The votes are in. Or rather, the voting window is open. This is the eighth time the Ebner Ulm publishing group has launched the OnlineStar 2006 election. It is not just another tech award ceremony with a closed-door jury sipping champagne. This is a pure public vote.
Internet users get to pick their favorite websites across 14 categories. You can click and vote right now. Specifically, wissen.de is up for grabs. It holds a nomination in the Knowledge, News, and Information category. If you use the site, you should cast your ballot.
Why This Vote Matters for Web 2.0
Most internet awards rely on industry experts. They judge based on technical merit or business models. The OnlineStar is different. It is a people’s choice. With hundreds of thousands of jurors, the winner reflects actual user preference, not editorial opinion.
The 2006 edition reflects the shifting landscape of the web. This year, the categories evolved. New slots were added for Social Networks, Chat Communities, Weblogs, Videoblogs, and Podcasts.
Why does this matter? It signals the rise of Web 2.0. The web was moving from static pages to interactive, user-generated content. The OnlineStar adapted quickly. It stopped treating blogs and podcasts as niche hobbies. It recognized them as major pillars of the modern internet.
The Credibility of Public Choice
Jörg Peter Urbach, editor-in-chief of wissen.de, puts it plainly. He believes a public award carries weight.
“The OnlineStar as an internet prize given solely by the audience holds outstanding significance for wissen.de.”
He is not wrong. wissen.de has a track record of winning user-centric awards. They already hold the TV Movie Internet Award. That was also a public vote. They also won the “Golden Computer” from Computer-BILD in the internet category.
Winning these awards proves something simple. The site is popular. It is useful. It is trusted. Adding the OnlineStar to that list would be a logical next step. It would confirm that the public agrees with the editorial judgment.
How to Vote
The nomination is live. The categories are set. The competition is stiff.
- Go to www.onlinestar.de.
- Navigate to the Knowledge, News, and Information category.
- Find wissen.de.
- Click your vote.
It takes seconds. It requires no technical skill. It does not matter if you are a developer or a casual browser. The only requirement is that you find the site useful.
The trend of user-led validation is growing. As more platforms integrate social features, the line between creator and consumer blurs. Awards like this one bridge that gap. They let the audience decide what matters.
wissen.de is asking for that support. The nomination is there. The opportunity to influence the result is also there. The rest is up to you.
The results will likely come in weeks. But the act of voting happens now. What do you value in a knowledge site? Speed? Depth? Accuracy? Your vote answers that question.
