Social Media Awards Beirut Announces Finalists, Public Voting Begins
Yesterday, the Social Media Awards Beirut announced their competition finalists at an event at the Phoenicia Hotel in downtown Beirut. Finalists were nominated by the public and narrowed down by the panel of expert judges.
This is the first edition of the Social Media Awards Beirut, which allows the Lebanese online community to nominate, vote for and award bloggers, journalists, content creators, community managers, celebrities, and social media users, for their efforts in communication and online creation.
Judges include the Lebanese Minister of Telecoms Nicolas Sehnaoui, the British Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher, and other notable business owners, academics, and bloggers from Lebanon. The competition is organized by The Online Collaborative, an NGO out of the American University of Beirut focused on promoting “proper digital citizenship” by encouraging internet users to make the most of social media for their businesses and projects.
“I want to encourage any Lebanese creator, entrepreneur, inventor, or investor to invest in the Lebanese digital economy,” said Telecoms Minister Sehnaoui. “We are able to do much more as Lebanese and we will do much more in years to come.”
AUB Professor Leila Khauli Hanna, one of
the judges, congratulated the online community in Lebanon, adding,
“We in this region have a competitive advantage in that we not only
understand a political voice online, but a business application as
well.”
Some of the more interesting finalists to note are the most
active politicians, favorite Lebanese
bands, most popular celebrities online,
and food and beverage companies.
The competition is now open for public voting, where voters can choose one finalist from each of the 32 categories which include Blog of the Year, Best Band on Social Media, Most Engaging Person on Twitter, and Best Startup on Social Media, among others.
Check out the full list of finalists below and vote on the SMA website for the best in each category. Voting ends on April 25th, 2013 followed by an awards ceremony on April 29th. Finalists are listed in descending order starting with those who were awarded the most points by the judges:
Finalists for Blog of the Year
- Blog Baladi | www.blogbaladi.com
- Gino's Blog | www.ginosblog.com
- Beirut Spring | www.beirutspring.com
- Hummus Nation | www.hummusnation.net
- Separate State of Mind | www.stateofmind13.com
- Mich Café | michcafe.blogspot.com
- Beirut Boy | guymeetsworld.wordpress.com
Finalists for Best News Blog
- Beirut Spring | www.beirutspring.com
- Naharnet | www.naharnet.com
- Plus 961 | www.plus961.com
- Blog Baladi | www.blogbaladi.com
- Beirut Report | www.beirutreport.com
- Leb LGBT Monitor | www.raynbow.info
- Separate State of Mind | www.stateofmind13.com
Finalists for Best Business Blog
- Wamda | www.wamda.com
- Executive Magazine | www.executive-magazine.com
- Brofessional Review | www.brofessionalreview.com
- Beirut NTSC | www.beirutntsc.com
- The Ads Garage | www.theadsgarage.com
- Marketing in Lebanon | www.marketinginlebanon.com
- Eastline Marketing | www.eastlinemarketing.com/blog
Finalists for Best Lifestyle Blog
- Mich Café | michcafe.blogspot.com
- Let's tlk abt movies | www.tlkabtmovies.com
- Homos Libnani | homoslibnani.wordpress.com
- Nads Reviews | www.nadsreviews.com
- Architecture Lab | www.architecturelab.net
- If the bag Fits | www.ifthebagfits.com
Finalists for Best Food Blog
- No Garlic No Onions | www.nogarlicnoonions.com
- Strawberry Blu | www.strawberryblu.com
- Beirut Restaurants | www.beirutrestaurants.com/Latest_News
- The Burger Tribune | www.theburgertribune.wordpress.com
- Pearl's Powder | pearlspowder.blogspot.com
- Permanent Hunger | www.permanenthunger.com
Finalists for Best Fashion Blog
- Plush Beirut | www.plush-beirut.net
- Ivy Says | www.ivysays.com
- L'armoire De Lana | www.larmoiredelana.com
- Hala Ajam | halaajam.wordpress.com
- Z for Zayd | www.zforzayd.com
- Fashion To Tracy | www.fashiontotracy.com
- Vero Moda Blog | veromodame.com
Finalists for Best Technology Blog
- The Tech Ticker | www.tech-ticker.com
- Microsoftoholic | microsoftoholic.blogspot.com
- The JR Express | thejrexpress.com
- Tech-Node Digest | technodedigest.wordpress.com
Finalists for Best Personal Blog
- Gino's Blog | www.ginosblog.com
- Ink on the Side | inkontheside.com
- Eye on The East | www.eyeontheeast.org
- Rita Kamel | www.ritakml.info
- Homos Libnani | homoslibnani.wordpress.com
- Beirut Boy | guymeetsworld.wordpress.com
- Miss Farah | www.missfarah.com
Finalists for Best Media Personality on Social Media
- Paula Yacoubian | @PaulaYacoubian
- Zaven Kouyoumdjian | @Zaven_K
- Ayman Itani | @aymanitani
- Marcel Ghanem | @Marcel_Ghanem
- Amer Tabsh | @arzleb
- Mona Salibi | @monasalibi
- Tony Khalifeh | @TonyKhalifeh
Finalists for Best Non-Arabic Vocal Artist on Social Media
- Poly | @followpoly
- Anthony Touma | @ToumaMusic
- Tania Kassis | @Tania_Kassis
- Hiba Kadri | @HibaKadri
Finalists for Best Band on Social Media
- Slutterhouse | @slutterhouse
- Meen The Band | @meentheband
- Jay Wud | @JAYWUD
- مشروع ليلى Mashrou' Leila | @mashrou3leila
- Episode | @episodeband
- Scrambled Eggs | www.fb.com/SCRAMBLEDEGGSLEBANON
- Adonis | @adonisband
Finalists for Most Creative Instagram Account
- David Habchy | @davidhabchy
- Live Love Beirut | @livelovebeirut
- Michel Richa | @mishoricha
- No Garlic No Onions | @nogarlicnoonions
- Chi7as | @chi7as
- Gino Raidy | @ginoraidy
- Saad Naamani | @saadnaamani
Finalists for Best Facebook Campaign/Page
- ABC | www.fb.com/abc.officialpage
- Lebanese Memes | www.fb.com/Lebanese.memes
- All 961 | www.fb.com/all961
- Abed Tahan | www.fb.com/abedtahan
- Instruments Garage | www.fb.com/instrumentsgarage
- LG Lebanon | www.fb.com/lglebanon
Finalists for Best Integrated Campaign
- Cheyef 7alak | www.fb.com/cheyef7alak
- TEDxBeirut | www.fb.com/tedxbeirut
- Taanayel | www.fb.com/TaanayelLesFermes
- ABC | www.fb.com/abc.officialpage
- Alfa Telecommunications | www.fb.com/alfatelecommunications
- Touch | www.fb.com/touchlebanon
- Le Mall | www.fb.com/lemalllb
Finalists for Most Engaging Youtube Channel
- TEDxBeirut | www.youtube.com/TEDxBeirut
- Cheyef 7alak | www.youtube.com/cheyef7alak
- Be7ke | www.youtube.com/be7ke
- I LUV U BUT | www.iluvubut.tv
- Le Mall | http://j.mp/LeMallYoutube
Finalists for Most Engaging Youtube Video
- Mashkal at Khoury Home | http://j.mp/KhouryHomeSMA
- Beirut Duty Free Flashmob | http://j.mp/DutyFreeSMA
- Proposal's Flashmob @ beirut Souks - fadi bitar | http://j.mp/FadiSMA
- Pepsi Lebanon Surprising Elio | http://j.mp/PepsiSMA
- كيف شايفين البلد؟ ش ش ش : Amal Al Dahouk at TEDxBeirut 2012 | http://j.mp/AmalSMA
- Overly Attached Lebanese Girlfriend | http://j.mp/LebgfSMA
- The Story of Souad, in Honor of Ali حكاية سعاد... من أجل علي عبدالله | http://j.mp/SouadSMA
Finalists for Most Engaging Person on Twitter (Tweep)
- Anis Tabet | @AnisTabet13
- Angie Nassar | @angienassar
- Michel Richa | @mishoricha
- George Khabbaz | @LeSoupi
- Imad Bazzi | @trellalb
- Rani the First | @ranithefirst
- Vincent Gebran | @vince_gebran
Finalists for Most Engaging Celebrity on Twitter
- Haifa Wehbe | @haifawehbe
- Pierrette Katrib | @pierettekatrib
- Ragheb Alama | @raghebalama
- Nancy Ajram | @nancyajram
- Elissa | @elissakh
- Nawal El Zoghbi | @nawalelzoghbi
- Yara | @yara_lb
Finalists for Most Engaging Media Personality on Twitter
- Paula Yacoubian | @paulayacoubian
- Angie Nassar | @angienassar
- Zaven | @zaven_K
- Mona Salibi | @monasalibi
- Neshan | @neshantv
- Pierre Rabbat | @pierrerabbat
- Marcel Ghanem | @marcel_ghanem
Finalists for Most Engaging Politician/Diplomat on Twitter
- Ziyad Baroud | @ziyadbaroud
- Saad Hariri | @haririsaad
- Michel Sleiman | @sleimanmichel
- Najib Mikati | @najib_mikati
- Samy Gemayel | @samygemayel
- Gebran Bassil | @gebran_bassil
- Charbel Nahas | @charbelnahas
Finalists for Best Business on Twitter
- Phoenicia | @PhoeniciaBeirut
- Roadster Diner | @roadsterdiner
- Le Gustav | @Legustav
- Zaatar w Zeit | @zaatarwzeit
- Brioche Doree | @briochedoreeLB
- Crepaway | @crepaway
- February 30 Pub | @Feb30Hamra
Finalists for Best NGO/Organization on Twitter
- Donner Sang Compter | @DSCLebanon
- FERN | @FERN_org
- TEDxBeirut | @TEDxBeirut
- YASA | @yasalebanon
- One Wig Stand | @OneWigStand
- Food Blessed | @foodblessed
- Sesobel | @Sesobel
Finalists for Best Pub/Bar on Social Media
- February 30 Hamra | @Feb30Hamra
- White | @whitebeirut
- Dany's Hamra | @Danyshamra
- Big Shot | @bigshothamra
- Main Street Hamra | @mainsthamra
Finalists for Best Restaurant, Café or Bakery on Social Media
- Roadster Diner | @roadsterdiner
- Le Gustav | @legustav
- Crepaway | @crepaway
- Zaatar w Zeit | @zaatarwzeit
- Brioche Doree | @briochedoreeLB
- St. Elmo's Seaside Brasserie | @stelmosbeirut
- Dalilicious Bakery | @daliliciousLB
Finalists for Best Hotel on Social Media
- Phoenicia | @phoeniciabeirut
- Four Seasons Beirut | @FSBeirut
- Mir Amin Palace | @MirAminPalace
- Riviera Hotel & Beach Lounge Beirut | @RivieraBeirut
- Coral Suites Hamra | www.fb.com/coralsuiteshamra
- Four Points Verdun | @FPSleverdun
Finalists for Best Fashion Brand on Social Media
- Mukhi Sisters | @mukhisisters
- L'ATELIER BLANC - Bridal Boutique | @latelierblanc
- VERO MODA | @veromodame
- Marka VIP | @markaVIP
- Maria Pino | www.fb.com/mariapinoworld
Finalists for Best Food & Beverage Brand on Social Media
- Almaza | www.fb.com/AlmazaLeb
- Beirut Restaurants | www.fb.com/beirutrestaurants
- 961 beer | www.fb.com/961beer
- Al Wadi Al Akhdar | www.fb.com/AlWadiAlAkhdar
- Ksara | www.fb.com/Chateau.Ksara
- Patchi | www.fb.com/patchi
- AL RIFAI | www.fb.com/AlRifaiNuts
Finalists for Best Commercial District on Social Media
- ABC | @ABC_Lebanon
- City Mall | @CITYMALL_Leb
- Le Mall | @LeMall_Lb
- Beirut Souks | @Beirutsouks
- Zaitunay Bay | @zaitunaybay
- BeitMisk | www.fb.com/beitmisk
- Saida Mall | @Saidamall
Finalists for Best NGO/Community on Social Media
- Lebanese Memes | www.fb.com/LebaneseMemes
- Donner Sang Compter | www.fb.com/DSCLebanon
- TEDxBeirut | www.fb.com/TEDxBeirut
- Cheyef 7alak | www.fb.com/cheyef7alak
- One Wig Stang | www.fb.com/onewigstand
- Nawaya | www.fb.com/TheNawayaNetwork
- YASA | www.fb.com/yasalebanon
Finalists for Best Start-up on Social Media
- Anghami | www.fb.com/anghami
- Geek Express | www.fb.com/geekexpressLB
- Tickle My Brain | www.fb.com/ticklemybrain
- Lebtivity | www.fb.com/lebtivity
- Reserve Out | www.fb.com/reserveout
- Etobb | www.fb.com/etobb
- Ikimuk Official | www.fb.com/ikimukofficial
Finalists for Best Design for a Social Media Campaign
- Almaza | www.fb.com/AlmazaLeb
- TEDxBeirut | www.fb.com/TEDxBeirut
- Taanayel | http://j.mp/taanayelSMA
- Crepaway | http://j.mp/crepawaySMA
- ABC | http://j.mp/ABCcreditSMA
- Bank Audi | http://j.mp/audiSMA
- St. Elmo's Seaside Brasserie | www.fb.com/stelmosbrasserie
Finalists for Best Facebook Application
- Novo | http://j.mp/novoSMA
- ABC | http://j.mp/ABCcreditSMA
- Samsung | http://j.mp/samsungSMA
- يكشف | http://j.mp/spotSMA
- Crepaway | http://j.mp/crepawaySMA
- Micra | http://j.mp/micraSMA
- Instruments Garage | http://j.mp/instrumentSMA