NPR TOPS ALL OTHER MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS WITH SEVEN WEBBY AWARDS

NPR HONORED BY WEBBY MEMBERSHIP FOR NPR.org, NPR MUSIC, NPR MOBILE

AND VIDEO DOCUMENTARY SERIES “PROJECT SONG”;

NPR.org, NPR MUSIC AND NPR PODCASTS WIN PUBLIC COMPETITION

May 5, 2009; Washington, D.C. – NPR has been honored with seven awards in the 13^th annual Webby Awards – more than any other news organization – for NPR.org, NPR Music, mobile and podcasts, it was announced today. NPR was chosen as “Best Radio Site,” “Best Music Site,” “Best Mobile News” and “Best Music Online Video” among the Webby’s digital media membership, and “Best Radio Site,” “Best Music Site” and “Best Podcasts” in the Webby’s public competition.

NPR.org and NPR Music achieved both critical and popular consensus, winning top honors from the Webby’s International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences membership, and also from the public in its separate “People’s Voice Awards” competition. NPR.org complements NPR’s growing weekly audience of 27.5 million listeners, by offering in-depth news and information, extensive audio, video, music, photography and text. This continuing digital media expansion includes an Open API, launched July 2008 and allowing users to freely integrate NPR content, and the NPR Community with approximately 100,000 members since its launch September 2008. NPR Music is a free multi-genre music discovery site that curates original content from NPR and 12 Member public radio stations, including live performances, studio sessions, first listens to new albums, music lists, interviews and blogs.

NPR also won the “Best Mobile News” Webby for its iPhone site, which places world, national and business news alongside local news from NPR Member stations in more than 50 markets; and “Best Music Online Video” for Project Song, an online video documentary series from NPR Music that challenges musicians to write and record an original song in 48 hours in the NPR studios, and films the creative process. NPR Podcasts received a “People’s Voice” award, for offering podcasts of popular NPR programs, a directory of more than 600 public radio podcasts and the ability for users to customize their own podcast.

“We need to meet our audiences wherever they choose to consume news and information, and it’s thrilling to have such a wide range of work recognized in this way – from our around-the-clock news coverage at NPR.org, to the customizable mobile site for iPhone users, to multi-genre music discovery unlike anything else out there,” said Kinsey Wilson, senior vice president and general manager of NPR Digital Media.

The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, including Web sites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile Web sites. This year’s contest received nearly 10,000 entries from all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Winners will be recognized at a ceremony on June 8 in New York City. A full list of winners is available at: www.webbyawards.com

-NPR-