ONA Weekly #272

By on August 21, 2019

Award contenders: Exceptional audio storytelling

The OJAs’ Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling award honors exceptional efforts in telling stories through digitally focused audio media. This year, we added subcategories to better reflect evolution in the industry: Limited Series, Ongoing Series and Use of Audio Storytelling. Finalists include stories that explore the anti-vaccination movement, criminal justice reform, women’s health and more. Listen to the inspiring projects.

Volunteer Spotlight: Kelly Jones, Megan Combs

This week, we’re shining a light on two longtime contributors to the annual conference: Kelly Jones and Megan Combs. Together, they manage our conference volunteers and ensure that all attendees (volunteers or otherwise!) have a meaningful experience. Get to know the co-chairs of the general volunteers team.

Why you should attend ONA19

If you’re still working to convince your boss to send you to New Orleans, take a look at these sessions that can help you level-up your leadership skills, explore revenue strategies to support your newsroom and gain new insights on how to engage with your audience. Join us Sept. 12-14 as we celebrate our 20th anniversary.

Free: Media Law for Journalists Workshop

If you’ll be in New Orleans on Sept. 11, join the Media Law Resource Center for a free, pre-ONA19 workshop on legal issues, including the First Amendment and the Trump administration, libel and invasion of privacy and copyright and digital media. The sessions are broken up into three parts across the afternoon; come for the entire workshop or just the portion that most interests you. No ONA19 badge required! 

Reminder: RSVP-only sessions and tours at ONA19

You can now sign up for RSVP-only sessions during the three days of ONA19. To claim your spot, log into your ONA19 registration account (you should have received an email today with the credentials). Once logged in, click on “RSVP for Sessions & Events” or “Purchase Walking Tours” in the left menu. Questions? Contact registration@journalists.org.

From the archives: Predictions from 2003

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

In 2003, our annual conference included a panel of digital media experts creating predictions for the industry’s future — some of which turned out to be true! Correct predictions included “An online journalist will win a Pulitzer,” from MSNBC’s Dean Wright (Pulitzer Prizes were expanded to include online-only publications in 2008) and “We’ll have more on-demand access to video,” from CNN’s Mitch Gelman. See the rest of the predictions from 2003.

Community stories

How has your ONA experience impacted your work and career? Contribute your story to #Happy20thONA.

In 2016, I applied to the @ONANewsroom after I saw a Facebook ad. As a community college student, I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure I was the journalism student they were looking for. What I discovered was not just a place — but a community. I often tell people that first @ONAConf changed my life AND my career. Not because of a specific workshop, keynote speaker, or story I wrote — but because of the people. As a student, ONA doesn’t shut you out or shuffle you off. They bring you in the room, and hear your voice. – Justina Sharp
Hard to pick just one moment capturing the impact of @ONA on my career, but a major highlight was co-hosting the #ONADFW Digital Storytelling Workshop with @dallasnews at @smumeadows in 2017. #Happy20thONA Remember, @JacquelynRElias, @saraellington_, @lisamsal? – Jake Batsell
In 2004, @yahoonews sent me to a weird little conference for folks who saw the future of journalism in digital. Attending and finally working with this amazing group of folks @Journalism_360 opened up an entirely new part of the industry for me and I’m forever grateful. #Happy20thONA – Laura Hertzfeld

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 in journalism

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

On our radar