Nominations - Young innovator award

I think this site is genuinely a great idea. It has over 400 members and ranked at 40,000 in the world. I know for a fact the creator is 18 and designed and developed it completely by himself. It is an inspiring and addictive share trading game.

Nominated by Alexander, 26 April 2007

The yorker is pioneering for three reasons. Firstly, in our directory we have every single organisation which is relevant to students - from societies, to bars to university services. We have thus created a much needed student-led database. What's more, is that all of these can post events on the first university-wide calendar. In this calendar you can choose preferences to see the events you wish.

Secondly the yorker has managed to achieve editorial independence. This is no easy task in York, all media including award-winning newspaper Nouse are censored by the university.

Thirdly, societies finally have a place to manage their members and use central emailing lists. Along with this goes various useful portals, long before "Portal" itself is near York.

Nominated by Daniel Ashby, 22 May 2007

This website is a weekly current affair web magazine which is based on a very simple fundamental; to provide current news in the simplest possible form.

It attempts to provide the colour and excitement of various countries through its journalists.

Its comprehensive and the chirpy. Mutimedia has been incorporated to convey the merge of video, audio, print and web.

This is the future. To give what is wanted in simple and a comprehensive manner.

Nominated by Shashank Kaushal, 29 May 2007

I met Jag in early 2006 after his brief stint at Parliament, and I believe he fits superbly with any characterisation as a "young innovator."

The aspiring Jag made his way to Britain nearly two years ago, fresh from his experiences with Senate and Presidential campaigns in the US - and he's certainly kept busy since then. He built the Labourhome platform (and recently introduced a site-wide refresh, as well) and is constantly trying to find ways of allowing groups to communicate more effectively and efficiently, using the Web. He's also one of the few people whom I know is genuinely interested in exploring ways to increase web-based participation among people who don't already utilise the internet.

Interestingly, at times over the past year Labourhome has had more traffic than the official Labour Party website.

When Jag, another colleague, and I co-founded MessageSpace last summer, his experiences growing up in Florida - with the spectacular 2000 and 2004 Presidential elections firmly in mind - enabled him to bring a very unique and exciting perspective to the table. He built the MessageSpace platform from the ground-up, and has enabled numerous organisations, including the likes of Friends of the Earth, War on Want, Compass, the Globalisation Institute, and various other think-tanks to reach out and influence Britain's politically-active audience. He endearingly terms it, "the man-on-the-street's lobbying tool" and I couldn't agree with him any less.

A gifted WordPress developer, he's assisted numerous individuals, groups and think tanks to better understand the underlying technology behind the platform they use, and constantly finds new ways of manipulating it to do just about anything. When it comes to working on web-strategies for clients, I've known him to work relentlessly to find - or if necessary, create - a value-adding proposition that goes above and beyond the requirements of a basic web presence. Coupling this with his interactive ideas and his emphasis on "accessibility and usability by all" – I nominate Jag for this year's Young Innovator award.

He is currently working on a social-networking tool that incentivises segments of the British population to move from disjointed discussions to taking action - both online and offline. He hasn't been able to tell me very much about it due to confidentiality agreements with a major firm, but I for one look forward to seeing the product of Jag's innovative spirit.

Nominated by Alex Hilton, 30 May 2007

I believe a young innovator is one who can build succesful enterprises, and additionally bring new (and relevant) products to market. I feel Jag Singh deserves consideration for this award, because:

1) He has a deep passion for innovation, proven by his work in the States (political campaigns, community groups, the Middle East Peace Association, the Middle East Center, among other things) and in Britain (Labourhome, RecessMonkey, MessageSpace, and other various campaigns).

As an interaction design/user experience specialist, it's refreshing to see people actively trying to fit _out_ of the generic desktop experience. He doesn't just think about the non-WindowsXP non-IE crowd - he goes the additional mile on every project I've heard him speak of. When working on political projects, he tries to understand the motivations and frustrations of non-political users, and that's very admirable in today's political climate (all over the world, for that matter).

2) He constantly tries to develop new strategies and methods to stay ahead of the crowd - he's got this tenacity in finding answers to tough questions, and he's a big fan of crowd-sourcing, always trying to find novel ways of combining GTD (getting-things-done) tools with the very people who want to "get things done".

While his general unease with the status-quo tends to land him into trouble with political party structures, I sincerely believe he has lots to offer the world and I look forward to charting his progress as a young innovator.

Nominated by Sara Miller, 31 May 2007

Jag is a great problem-solver, and he really has thought out of the box on my behalf to overcome problems. His knowledge-base is geektastic, and he is obviously trying hard to build up the 'experience' section of his knowledge portfolio in a politically non-sectarian way.

He has a vision for the future where geeks and non-geeks can live in harmony. The key quality to Jag's advice is the non-starry eyed realism. I have talked with him about the real organising and campaigning potential of the web. Unlike most web gurus he is focused on what is achievable and effective rather than what is ideal and usually impractical. Few technically capable people have that balance right.

Expect much from him in the future.

Nominated by guido, 01 June 2007

I for one have been very impressed with his ideas, especially those related to getting people from outside Westminster to participate in online politicking.

Labourhome has really (tried to) change the one way conversation in politics, and while I'm not very familiar with how MessageSpace works - it sounds like a unique concept.

He thinks outside the box quite a bit (a little too much quite possibly, given that his Blogspot profile (http://www.blogger.com/profile/01158356849377760808) shows him as being close to Iain Dale and Guido Fawkes) - but I he deserves this nomination. Hopefully this will propel him on to achieving even more, at such a young age.

Submitted by C Fleury, 30 May 2007

I've worked with Jag a few times on different little project and as an admin who uses Unix based Operating Systems his thought process to think about non-traditional users on his projects marks him out of the crowd.

He's innovation when coding to circumvent problems is excellent, and his work with MessageSpace in developing a platform for not just image but video based political ad delivery has been exceptional

Submitted by Phil Hendren, 31 May 2007

Jag is a great problem-solver, and he really has thought out of the box on my behalf to overcome problems. His knowledge-base is geektastic, and he is obviously trying hard to build up the 'experience' section of his knowledge portfolio in a politically non-sectarian way.

He has a vision for the future where geeks and non-geeks can live in harmony. The key quality to Jag's advice is the non-starry eyed realism. I have talked with him about the real organising and campaigning potential of the web. Unlike most web gurus he is focused on what is achievable and effective rather than what is ideal and usually impractical. Few technically capable people have that balance right.

Expect much from him in the future.

Submitted by guido, 31 May 2007

Public transport data in the UK is currently organised into many disparate silos and it's difficult for people to find all the information they need. LiveBus.org is an attempt to combine these data sources into a useful and intuitive interface for finding out where buses are, when they arrive, and how you can keep track of them. It's a step towards making public transport a more attractive alternative to the car, both in cities plagued by congestion, and in the more remote parts of the country.

The site is continually being developed and plans are underway for wider coverage as well as more useful features like journey planning and better search. The goal is to provide as complete a resource as possible without sacrificing responsiveness or ease of use.

Government needs to become more sensitive to the needs of those using public transport, and realise that simply throwing data on a website is not enough. Thought needs to go into how best to organise and display that data, and LiveBus.org is an example of some improvements we can make today.

Nominated by James Wheare, 07 April 2007

Since joining E-Health Media in August, Joe has been a hard working, determined member of the team and has worked hard to help keep the news material on site up to date and hot off the press. He has been a sharp and reliable reporter for the company and has helped us deal with bread and butter press releases as well as talking regularly with his many contacts he has made since joining the company. A graduate journalist, Joe had no previous experience of healthcare or technology journalism, but has taken to the theme like a duck to water and has helped to churn out great copy that keeps the site ahead of its competitors. His material reaches out to the healthcare IT community, and has helped start many a debate amongst our readers. Most recently, his investigative skills into the National Programme for IT has helped gain the website recognition n the recently released House of Commons Public Accounts Committee report into the programme. He has also had material picked up by many rival websites as well as the national newspapers and wire services such as Reuters. In March, he attended the Healthcare Computing conference where he truly established himself and the company amongst a group of existing and new readers, suppliers and advertisers. His friendly and approachable manner has helped the company to grow in reputation amongst advertisers and have helped the company to grow and prosper. Joe has also helped make E-Health Media a major UK source for Healthcare IT news and information source. 22,000 readers now take note of his copy and hot debates are sparked from coverage such as this. He helped with recent Private Eye coverage and continues to highlight problems and compliments with regards to the UK’s biggest civilian IT project as it continues to progress.

Nominated by Lindsey Colgan, 17 April 2007

The winning project www.accessibilityinfocus.co.uk is an awards site celebrating good accessible design. The concept has proved so successful that the winning team have been asked to launch the awards and the website.

They have achieved a first for students and brought the best out of their skills in design, accessibility, marketing, and presentation. John and Duncan have attracted high profile attention and gained the support from leading experts in the new media industry – including Phil Jones (Director of Real Time Consultancy), Rob Ford (Founder of The Favourite Website Awards), Andy Bud (Creative Director ClearLeft), and Richard Rutter (Production Director, ClearLeft) – all of whom will be acting as judges.

Over 20 proposals were submitted from the teams of students in the challenge. These were whittled down to a shortlist of four and the teams were invited to present their ideas to the Reading Room Board. The winning team excelled in their presentations showing great character in convincing the panel of their ambitious project.

The 6 month project with Brunel University combined guidance and support for students with the practical experience of creating communication campaigns. They were given the opportunity to explain how they would market their concept and how data capture from their site would be effectively utilised.

Reading Room have worked with John and Duncan to finish the development of the site and to help realise the potential of the idea. Margaret Manning, CEO Reading Room commented: “We are delighted with the winning project and are even more impressed by our young innovators. They have truly embraced new media and shown how accessible websites can benefit everyone”.

Nominated by Stel Grekos, 31 May 2007

I was encouraged to submit this by my web design lecture at UCE Birmingham. This website was created in relation to a media event which we created 10th of May. The event represents 7 different sectors of the media represented each by a group of students. Being a Web & New Media my job for the event was to create a website. The main goal was to aim it at people on our age and to expand on the concepts of Web 2.0. Basically the website is build so that each of the 7 groups got their own "site" for which they could provide their own content. They were given log in details and then via the back office they could write articles create galleries or submit their TV-Shows. It was up to each group to decide how they best could take advantage of the system. a further description of the site can be found on the site at: http://www.iproduce.org/web/index.php/2007/04/26/p13#more13

The reason creating the site this way, was because the event included about 70 or 80 students. And I felt that especially for the ones that didn't get as much recognition in the event, maybe because some of the stuff they made (photos, articles, tv-shows etc.) was not used or they wanted to get recognition for it later, this was their opportunity to get their own login and then submitting their stuff online and then being able to refer to it when talking to potential employes etc. in the future.

Nominated by Kasper Sorensen, 14 May 2007

Without Mike Rouse there would be no 18 Doughty Street as the technology was largely absent on his arrival. Then, there's the smaller projects he's taken on to help bloggers through tough technical patches from monthly surveys to sidebar graphics. He's the man that can on the right side of politics and without him the blogosphere would be a less technically-able place!

Nominated by Mike Rouse, 18 May 2007

Umm...shouldnt u be 22 or younger?

Submitted by anna armindokht, 19 May 2007

The young people have led the way the magazine has been run from the start, and all stories are led by them. They go out and very maturely interview people about various topics that they, and hence other young people are interested in, and they comment on various national issues.

From interviewing footballers about being environmentally friendly, to reviewing films on global warming. From getting comments from other young people on hit and runs, to animal cruelty, slavery, and under-age drinking issues.

They were also commissioned to cover a Bristol Film festival, where they used camera and sound skills, interviewed and edited. This has now become part of the Fresh6 DVD. The choice to do a website to allow other young people to join in was their idea.

They want to be linked to other similar organisations and groups through the website, and have a membership for other young people to comment, debate, and submit their ideas and stories. They take part in lots of local events, using their training in photography and interviewing.

Although a lot of them are very young, when they are out in the community and wider, they represent themselves very professionally. They have grown in skills, confidence, and knowledge of the topics they report on. They give other young people a voice through their interviews, and often share their skills and knowledge with the other people that they meet. They often give extra time in weekends, and holidays, usually full days, working (voluntarily) as professionals. They plan their questions, their shots, and their interviewees. They won best Youth Content in the Bristol newsletter awards this year, the judges said it was because you could truly tell that it was made by them. They are an inspiration and we are very proud.

Nominated by Makala Cheung, 25 April 2007

I am the PR Executive for law firm Bevan Brittan and have dealt with the Knowle West Media Centre about the fantastic, and well read, newsletter they produce for the Knowle West area.

I only have good things to say about the team - very professional and quick to respond.

Our firm is keen to support local causes and we recently created a garden area for School of Christ the King in Knowle West which was covered by the newsletter in the same manner that you would expect from any of the publications and media, both national and regional, I deal with on a regular basis.

They'd be a very deserving winner.

www.bevanbrittan.com

Submitted by Lucy Dicks, Bevan Brittan LLP, 25 April 2007

I've seen these young people in action adn they're great- growing in confidence each time they cover an event or story. I have spoken to their headteachers - and heard thats its really made a positive difference to how some of them are doing at school - all these young people participate in Mouth of the South Newshounds in their own time. They take pride in their community, and take their responsibilties very seriously.

Submitted by carolyn hassan, 25 April 2007

Mouth of the South is a brilliant publication, and an exemplary project, which really is driven and directed by young people who report on issues that are important to their local community. The young people who produce Mouth of the South contribute greatly to local community cohesion through the work they do.

Submitted by Dr Roz Hall, 25 April 2007

Just a brilliant way to get young people growing their confidence and skills at the same time. They seem to have branched into other things from their involvement with MOS and are being asked to cover all types of community activity. I know that young people can get a bad reputation locally and this activity bucks the trend and dispels these misconceptions. Great stuff. I can't wait for the next edition!

Submitted by Emily Nicholson, 26 April 2007

Another importatant aspect of Mouth of the South is that over the 7 years that the project has been running, young people's involvement has encouraged them to discover their strengths and skills and to feel confident to express their views and ideas and to have a voice. Some young peole from the original group are now training at University as photographers and writers and designers, and setting up their own media businesses. A fantastic long term outcome for the project!

Submitted by Amanda Brook, 26 April 2007

the children need some where to go and feel they are part of the community and also doing some thing no matter how small they need encouraging and support and i think that the mouth of the south can do all this and give them conferdance to do more and move on to bigger things and this has come about with the help of knowle west media centre well done.

Submitted by m jordan, 29 April 2007

Knowle West media centre have enabled the local community to lead in some outstanding work. Mouth of the south is another example of how the young people involved in the centre have built their confidence and skills, enabling them to provide a valued community service.

Submitted by caroline arbon, 30 April 2007

Knowle West Media Centre is an excellent example of the pwoer of the arts to contribute to regeneration. Mouth of the South is one of manifestations of this. It combines quality of writing and production with relevance and acessibility for the local community. It proves that quality and acessibility are not mutually exclusive but are inextricably linked

Submitted by Simon Jutton, 10 May 2007

Mums United should win an award because it was set up when i was 20 weeks pregnant and i carried on running it after my second was born,i wrote all the articles, and it is not about how big it can get or for any profit, its about providing a place for mums to go to, to feel comfortable and supported when in pregnancy and raising children. It is aimed to be be supportive but also fun and is very close knit community which i am very very proud of. I feel the members whom use it deserve recognition as well as the organisation itself.

Nominated by Maxine Williams, 31 May 2007

Because Mums United, is the most helpful, insightful site I have been on regarding parenting, and is a very friendly warm site!!

Nominated by Leanne Sutton, 31 May 2007

It provides a friendly place to ask for advice and support. The website is welcoming to new members and I soon felt at home. Helps to know that you are not alone and others have same problems sometimes. But it is not all serious it also provides a place to visit just for a good chat or to make new friends.

Nominated by Lucy Carter, 31 May 2007

this is a fantastic, loving and friendly site, been using it for about a year now.

Submitted by sharon wright, 31 May 2007

I feel Mums untied, should win an award, because, it is a very, friendly, supportive site, full of information regarding, pregnancy, birth and beyond. I have made alot of good friends on the site, who have supported me through alot of difficult times!!! I dont know what I'd do without it!!!

Submitted by Leanne Sutton, 31 May 2007

Mums United is a fantastically friendly site with lots of support for all those trouslesome times parents have. Have made some everlasting friends on there.

Submitted by Annalisa Horwood, 31 May 2007

The founder, Michelle Dhillon, quit her lucrative job with Microsoft B2B publishing and career as an established journalist (she’s also worked full-time at The Manchester Evening News) to set up the site because she fiercely believes that Nottingham doesn’t deserve to be seen as a gun-crime hotspot. She’s worked relentlessly to win support from established venues in Nottingham (which wasn’t easy) and other entertainment centres to work with the site. The content on the site is all top class – she’s convinced freelancers for the NME and staff at the Press Association to work for the site on a voluntary basis. She’s done this because she believes that Nottingham deserves better. The site is aimed at young professionals aged 21-35 who enjoy going out in the city and they have been hard to target, but she has done this by utilising various guerrilla marketing strategies, including projecting the company’s logo onto the tallest building in Market Square. Within its first month, the site had over 60,000 hits. Their Myspace has also taken off, they currently have over 2,000 local people actively supporting the site.

Michelle genuinely loves Nottingham and is fighting a tough battle with the established local media such as the Nottingham Evening Post, to win the hearts and minds of young people in the city today. She has managed to beat her rivals to an exclusive interview with local film director Shane Meadows and have recently teamed up with the home-grown Dot to Dot Festival, where they have also managed to get the headline interviews. She created the site because she believed that a magazine should be accessible for everyone, and that nobody should have to pay to find out how great their own city is.

Michelle really deserves this young innovator award – she’s dedicated, committed and has even overcome a burglary where her laptop was stolen (and a year’s worth of work on the site went with it). This really tested her faith in the city and for a while she thought it couldn’t be helped and was about to give up. We all convinced her not to though, and she’s done a brilliant job so far.

Nominated by Lucy Cheung, 17 May 2007

I agree, Nottingham needs such a leading light. It's about time someone stuck thier head above the parapet and said I love Notts!

Submitted by Jayne Childs, 21 May 2007

Nottingham is seen by many as a dangerous city to live in, so having a magazine dedicated to promoting the positive things of the city is great!

Submitted by Carolynn Aitken, 22 May 2007

Michelle deserves your vote!

Submitted by Mark in Widnes, 31 May 2007