The Webby Awards, the Oscars of the Internet, are here again, and this time they are asking for entries from video producers. Now normally this would be truly great news, but they are charging an entry fee, and as similar fees go (think film festivals), its a high fee: $95 for students and ‘viral’ entries, $125 for everyone else. So let me get this straight, it is an award. That you pay for. So if I enter and pay the entry fee for a single video, and I win, do I get the award for “the person willing to pay $95 for the chance to be named as the best of those with enough cash to spare to throw at this award”? I can understand that the whole thing takes money to put on, but this is seriously fubarred. Charge a fee, sure, but don’t gouge the very people who are entering. The internet is (currently) all about democracy and providing a level platform on which all content can compete equally and will be judged on its merits by the viewers. I understand charging an entrance fee, but come on! Jesus Christ- most people making videos on the web are kids and students and people doing it as a hobby. $125 pretty much narrows the competition to corporate-funded and/or sponsored videos. In my personal experience, most of the best stuff that premieres only on the web is made by art students and amateurs. I would love a rational explanation for such a high fee; if I get one I will gladly do a follow up post and apologize for doubting an institution such as this.  Tell them how you feel about the whole thing: jcollins@webbyawards.com