ONA Weekly #280

By on October 16, 2019

Get to know ONA’s origin story

ONA on Air producer Michael O’Connell spoke with ONA co-founder Rich Jaroslovsky about the early days of our organization and the issues digital journalists faced. “The big challenge was getting respect.” Listen to their conversation and subscribe to hear more episodes from ONA on Air’s #Happy20thONA series.

Journalism is community building

ONA Local organizers and other journalism community-builders gathered in September for a day of leadership training and in-depth discussions on fostering innovation in their regions. Check out the themes that emerged at the ONA Local Summit, from understanding power dynamics to why community leadership is integral to a journalists’ role.

Reminder: We are looking for problem-solvers and connectors to join the 2020 cohort of ONA Local organizers. Apply by Nov. 1.

Career advice from WLA alumnae

“Look for those opportunities to have tiny experiments that can build up over time, so that you can start to build a case for yourself to have a [leadership] title.” Women’s Leadership Accelerator alumnae Brittany Grant and Elizabeth Hoekenga Whitmire and ONA Director of Programs Jennifer Mizgata shared advice on how to level-up to a leadership position — watch the video then check out the program, applications for the 2020 cohort are due Oct. 31. 

17 projects showcasing immersive storytelling for news

Immersive storytellers gathered at ONA19 to showcase their work — giving attendees a chance to experience what it was like to walk on the moon for the Apollo 11 mission, the daily lives of women in the cannabis industry and even extremely remote areas in Alaska. Watch the ONA19 Video Team’s interview with Journalism 360 Program Manager Sam Stewart for highlights from the festival and explore the full list of featured projects.

From the archives: 20 years of ONA Board members

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 2017, while reflecting on the conclusion of a decade of service on ONA’s Board of Directors, Jody Brannon put together a list of all the people who’ve served on our board, plus the organizations they represented. At that time, she counted 67 individuals who were on the board since 2000. See who’s who in this “slice of digital history.”

Community stories

How has your ONA experience impacted your work and career? Contribute your story to #Happy20thONA.
#Happy20thONA. When I attended my first @ONAConf as part of @ONANewsroom in 2014, I couldn’t have imagined the impact @ONA would have on my life and career. From speaking at #ONA15 to meeting up with new friends and old at #ONA17. Grateful for the force for good that is @ONA. — Erica A. Hernandez
#Happy20thONA. I went to my first ONA conference in 2005. I have not missed one since. I can’t imagine missing one any time soon. I’m proud to have served on the board for a decade, and as its president for two years. — Jim Brady

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