REA Group in running for a 2008 Webby

Nominees and honourees for the Oscars of the internet – the 12th Annual Webby Awards – have been announced and posted.

The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, are made in about 70 categories from best copy/writing, best navigation and best design to best financial services, politics and real estate sites.

The REA Group’s beta site property.com.au is one of a few Australian sites to get a mention. Property.com.au is the Australian real estate website where the REA Group, owner of Realestate.com.au, tests new technologies and design, and has been named an “official honouree” in the real estate category.

The REA Group says it is the only Australian real estate website – and one of the very few Australian websites of any kind – to be given this distinction.

Simon Baker, managing director of the REA Group, said: “We apply the lessons we learn from this beta site to our largest website, Realestate.com.au, and to the other 18 sites we operate around the world.”

The real estate website was selected for this distinction from among the more than 8000 entries. Fewer than 15% of all entries were good enough to be named official honourees.

Property.com.au is still in the running to win the Webby Award itself when final winners are announced on 6 May 2008.

You can vote for your favourite nominees at pv.webbyawards.com. Voting closes 1 May.