ONA Weekly #455: MJ Bear Fellowship Applications Open Today

Applications are open for the 2023 MJ Bear Fellowship

We are pleased to announce that applications for the 2023 MJ Bear Fellowship are now open.

The yearlong fellowship honors and supports journalists under 30 from around the world who are working on projects that move digital journalism forward. We invite applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including both freelance and staff journalists, to apply. We’re especially interested in projects in the areas of audience and social engagement, business strategy and product development.

Fellows receive complimentary registration to attend the 2023 Online News Association conference in Philadelphia, a three-year ONA membership, three online coaching sessions as a group, networking opportunities and other avenues to showcase their work to ONA’s global community.

Established in 2011 to honor founding ONA Board member Mary Jane “MJ” Bear, the fellowship has identified and supported more than 40 journalists doing cutting-edge digital work. The MJ Bear Fellowship is made possible through generous contributions by the MJ Bear Estate, friends of MJ Bear and ONA, MSN International and Microsoft.

Read the program FAQ, learn how the 2022 MJ Bear Fellows advanced their digital projects and apply by April 27.

Help is on the way

Just Go Live Corp. created a new voice app for Newspapers & Magazines with a self Text 2 Voice Marketing System that will boost slumping numbers.

Launching June 2023! For more information, call Stephen Byrd at 301-543-9403.

Reminder: Take our Slack survey

ONA community members have asked for a space to connect with each other outside of events, so we’re exploring expanding the use of the ONA Slack community for this purpose. We want to learn how you’d like to use this platform. Please take this short survey by 11:59 p.m. EDT today.

Your feedback will help us continue to ensure the ONA Slack is a useful gathering place for our community. In the meantime, if you’re not already a member, anyone in the ONA community can sign up for our Slack for free. Join us there!

On the calendar

April 5: ONA Slack survey closes Today!
April 13: HBCU Digital Media Fellowship application deadline
April 20: Newsletter meetup: Marketing, subscriber growth, partnerships and revenue (Virtual)
April 20: ONA Spain Meetup: El Podcast Documental
April 25: Executive Women Leaders Salon: Building and leading innovative teams (Virtual)
April 27: MJ Bear Fellowship application deadline
June 15: Executive Women Leaders Salon: Navigating recruitment and onboarding to executive positions (Virtual)
July 18: Newsletter meetup: Audience engagement strategies for newsletters (in-person, New York City)
Aug. 23: Executive Women Leaders Salon: Cultivating organizational resilience (in-person at ONA23)
Aug. 23–26: ONA23: Philadelphia
Aug. 26: 2023 Online Journalism Awards Ceremony
Sept. 28–29: ONA23: Onward (Virtual)

Career opportunities

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

Editor, Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation – WESA
Editor in Chief, Indiana Local News Initiative
Digital News Director, Draper Media
Newsroom Team Leader, Houston Landing
Audience Research Fellowship, Institute for Nonprofit News
Director of Multimedia, Hearst Newspapers
President & Chief Executive Officer, Deep South Today
Associate Editor, American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)

On our radar

“Climate journalism that works” – key insights from the European Broadcasting Union report, Alberto Puliafito for The Fix
How we start building access for disabled journalists, John Loeppky for Reynolds Journalism Institute
The mobile-first reality for publishers, Tobias Silber for Digital Content Next
How a new generation of women are driving a golden age of data journalism in Kenya, Maurice Oniang’o for Reuters Institute
Investigating Digital Threats: Disinformation, Jane Lytvynenko for Global investigative Journalism Network

Directory spotlight

American University School of Communication

Based in Washington, D.C., the American University School of Communication offers unparalleled opportunities for graduates to learn from industry pros in broadcast, digital, international and investigative journalism.

Dozens of technology companies, foundations, consultants and journalism organizations contribute to ONA’s mission throughout the year. Explore our Industry Directory to discover new tools and potential partners, or learn how to get listed.

Support ONA

There are many ways to help sustain ONA’s mission to inspire and support innovation in digital journalism.

Join as an ONA member
Make a one-time donation
Explore options to reach the ONA community about your event, product, job opening or other opportunity
Invest in ONA programs: Contact Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer Jessica Strelitz, jessica@journalists.org, to learn about philanthropic and corporate support.