We're happy to announce that the 2008 Online Journalism Awards (OJA) - emblematic of the best in online journalism - are now open for
submission.

This year we are pleased to announce the addition of two important categories, reflective of the development of the industry:

General Excellence in Online Journalism, non-English, honors a Web site from anywhere in the world that successfully fulfills its editorial mission, effectively serves its audience, maximizes the use of the Web's characteristics and represents the highest journalistic standards.

Online Video Journalism honors excellence in video journalism original to the Web. Emphasis will be placed on compelling narrative, originality and creative use of the medium.

All category descriptions and entry requirements can be found here. The entry period will run through May 31. As in the past, this is a hard deadline, NO EXTENSIONS, NO EXCEPTIONS.

The finalists and the winners are selected through a two-step process. First, a group of about 100 journalists will screen entries in each category and narrow them to a set of five to ten nominees. The OJA judges, a group of 12 journalists with extensive experience in new and old media, will meet to pick the finalists and the winners.

Finalists will be announced early August. Winners will be announced at the 2008 Awards Banquet, the closing night of the 2008 ONA Conference in Washington, DC.