ONA Weekly #256

By on May 1, 2019

World Press Freedom Day

This Friday, May 3, ONA recognizes World Press Freedom Day and the existing danger to journalists worldwide. Five journalists have been killed in 2019 so far — including Lyra McKee, a dogged freelance journalist within the ONA commuity. A reliable and transparent media is the cornerstone of democracy, and ONA stands with journalists around the world who put themselves at risk in pursuit of the truth.

Tracking threats to press freedom

ONA is a partner of the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, which launched in 2017 and documents threats to press freedom across the country. The searchable incident database is coded by categories of threat — including physical attacks, leak investigations, subpoenas and orders to reveal sources as well as border stops. The tracker is built on reports and tips by journalists; if you have been the target of a threat, submit a report here.

Students: Get mentorship at ONA19

We recently announced the team of incredible volunteer mentors who will guide the Student Newsroom at ONA19 — but there’s still time for undergraduate and graduate students looking for hands-on digital storytelling experience to apply for the Student Newsroom and Innovation Lab. Applications are due by May 23, 2019, 11:59 p.m. EDT. Selected students receive complimentary badges, as well as travel and lodging support.

ICYMI: Designing space to build community

ONA drives community building in every aspect of what we do — and that’s especially true at our annual conference. Senior Manager of Communities and Local Journalism Initiatives Meghan Murphy walks through how we facilitate connections — from creating a volunteer program to scheduling longer breaks. Go inside ONA’s strategy for building community.

From the archives: A digital buddy system

We are sharing resources from the ONA archives throughout 2019, as we celebrate 20 years of inspiring innovation and excellence in digital journalism.

In light of World Press Freedom Day, we’re looking back to ONA18 when Eva Scazzero pitched a tool reporters could text when in a potentially dangerous or uncomfortable situation. Reporters would send their location and ask a “digital buddy” to check in on them — if it doesn’t hear back, the tool contacts people who can help. Watch Eva demo the digital buddy system (Tip: Fast-forward to 47:20 in the video).

Upcoming events

ONA Local groups regularly host events for digital journalists all over the world. Find a group near you or learn how to start a new one.

Jobs for journalists

ONA’s Career Center is an excellent resource for jobs in digital journalism. Recent postings include:

On our radar
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Karolle Rabarison

Karolle Rabarison is ONA's Director of Communications. She collaborates across the team to connect the journalism community to emerging tech and leadership training, networking, industry trends, and career development resources.