WASHINGTON, March 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will receive a Shorty Award as the “best member of Congress on social media” for his use of Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

Sanders is one of the most popular members of Congress on Facebook  and Twitter. More than 109,000 people like him Facebook and 93,000 follow him on Twitter. More than half a million people have joined Sanders on Google+, a circle larger any other member of Congress or the White House.

“Social media provide a very important mechanism to communicate directly with people about issues that often don’t get the attention they deserve by the mainstream media,” Sanders said. “We have seen, for example, lively and smart conversations on my Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages on issues like the collapsing middle class, growing income and wealth disparity, increased poverty in our country and the lack of adequate health and dental care.”

The Daily Show’s Jason Jones and Samantha Bee will host the 2012 Shorty
awards ceremony on March 26 in New York, N.Y. Nominations for the so-called “Oscars of Twitter” were based on tweeted suggestions which were then reviewed by an “academy” of judges. Other award categories include best actor, actress and band. Past winners have included Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker, the actor Neil Patrick Harris and comedian Conan O’Brien.