Jetwhine Wins a Webbie

The past six months have not been easy for the aviation industry, or any other industry quite frankly, as we’ve all witnessed the bottom falling out of the marketplace. No one has any idea whether we’ve actually hit the bottom or not, nor does anyone know which soothsayer has the magic dust we need to recognize the bottom when it does appear. There is light at the end of the tunnel. I just think right now that beam is too dim for anyone to notice.

Despite all the truly ugly news lately, something really nice and completely unexpected occurred while I was driving to lunch on Monday, something that made me pull over and take a deep breath. Long about mid afternoon, my Twitter account lit up with congratulatory notes from friends being sent to my iPhone. “Nice job,” “jetwhine Speech speech! Congrats again!” and then there was, “Congrats on the honors. I admire the work you have put into your site and I’m glad someone else appreciates your work as well.”

Of course I’m reading these notes thinking what a nice bunch of folks my blogger/Twitter friends are. I was also completely clueless about the topic. Finally, at lunch I began Tweeting back asking for an explanation because I was sure someone was pulling my leg.

Then came the news from another Jetwhine reader … “Don’t tell me you’re the last to know Rob. Jetwhine won a Webbie as Best Aviation Blog of 2008.” I was numb for a couple of seconds before I started cheering, confirming of course, that I indeed don’t get out enough.

The folks at Flightglobal named Jetwhine, along with a couple of other first-class comrades in blogging, The Cranky Flier and Nuts About Southwest as the Top 3 Blogs for 2008. I was very pleased just a few shorts weeks ago to host Paula Berg, Southwest Airlines manager of emerging media, as a speaker to my Integrated Marketing Communications class at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern. We’ll have to try and get Cranky Flier out next term.

What can I say except thanks to everyone who has helped make Jetwhine a place aviation aficionados visit regularly enough to consider us one their favorite spots for a little aviation buzz and bold opinion. Thanks is also in order to my buddy and fellow blogger Scott Spangler who does one incredible job of covering topics like LSAs, flight training and technology. And the timing couldn’t be better as Scott begins his second year as my Jetwhine accomplice. Have you noticed he seems wise enough to avoid the political minefields I seem to keep jumping on? Mmmmm.

(Scott Spangler) There are many awesome writers covering this industry from a variety of different angles. Scott and I are are just pleased to have been chosen as two of the best for this brief moment in time.

Oh BTW, if the Flightglobal folks are reading this, Scott and I were wondering what we should wear to the award ceremony. And where is that ceremony in fact? Seems we never got the memo. But thanks for that Webbie.

Rob Mark