2002 Nominees for the WPA Maggies Awards
A list of the online articles submitted to the Western Publishers Association for awards consideration.PCWorld.com Staff
OL51 Best Online Feature Article. An article of general interest for a specific audience. Must be written for the Web.
- Windows XP Readiness Test: PC World editor Denny Arar helped produce this automated tool as a companion to her series of print news articles about the new Windows operating system. This untraditional piece of online service journalism concerns the tool that scans a user's computer to determine whether installed hardware components suit the minimum requirements of Windows XP, and if any installed software will need to be upgraded prior to installing the operating system. The editors on the project also polled major software vendors to determine which versions of many popular programs would and wouldn't work under Windows XP.
- Napster Alternatives: As the legal challenge to Napster drew to a close, it seemed likely that the court would issue an injunction to put Napster out of business. Regardless of the legality of online music trading, dozens of other services were popping up to fill the post-Napster music-sharing vacuum. We tested more than 20 services and picked our four favorite Napster alternatives. We also hinted at the potential of a few services that were just coming online at the time. The story was extremely popular with readers even several months after it was first posted.
- Click With Caution--User Licenses Get Tough: In order to install most software and view some Web sites, users must click a button labeled "I Agree" at the end of a very long and tangled legal document called an End User License Agreement (or EULA). This story analyzed the trend by some software publishers and Web site operators to put outrageous clauses into these so-called "Clickwrap" agreements, and resulted in at least two major software makers--Microsoft and Network Associates--changing the wording of their license agreements to remove or clarify some legally questionable clauses.
OL52 Best Online Interview or Profile. Q&A or profile article about an individual of interest to a particular industry. Must be written for the Web.
- Three Minutes With 'Fosdick': Kim Zetter's interview with a self-proclaimed hacker was the centerpiece of a group of online articles written to complement the May 2001 print issue, which featured a series of articles about online threats.
- Three Minutes With Bruce Schneier: Schneier, a well known author and expert on security and encryption issues is an outspoken critic of software vendors that produce products that contain dangerous security holes. He discussed who he considers to be responsible for software security flaws and what consumers can do about the growing problem.
OL53 Best Regularly Featured Online Column. A series of articles of interest to a specific industry by one author. Must be written for the Web.
- Privacy Watch: In 2001, our ongoing series of monthly columns by Andrew Brandt covered the online privacy angle on the risks associated with holding elections over the Web, deciphering Web site privacy policies, and keeping medical-history data secret.
- Home Office Newsletter: Part opinion piece, part service journalism, each of Steve Bass's weekly online columns adds his personal touch to issues affecting average computer users. Every week readers receive in their e-mail in-box commentary and tips on topics like how to get rid of spam e-mail, how to turbocharge your modem, and how to get the most out of Windows XP. The following week each column is posted on the PCWorld.com Web site.
Best Online News Story. An article of particular timeliness or news-worthiness to a specific audience. Must be written for the Web.
- Music Labels Target CD Ripping: Claiming to fight piracy, record labels are now testing copy protection to keep people from turning audio CDs into digital music.
- Digital Hate Speech Roars: Internet companies in these touchy times generally don't want their networks to be used as soapboxes for hate speech. So firms are taking swift action by editing message boards, turning off customer Web sites, and removing links from search engine results.
- Memory Prices Drop by 85 Percent: The PC memory industry has a history of tumultuous ups and downs, but the current price situation is the most dramatic ever seen. So what happened?
OL55 Best Online Publication Home Page Design. Best overall use of graphics, navigation, and design.
OL56 Best Overall Online Design. Best and most effective use of graphics and design concept of entire online publication.
OL57 Best Online Publication. Best overall use of editorial, graphics, navigation, functionality, and design of entire publication.