NZ Website Is Nominated For Major International Aw

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NZ Website Is Nominated For Major International Award

New Zealand’s NetSafe and Apropos’ netbasics.org.nz is leading the way in education innovation with the Jones family

AUCKLAND, 27 April 2009 – In an effort to promote computer security and cybersafety, the collaboration of NetSafe and local design agency Apropos has resulted in a nomination for a Webby Award, the leading international award for excellence on the Internet.

“It’s an honour to be in the running for such a major award particularly as we have been nominated alongside Nokia, Adobe and a Hollywood film studio. Receiving a nomination for the Webby Awards is a real achievement for us,” says Martin Cocker, Executive Director of NetSafe.

NetSafe, a not-for-profit organisation community education initiative, created NetBasics to demonstrate the need for Internet safety to computer users. The NetBasics website, for which they are nominated, was developed under the creative direction of Emma Rogan and Terry Levenberg of Apropos Limited. It features a series of original animated episodes involving the Jones family and their interaction with their home computer. Each episode covers mistakes that are commonly made by everyday computer users, demonstrated through The Jones Family and their interaction with their computer.

Terry Levenberg says, “The idea behind the work was motivated by things like Second Life and Sims. In the internet world nothing and no one is necessarily what it seems. What we wanted to do was to recognise the fact that the internet is an inviting and exciting place, and that like everything in life it has its share of bad dudes too.” He goes on to say, “We wanted to get those across in a way that didn't simply try and provoke fear."

The concept and characters on the site were developed by Apropos, with Wellington animators Karactaz creating the animations and Auckland-based web developers Supply putting the site together. Apropos also created the stories and scripts in conjunction with NetSafe, with the finished product already winning a Gold BeST Award in the interactive website category (New Zealand’s premier graphic design award). Additional to the Webby Award nomination, NetBasics is an Official Honouree in the Education category at the Webbys.

Webby Award nominees are selected from over 10,000 entries coming from over 60 countries worldwide. Winners are announced on 5th May and then honoured at a star-studded ceremony in New York City on 8th June. Until 30th April, the public can vote for NetBasics for a People’s Voice Webby Award at pv.webbyawards.com.

ENDS

About NetSafe
NetSafe is a non-profit organisation that promotes confident, safe, and responsible use of Cyberspace. NetSafe’s members represent New Zealand’s cybersafety community, including government, law enforcement, schools, industry, and parents. NetSafe promotes cybersafety by educating and supporting individuals, organisations, and industry on the full range of cybersafety issues. Further information and resources can be found at www.netsafe.org.nz

About Apropos

Apropos Ltd is an advertising and design agency based in Parnell, Auckland. Based on the ethos that the ' inappropriate cannot be beautiful'. Apropos' work is to create fitting solutions for all their clients. Clients range from large multi-nationals to owner-operated brands and who need a communications company that offers a complete range of skills across all of today's media and consumers. For more information and case histories, go to www.apropos.co.nz

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