ONA Weekly #306

New categories for the 2020 Online Journalism Awards

Uncertain times underscore the need to highlight digital journalism’s value and impact. Since 2000, the Online Journalism Awards have played an important role in doing exactly that. We are pleased to introduce two new categories for this year’s awards: Excellence in Newsletters and Topical Reporting: Climate Change (we’ll focus on a new topic in this category each year). We’ve also created subcategories in the Digital Video Storytelling category and reframed the Gather Award for Engaged Journalism. Learn more about what’s new and mark your calendars for May 5 when submissions open.

Coronavirus content for kids

Talking to kids about coronavirus takes careful thought and an understanding of how kids learn. We’ve noticed several organizations developing content for younger audiences to help them understand the facts around COVID-19 and spark healthy conversations at home:

• The BBC posed questions from children to a virology scientist, and in a similar approach, the New York Times’ The Daily recorded a special Kids Guide to Coronavirus episode.
• NPR developed a comic to teach children about the outbreak. It’s available to read in Chinese and Spanish, and also can be printed into a zine.
• NBC created Nightly News with Lester Holt, Kids Edition, a kid-friendly digest of the top headlines.
• CNN collaborated with Sesame Street on a town hall for kids and parents.

Coping with the new normal

We’re all adjusting to significant shifts COVID-19 has brought to our lives. ONA NYC recently invited Kari Cobham, Senior Associate Director, Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism and Media; James Rodriguez, Director of Trauma-Informed Services at the NYU McSilver Institute and Benét J. Wilson, Credit Cards Editor, The Points Guy to a virtual panel to discuss how some are adapting while still finding ways to make an impact. Watch the recording for tools and techniques on how to cope with the new reality.

Support for job seekers and recruiters

Job seekers can now set up alerts and post resumes in the ONA Career Center, free of charge. Hundreds of media recruiters look at resume postings, and we’ve added new functionality to search for career level among both resumes and jobs listings. As a bonus, employers can use the code UQZUK7F8 for 20% off single listings and packages of three or five, for openings from now until June 1.

Upcoming events

• April 29: ONA Atlanta: How A.I. affects our everyday lives
• April 30: ONA NJ: Virtual happy hour #2
• April 30: ONA Ciudad de México: ¿Cómo podemos manejar el estrés y el trauma? 
• May 6: ONA South Florida: Listen! That’s the sound of journos safely de-stressing together New
• May 7: ONA St. Louis: Virtual yoga retreat, mental health check-in New
• May 7: ONA Ciudad de México: ¿Cómo mejorar nuestra resiliencia y autocuidado? New
• May 14: ONA Ciudad de México: ¿Cómo hablar de nuestras experiencias durante las crisis? New

Career opportunities

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

• Digital Outreach Director, Global Investigative Journalism Network
• Photo Editor, The Intercept
• Multiple roles including Engagement Editor and Director of Marketing, CalMatters
• Managing Editor, Connecticut Post
• Multiple roles including Digital Managing Director and five Weather Producers, Spectrum Networks
• Freelance Market Editor, Power Poll
• Head of Fix Content Studio, Grist
• Reporter, Spectrum Magazine

On our radar

• COVID-19 resources for reporters, SciLine
• For journalists of color, tracking by race during COVID-19 is about equity, Local News Lab
• Now is the time to start planning for the next disaster – 33 questions, Fakequity
• COVID-19 story recipe: Identifying communities at risk from the pandemic and its economic fallout, Open News
• Speculative journalism can help us prepare for what’s to come. Could it also promote misinformation?, Nieman Journalism Lab