NEW YORK — For the second consecutive year, media personality and technology maven Shefik (https://shefik.info) returns as an Associate Judge for the 24th Annual Webby Awards (https://www.webbyawards.com), where he will serve alongside a panel of esteemed judges. Last year's winners include National Geographic Partners, Google Creative Lab, Marvel Entertainment, CBS Interactive, and Lucasfilm, as well as Special Achievement honoree and 2-time Academy Award winner Michael Douglas, among other special honorees. They took the Webby Awards stage, alongside other winners and special guests, such as Issa Rae, Vint Cerf, Tierra Whack, Hasan Minhaj, Monica Lewinsky, Dylan Marron, and more.
The nominees will be announced during April 2020, and the awards ceremony will be held during May 2020. The final deadline to enter is Friday, December 20, 2019. The complete list of last year's winners can be viewed at https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2019/.
Winners are chosen through a combination of votes from the public and scores given by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) of which Shefik is also an official member of the Academy since 2018 (https://www.iadas.net/member/shefik/). Associate Members include former Webby Award winners, nominees, and other Internet professionals. Members also include writers and editors from publications such as VICE Media, and Refinery29, as well as The New York Times, who proclaims the Webby Awards as "the Internet's highest honor".
An international organization, IADAS selects the nominees and winners for the Webby Awards and the Lovie Awards — the leading honors for the Internet and individual achievement in technology and creativity. Presented by the Academy, the Webbys and the Lovies recognize excellence in digital creativity, while establishing best practices on a yearly basis — continually pushing the standards of web development higher. Through year-round online and offline events and content series, they encourage people inside and outside the industry to share ideas and information to create a better Internet.
Shefik continues to be very active in the community. He served as a judge for a local Miss America competition, aiding in the 2018 crowning of Miss Northern Highlands, Miss Northern Lakes, and Miss North Jersey. The winners moved on to compete for the state title of Miss New Jersey 2018. Shefik also served as moderator at a panel discussion on "Equity & Diversity: Community Dialogue", held in Washington, D.C., and he was named Master of Ceremonies for various charitable events to benefit Autism New Jersey, and Eastern Shore Self-Advocacy Project (Chestertown, Maryland), as well as industry leading events Maarkah New York Fashion Week SS18 (New York City), and Lehigh Valley Fashion Week (Pennsylvania).
Additionally, Shefik appeared as a guest speaker at various uplifting events, such as a holiday fundraiser for YWCA Yonkers (Yonkers, New York), the 7th Annual Broadway Sings for Pride, and Global Tech Meets Fashion Affair Fundraiser, both held in New York City.
"I look forward to once again serving as an Associate Judge for the 24th Annual Webby Awards," says Shefik. "It is continuously amazing to be a part of the Internet's highest honor."
About Shefik
Celebrating over 20 years in the entertainment and technology industries, Shefik (https://shefik.info) is an accomplished industry insider, who has appeared on MTV, SiriusXM, PBS, BET, network television, and in print media, as well as internationally on TRT World (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, based in Istanbul, Turkey). He has held senior-level positions at many Fortune 500 companies and celebrated brands, including IBM, NBCUniversal, MTV World, Merck, Merriam-Webster, and Wolters Kluwer. A seasoned pro in social media with a career background as a Lead Architect and Senior Web Developer, Shefik is on the cutting edge of new media. As a videographer and producer, his work has been featured in television broadcasts and video productions for TIME magazine, The Washington Center, "Unsung" (TV One), and Broadway World. Additionally, his photography has been featured in print and online publications, such as Daily Mail (based in United Kingdom), Harvard Kennedy School Magazine, Playbill, and China Press. He is currently the Executive Producer and Host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Shefik presents Invocation" (https://invocation.co), which is broadcast on 22 terrestrial radio stations and frequencies throughout the United States, as well as the internationally syndicated video series of the same name, via Amazon and other notable outlets.
Last Updated: October 14, 2022
