OnMilwaukee.com took runner-up in the 2003 EPpy Awards this month, winning second place in the "Best Entertainment Service" category. The award was presented in San Diego at the Interactive Media Conference and Trade Show sponsored by Editor & Publisher and Mediaweek magazines.

The 2003 EPpy Awards attracted more than 400 entries, necessitating a preliminary round of judging in 20 of the 29 award categories. In a month-long process during which three judges evaluated each site, the top three (plus ties) in each category moved into the finals, along with entries in the nine categories that were small enough to judge in one round.

"Being recognized by the editors of Editor & Publisher and Mediaweek magazines is an honor for OnMilwaukee.com. Our unique stories and the way we present them are the reasons more than 300,000 people every month turn to us," said editor and co-owner Andy Tarnoff.

"With a major redesign of our magazine set to launch this summer, we're already looking forward to next year's EPpys," added Tarnoff.

Since 1996, the EPpy Awards have honored the best new media services from the newspaper industry. Each year, an independent panel of industry experts selects the top examples of newspaper interactive services in a variety of categories. Since 1999, an award has also been given for outstanding individual achievement.

This year, non-newspaper affiliated sites, like OnMilwaukee.com, were considered for the first time. Radio sites, shopping sites and others were eligible this year.

Taking a city known for beer, brats and blue collar manufacturing into a more progressive era via the Internet world has been a labor of love for OnMilwaukee.com. In its almost five years of operation, OnMilwaukee.com has successfully launched Milwaukee's only daily online magazine and city guide and helped to promote the city as a vibrant place in which to live, work and play.

OnMilwaukee.com also has increased the awareness of the effectiveness of online advertising and classifieds, Internet partnerships and eCommerce opportunities.

First place in the entertainment category went to Lawrence.com, a city guide from Lawrence, Kansas. Locally, Packer Insider, produced by Journal Interactive, was also a finalist in its sports category.