pm

    BOTY 2
    The Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards, run by Lib Dem Voice, are back for their sixth year. As usual, they’ll be awarded in a budget lavish ceremony at the party’s autumn conference in Birmingham.

    Click on the following links to see last year’s Shortlist and the Winners.

    This year’s awards are as follows:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs | Also tagged , , , , , and | Comments Off on Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2011 – nominations now open
    Helen Duffett

    Autumn conference 17-21 September 2011: registration now open

    By Helen Duffett | Wed 1st June 2011 - 12:55 pm

    It’s time to start thinking about Conference again; at Lib Dem Voice we’re already putting together an exciting fringe programme for Birmingham, including the famous Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards.

    More details to follow soon, but meanwhile, make sure you register early for the best rates and a hassle-free application process.

    Today’s email from the Conference Team:

    Registration for Autumn Conference is now open. If you haven’t already booked your place, we’re offering fantastic early bird rates until Friday 10 June. Click here to register and for further details on prices and deadlines.

    New this year

    Whether you want to

    …

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Conference | 18 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Blog of the Year Awards: The movie

    By Helen Duffett | Mon 27th September 2010 - 12:08 pm

    The BOTYs were quite simply the glitteringest event of the whole Liberal Democrat conference last week, and Lib Dem councillor and blogger Jonathan Wallace was there to film them.

    If you look carefully, you might just spot the tail feathers of the last flamingo, as it was startled away by popping flashbulbs. Alas, the heat of said flashbulbs also melted the ice sculptures before Jonathan could film those too, but the video’s well worth watching for the great speeches from winners and presenters alike:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs and Conference | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , and | 1 Comment
    Alex Foster

    Worth a second outing: historical BOTYs

    By Alex Foster | Sun 19th September 2010 - 9:28 pm

    With the success of the most recent Blog of the Year still ringing in our ears, I thought I’d dig through the archive and bring you the tapes from the previous incarnations of the event.

    Marvel at our clipped accents and the comical costumes we wore as we take this trip down memory lane.

    Firstly, Jonathan Calder unearthed some footage of the very first BOTY ceremony with guest speaker Alex Wilcock. This was way back in 2006 when the world was as a younger, kinder place.

    I’m not aware of any recordings from 2007 – if you can help fill the …

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    Posted in Conference and Podcasts | Also tagged , and | Leave a comment
    Alex Foster

    PODCAST: Blog of the Year Awards 2010

    By Alex Foster | Sun 19th September 2010 - 1:19 am

    Earlier tonight, the Blog of the Year Awards reached their fiery climax.

    Helen Duffett has already brought you the stunning results, congratulated the winners and commiserated with the runners up.

    All that remains is my duty to bring you, the loyal listener at home who maybe can’t be at conference this year, the recording of the proceedings.

    And, technology permitting, you should find that below.

    Happy listening!

    Posted in Conference, Events and Podcasts | Leave a comment
    Helen Duffett

    Blog of the Year Awards 2010: The Winners

    By Helen Duffett | Sat 18th September 2010 - 11:26 pm

    What’s loosely termed the awards “ceremony” for the 2010 Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards has just drawn to a glittering close. As the last firework fades in Liverpool’s night sky, I’m delighted to announce the winners:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs and Conference | Also tagged , , and | 4 Comments
    Alex Foster

    Help spread the news about the BOTYs tonight

    By Alex Foster | Sat 18th September 2010 - 10:45 am

    LibDemVoice are hosting four events at conference – fuller details are available here.

    The first of these falls tonight, at the Blog of the Year Awards.

    If you’d like to come along, why not click here to let your twitter friends know.

    Posted in Conference and Events | Also tagged | Leave a comment
    Helen Duffett

    Blog of the Year Awards 2010: The Shortlists

    By Helen Duffett | Tue 14th September 2010 - 1:00 pm

    Nominations for the Liberal Democrats’ Blog of the Year Awards 2010 closed on 27 August. Since then, the judges Prateek Buch, Jonathan Calder, Lee Chalmers, Ryan Cullen, Helen Duffett (that’s me), Costigan Quist, Mary Reid, Jo Swinson and Andy Williamson have been poring over the entries for the six categories.

    It’s been a big task, and a fun one, to distil so many excellent examples of Lib Dem blogging and e-campaigning into lists of the five best.

    Congratulations if you’ve been shortlisted, but if you haven’t: remember that the shortlists are based on the judges’ subjective opinions. The awards are intended to be a fun way to celebrate the talent in the Lib Dem blogosphere, whilst introducing you to some blogs you might not have read before.

    First, a reminder that the winner of the Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog category will be decided by a public vote here on Liberal Democrat Voice, so please have a read of the nominated blogs and then head on over to the sidebar to cast your vote.

    Next, a plug for the awards ceremony itself. If you’re coming to party conference in Liverpool, do come along to Grace Suite 1 at the Hilton Liverpool from 9.45pm on Saturday 18th September.

    Now, without further ado, here are the shortlists: (Drumroll, please)

    Blank

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs and Conference | Also tagged | 14 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Coming later today… Lib Dem Blog of the Year shortlists revealed

    By Helen Duffett | Tue 14th September 2010 - 9:20 am

    Just a short, teaser post to let you know that the shortlists for the Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year awards 2010 will be published this afternoon at 1pm.

    Nine judges – Prateek Buch, Jonathan Calder, Lee Chalmers, Ryan Cullen, Helen Duffett (that’s me), Costigan Quist, Mary Reid, Jo Swinson and Andy Williamson – have been poring over the entries for the following six categories:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Conference | 1 Comment
    Helen Duffett

    Have you nominated your Lib Dem Blog of the Year?

    By Helen Duffett | Fri 20th August 2010 - 12:20 pm

    Time’s ticking till close of nominations for the Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards, so here’s a reminder of the categories and an exhortation to vote early!

    Nominate in any or all of these:

  • Best new Liberal Democrat blog (started since 1st September 2009)
  • Best blog from a Liberal Democrat holding public office (The Tim Garden Award)
  • Best use of blogging / social networking / e-campaigning by a Liberal Democrat
  • Best posting on a Liberal Democrat blog (since 1st September 2009)
  • Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog
  • Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year

    • Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs and Conference | Leave a comment
    Helen Duffett

    Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2010 – nominations now open

    By Helen Duffett | Mon 26th July 2010 - 10:20 am

    BOTY 2
    The Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards, run by Lib Dem Voice, are back for their fifth year. As usual, they’ll be awarded in a budget lavish ceremony at the party’s autumn conference in Liverpool. (There’s further information on the event over at the Lib Dems’ Flock Together site). Click on the following links to see last year’s Shortlist and the Winners.

    This year’s awards are as follows:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs and Conference | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , and | 1 Comment
    Helen Duffett

    Social media explained in a new guide for councillors

    By Helen Duffett | Tue 23rd March 2010 - 3:35 pm

    The Leadership Centre for local government has launched a new website: The councillors’ guide to social media.

    The site has a variety of information for councillors, and is particularly accessible for those who haven’t yet tried this way of communicating.

    Here’s a flavour:

  • Top ten reasons to use social media

    •  

  • Banished! Ten social media myths

    •  

  • Getting started

    •  

  • Top ten councillors on Twitter which features four Liberal Democrats (including Lib Dem Voice editors Sara Bedford and Alex Foster).

    •  

  • Opportunities not taken is particularly interesting, as it highlights areas for improvement. It says that councillors and officers tend to face cultural, rather than technical barriers to using social media. Some councils still lack a clear social media policy for councillors or officers, either in a personal or professional capacity. Many councils routinely block access to social networking sites on their computers. The guide suggests ways for councillors to hold their councils to account over their social media approach.

    •  

    Connected councillors – a guide to using social media to support local leadership – is available as an interactive version and also downloadable as a pdf.

    The site also features a video of Lib Dem Councillor for Redlands (and 2009 LDV Blog of the Year shortlistee for her use of social media) Daisy Benson explaining why she uses social media:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Online politics | Also tagged , , , and | 2 Comments
    Alex Foster

    #ldconf podcast: The BOTY recording

    By Alex Foster | Mon 21st September 2009 - 7:45 pm

    Whilst the LDV team is out tonight enjoying, in our various abstemious ways, the Liberal Drinks event at Bournemouth’s Goat and Tricycle tonight, we thought we’d bring you the tape of last night’s BOTY ceremony.

    Sadly the audio version can not to justice to the range of visual feasts the evening provided. Stephen’s milliner will be most disappointed; the ice sculptors know their art is fleeting; and we have really only just rounded up all the flamingoes.

    jgraham

    But it was a striking evening for a number of reasons, as we hope the …

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Conference and Podcasts | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and | 3 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Blog of the Year Awards 2009: The Winners

    By Helen Duffett | Sun 20th September 2009 - 10:41 pm

    What’s loosely termed the awards “ceremony” for the 2009 Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards has just drawn to a glittering close. As the last firework fades in Bournemouth’s night sky, I’m delighted to announce the winners:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs | Also tagged , , , , , , and | 11 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Blog of the Year Awards 2009: The Shortlists

    By Helen Duffett | Tue 15th September 2009 - 11:25 am

    Nominations for the Liberal Democrats’ Blog of the Year Awards 2009 closed on 4 September. Since then, the judges (Tom Brake MP, Ryan Cullen, me, Meral Ece OBE, Lynne Featherstone MP, Alix Mortimer, Stephen Tall, Cat Turner and Paul Waugh) have been poring over the entries for the six categories.

    It’s been a big task, and a fun one, to distil so many excellent examples of Lib Dem blogging and e-campaigning into lists of the five best.

    Congratulations if you’ve been shortlisted, but if you haven’t: remember that the shortlists are based on the judges’ subjective opinions. The awards are intended to be a fun way to celebrate the talent in the Lib Dem blogosphere, whilst introducing you to some blogs you might not have read before.

    First, a reminder that the winner of the Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog category will be decided by a public vote here on Liberal Democrat Voice, so please have a read of the nominated blogs and then head on over to the sidebar to cast your vote.

    Next, a plug for the awards ceremony itself. If you’re coming to party conference in Bournemouth, do head along to Old Harry’s Bar in the Marriott Highcliff Hotel from 9.45pm on Sunday 20th September.

    Now, without further ado, here are the shortlists: (Drumroll, please)

    Blank

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs and Conference | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and | 20 Comments
    Stephen Tall

    Coming later today… Lib Dem Blog of the Year shortlists revealed

    By Stephen Tall | Tue 15th September 2009 - 9:15 am

    Yes, folks, this is a short, teaser post to let you know that the shortlists for this year’s Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year awards 2009 will be published this morning at 11.25 am.

    The nine judges – Tom Brake MP, Ryan Cullen, Helen Duffett, Meral Ece OBE, Lynne Featherstone MP, Alix Mortimer, me, Cat Turner and Paul Waugh – have been poring over the entries for the following six categories:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs | Also tagged | 2 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Have you nominated your Lib Dem Blog of the Year?

    By Helen Duffett | Fri 21st August 2009 - 12:20 pm

    Time’s ticking till close of nominations for the Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards, so here’s a reminder of the categories and an exhortation to vote early!

    Nominate in any or all of these:

    • Best new Liberal Democrat blog (started since 1st September 2008)
    • Best blog from a Liberal Democrat holding public office (The Tim Garden Award)
    • Best use of blogging / social networking / e-campaigning by a Liberal Democrat
    • Best posting on a Liberal Democrat blog (since 1st September 2008)
    • Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog
    • Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year

    To be eligible for ‘Best blog from a …

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs, Conference and Online politics | Leave a comment
    Stephen Tall

    LDV Weekend Meme: your favourite blog-posts

    By Stephen Tall | Sat 8th August 2009 - 10:30 am

    The Lib Dem blog awards are with us again – and one of the categories is ‘Best posting on a Liberal Democrat blog (since 1st September 2008)’. This is actually my favourite award for the simple reason that it recognises writing talent, pure and simple. By which I don’t mean that the prose has to be worthy of a Booker nomination; rather that the article has to attract, engage and provoke readers – elevate our thinking, if you like.

    All of which musing prompted me to ask my LDV colleagues – and myself – to self-nominate the favourite articles we’ve posted here on the site. Here’s what we said:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in LDV meme | Also tagged , , , , and | 11 Comments
    Helen Duffett

    Lib Dem Blog of the Year Awards 2009

    By Helen Duffett | Thu 6th August 2009 - 5:06 pm

    The Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year Awards, run in conjunction with Lib Dem Voice, are back for their fourth year. As usual, they’ll be awarded in a budget lavish ceremony at the party’s autumn conference in Bournemouth. (There’s further information on the event over at the Lib Dems’ Flock Together site). Click on the following links to see last year’s Shortlist and the Winners.

    This year’s awards are as follows:

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs, Conference and Online politics | Also tagged | 7 Comments
    Alex Foster

    The unexpurgated blog awards

    By Alex Foster | Sun 14th September 2008 - 9:24 am

    Last night, one of the team hurried home from the bar to bring you the exciting news of the winners of the 2008 Blog of the Year Awards, or “BOTYs”

    The 2008 blog awardsNow, in the cold light of day we can bring you much fuller coverage, with a podcast recording of the entire evening, just as earlier in the year we brought you a recording of the Campaign for Gender Balance Blog Awards.

    I hope the ceremony makes sense as an audio recording but if any of the …

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs and Podcasts | 1 Comment
    The Voice

    And the winners are…

    By The Voice | Sun 14th September 2008 - 1:39 am

    Tonight has been the Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year awards, with the prizes going to:


    Best new Liberal Democrat blog: The People’s Republic of Mortimer (Alix Mortimer)


    Best use of blogging or social networking by a Liberal Democrat: Baroness Ros Scott’s campaign for party president


    The Tim Garden Award (for the best blog by a Liberal Democrat holding public office): Peter Black AM


    Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog (LDV readers poll): Bad Science (Ben Goldacre)


    Best posting on a Liberal Democrat blog: My inner disgusted colonel (The People’s …

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs | Also tagged | 3 Comments
    Will Howells

    Blog of the Year Awards 2008: The Shortlists

    By Will Howells | Mon 8th September 2008 - 12:21 pm

    Thank you to everyone who emailed in nominations for this year’s Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year awards. The judges (Kate Bevan, Rob Blackie, Ryan Cullen, Lynne Featherstone, James Graham, me, Sunny Hundal, Mark Pack and Stephen Tall) have pored over around 80 nominated blogs to whittle them down to the shortlists below.

    The shortlists do, of course, represent the subjective opinions of the judges, so congratulations if you’ve been shortlisted but don’t worry if you haven’t – as always, the standards were high and there were tough decisions to make. The awards are a bit of fun that we hope will highlight some of the best examples of Liberal Democrat blogging and introduce you to some blogs you might not have read before.

    I know you’re on tenterhooks, but assuming you haven’t skipped this bit already I have three announcements before we proceed.

    The first is a reminder that the winner of the Best non-Liberal Democrat politics blog category will be decided by a public vote here on Liberal Democrat Voice, so please have a read of the nominated blogs and then head on over to the sidebar or to the bottom of this post to cast your vote.

    Secondly, a plug for the awards ceremony itself. If you’re coming to party conference in Bournemouth, do head along to Old Harry’s Bar in the Marriott Highcliff Hotel from 9.45pm on Saturday. They’ll be refreshments on arrival (thanks to soon-to-be-announced sponsors), so come early!

    Finally, I’m very pleased to announce that, with the kind agreement of Tim’s widow, Baroness Garden, the award for the best blog by a Liberal Democrat holding public office will from now on be known as The Tim Garden Award, in honour of Lord Garden, a blogger for many years, who died last year.

    Without further ado, here are the shortlists.

    Continue reading »
    Posted in Best of the blogs | Also tagged and | 41 Comments
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