In a letter to the organisers of the awards, UK journalists' publication Press Gazette, ANM's editorial director Avril Williams described the decision as myopic and demeaning to web journalists.
Quoting BMRB research showing that readers spend around 20 per cent of their time online, Ms Williams states that the web is a source of world-class journalism.
"Your awards are in danger of marginalising what is one of the most innovative fields of journalism," she writes.
"This is not only demeaning to the hundreds of journalists turning out what is ground-breaking journalism online in the UK, but also out of touch with consumers' reading habits."
The British Press Awards have been running for more than 30 years and are an important event in the UK media calendar. Several major UK firms sponsor the event, including Barclays Bank, Harrods and British Airways.
Categories include photographer of the year, young journalist of the year and columnist of the year. The award for specialist writer of the year can include web journalists, but there is no award for web site of the year.
The 2002 and 2003 awards did offer a best web site category, but the organisers withdrew it this year.
Press Gazette editor Ian Reeves told dotJournalism that the category had few entries, and that the internet had previously been regarded more as a publishing mechanism than an independent specialism.
"After this year's awards, we will look at everybody's comments," he said.
"The categories are amended according to trends in journalism, but the problem with the web site category is that it must be clearly defined.
"Otherwise the BBC will blow everyone out of the water."
This year's awards will be presented at London's Hilton Park Lane hotel on 16 March. After the event, the organisers will review feedback and begin planning for the 2005 awards.
Pete Picton, online editor of TheSun.co.uk, is also planning to write to the Press Gazette.
"This is a growing sector and an exciting area of journalism, particularly as publications are becoming obsessed with attracting young readers," he told dotJournalism.
"But the only award that matters is getting readers to come to your site."
See also:
http://www.anm.co.uk
http://www.britishpressawards.com
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk
http://www.thesun.co.uk
http://www.bmrb.co.uk
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