Dr. Anthony Fauci

The 25th Annual Webby Awards is honored to recognize Dr. Anthony Fauci as a 2021 Webby Special Achievement for his tireless work in using the Internet and his position to serve as a trusted public authority on COVID-19.

Since the first case of the novel coronavirus was recorded in the U.S., discourse surrounding COVID-19 has been marked by misinformation and xenophobic rhetoric, largely by our elected officials. As the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci has spoken truth to power about COVID-19, from fact checking statements made by former President Donald Trump during White House Briefings, to appearing on broadcast programs, podcasts, Instagram Live, YouTube, Facebook, and platforms alike to close the gap between credible COVID-19 information and misinformation on social media. By taking interviews with influencers, celebrities and YouTube creators on their platforms, Dr. Fauci has provided authoritative information on COVID-19 and vaccine development to younger audiences across the Internet.  

For his selfless work in combating harmful misinformation about the global spread of COVID-19 as one of the few credible sources, it is our great privilege to honor Dr. Anthony Fauci as the 2021 Webby Person of the Year.