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Nominations for entry in the awards closed at the beginning of this month so now the judges will have the onerous task of guaranteeing the sponsors get as much media exposure as possible by making sure that the most powerful broadcasters and publishers get the most mention.

I've voiced my disdain of these particular awards before, and -- oh look -- I'm doing it again!

Even good old Paul Brislen has a little to say about these awards in a recent Fryup so I wonder when they'll get the message?

Actually, I have to say that Qantas are onto a really good thing with these awards.

Although they're clearly branded as the "Qantas" awards, it seems that (according another of Paul's Fryups) the reason they haven't got a web category is because there's a lack of sponsorship.

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Oh, that's so cool. Qantas gets all the headlines while *other* sponsors actually have to stump up to cover the individual awards?

But hang on a moment -- what's going on here?

Look at this page from the awards website.

The text says "Welcome to the Qantas Media Awards for 2004. Please choose a section from above to download the entry forms for each category. Entries close 4 February 2004."

But the big bold heading at the top of the page says "Qantas Media Awards 2003".

Now that's classy -- such attention to detail, such credibility!

And wait, there's more...

There's no category for the web as a media this year right?

So how come, back in 2003, there WAS a web award.?

Why did Boeing (apparently the sponsor in 2003) pull their support for 2004?

Could it be that there's just no real value to having your brand associated with a website?

But hang on -- isn't that an ad for TV1 news at the bottom of the page announcing that NZoom won the "best news website" award?

Boy, that's objectivity -- NOT!

I'm sorry, but I honestly believe that the Qantas media awards are nothing but a giant sham and a fraud on the viewing/reading/browsing public.

Let's face it, they're just an excuse for a huge tax-deductible piss-up and a chance for some blatant self-promotion on the part of Qantas and those entering.

After all, how on earth can TV1 *and* TV3 both claim to have been judged "best" news and current events broadcaster?

The answer is simple of course, you create a plethora of different awards and make sure that everyone gets just enough that they can claim to be "Award Winning", thus including the Qantas branding at the end of every news bulletin and current events programme.

Don't be fooled into believing these awards are all about handing out recognition to deserving broadcasters and publishers. Anyone who says that is really Dalzieling the facts!

Perhaps the fact that the "award winning" NZoom website is now being ditched by TVNZ probably says more than I could as to the real credibility of these awards.

Busy Week...
Yes, I know I promised I'd start rolling out the "new look" Aardvark this week but I've had a week messed up by photographers, TV crews and other media people all demanding my time.

I can't help but feel sorry for the government. Not only has the term "porkies" been replaced by the term "doing a dalziel", but it would appear that the story of how my own situation was mis-handled may also knock a few points off their polling levels once it gets a damned good airing in the media.

But I have a free weekend so I *promise* (no, I'm not doing a Dalziel) that I'll be rolling stuff out by Monday.

New Forums!
Yes folks, good news. The grotty ezboard forums have been replaced with a new phpBBS-based system that won't assault you with a myriad of pop-ups and other flotsam.

A big thanks to Managed Internet Solutions for offering to provide this service.

You can access the new forums over at aardvarkforums.co.nz

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