Press Release

HTML Writers Guild Joins World Wide Web Consortium

The first web developers organization to have a voice in creating the standards for their own work.

Representing over 50,000 members worldwide, the HTML Writers Guild is helping shape the future of the Internet as the first association of web authors to join the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

"This is an unprecedented opportunity for web designers to have a voice in developing the standards that fuel the World Wide Web," said Kynn Bartlett, President of the HTML Writers Guild. "As an association of web designers on the 'front lines' of the World Wide Web revolution we have a unique perspective we can share with the industry leaders in the W3C - we are the ones who actually use the new technologies and standards they create."

The HTML Writers Guild joined the Consortium on January 13, 1998, making it the first international organization of web designers to belong to the W3C. A non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization, the Guild's three-fold purpose is to assist members in developing and enhancing their capabilities, compile and publicize information regarding standards, practices, techniques, competency, and ethics as applied to WWW design and development, and to contribute to the development of the Web and Web technical standards and guidelines.

"By joining the W3C, we can make a definite contribution to the development of web standards ," said Ann Navarro, HTML Writers Guild representative to the W3C Advisory Committee, and coordinator of the Guild's activities in the W3C. "We look forward to taking an active role in the Consortium, helping to form the future of HTML, XML, accessibility standards, CSS, and more."

Full members of the HTML Writers Guild with the appropriate knowledge and skills to contribute to the standards process can be assigned to represent the Guild on W3C working groups and interest groups. The HWG is in the process of forming internal forums to discuss issues raised by the W3C. Announcements of new W3C Recommendations are posted to the Guild's mailing lists as well as on the HWG website.

The W3C was created to lead the Web to its full potential by developing common protocols that promote its evolution and ensure its interoperability. It is an international industry consortium jointly run by the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science (LCS) in the USA, the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control (INRIA) in France and Keio University in Japan. Services provided by the Consortium include: a repository of information about the World Wide Web for developers and users; reference code implementations to embody and promote standards; and various prototype and sample applications to demonstrate use of new technology. To date, more than 243 organizations are Members of the Consortium. For more information about the World Wide Web Consortium, see http://www.w3.org/

About the HTML Writers Guild [HWG]

The HTML Writers Guild is the premiere international organization for Internet Designers. Founded by a small group of HTML writers in October of 1994, HWG has grown to a membership organization of over 50,000 members world-wide at the opening of first quarter 1998. The Guild provides extensive resources through its website, mailing lists, IRC, and expanding member services program.

HWG embraces the spirit of the medieval guilds: members helping members. HWG's membership is a diverse group of individuals who have come together for the same purpose - learning about the latest in Web based technology and sharing what we have learned with our fellow members. The Guild offers services to support members' efforts, from the professional designer to the hobbyist designing a homepage.

For more information about the HTML Writers Guild, see http://www.hwg.org/