ONACamp in Denver next month, ONA11 programming next week

By on May 20, 2011

#ONACamp in Denver: Free training in the Rockies
Thanks to renewed funding from the Gannett Foundation, we’re hosting our next free digital journalism training — the newly named ONACamp — in Denver June 23. Registration opens May 23; look for program announcements in early June. If you’d like to attend, you still have time to tell us your training needs by taking this quick survey today by 8 p.m. ET.

Dive into APIs at ONAvations Webinar June 2
Plan to watch Open APIs, Your Website and Your Content, our second ONAvations Webinar of the year in partnership with Poynter’s NewsU, on Thursday, June 2, at 2 p.m. ET. Led by Zach Brand, senior director of technical strategy and operation at NPR, the session will details the challenges and lessons learned as NPR built an API that enabled its product and mobile strategies (and won a 2010 Online Journalism Award). ONA members, head to the discounts page for your registration discount code. If you can’t attend live, registration will get you an archived replay available soon after the live session, plus bonus resources. Check out more details at newsu.org. Not a member? Join here.

Got creative digital ideas? Apply for the MJ Bear Fellowship by May 30
If you’re a digital journalist between the ages of 23 and 30 who’s been working individually or on a team full of creative spark, you could be one of the first 2011 MJ Bear Fellows. We’re looking for three promising up-and-comers who are thinking about new ways to tell stories. Ideas and concepts, as well as projects and inventive failures welcome.

Two Fellows will be selected in the United States or Canada and one internationally, in partnership with MSN International. Selected Fellows will be paired with a digital news leader as a mentor; receive an expense-paid trip to the Online News Association Conference & Awards Banquet (ONA11), Sept. 22-24, in Boston, where they’ll have a chance to share their fresh perspectives; and a free, one-year ONA membership. Deadline is May 30. Apply here.

Start compiling your excellent work: OJA entries open
The 2011 Online Journalism Awards, emblematic of the best in digital journalism, are now open. Please note one correction from the initial announcement: The entry deadline is Monday, June 27. Check out the categories and eligibility and enter at journalists.org.

ONA Local events and updates
@ONANYC welcomes and introduces Facebook’s new Journalist Program Manager Vadim Lavrusik and Strategic Partner Developer Nick Grudin on Monday, May 23, at 7 p.m. to talk about ways journalists can integrate Facebook into their websites, and share best practices for more effective reporting and community engagement. The meetup, hosted by @ColumbiaJourn, will take place in the Stabile Student Center. Registration is $5; RSVP at meetup.com.

#ONASEA: Earlier this week, ONASPJ Seattle brought together Cheezburger Network CEO Ben Huh and Cory Bergman of MSNBC.com to talk news, democracy and social media. The Seattle Times has a great write-up of the conversation, complete with video. Don’t miss out on the next event — join the group on meetup.com.

#ONADC was welcomed into the Bloomberg Business newsroom this week for its latest meetup, which included election prep in the form of a presentation from Dave Levinthal about OpenSecrets.org and the tools the Center for Responsive Politics offer for journalists. For the latest on ONADC’s events, check out meetup.com

ONA11 programming to be announced next week
Keep an eye out for four (count ‘em) jam-packed tracks of general sessions, to be released May 27. To give you time to review the programming, we’re extending the early-bird deadline by two weeks to June 14. Register early to save.

ONA11 Co-Chair: Who’s representing at conference?
Speaking of ONA11, Co-Chair Michelle Johnson, associate professor of the practice, Journalism, at Boston University and a former editor for the Boston Globe, talked with NABJDigital about what attendees can expect at this year’s conference in Boston and why her NABJ colleagues should consider being there. Take a look at the NABJdigital Blog.

Jane McDonnell

Jane McDonnell

As executive director, Jane oversees and manages the day-to-day operations of the world’s largest membership organization of digital journalists, working closely with the Board of Directors. Her purview includes membership, partnerships, global community outreach, budgeting and revenue generation, fundraising and development, the Online Journalism Awards, and providing vision for ONA’s state-of-the-art annual conference.