There are plenty of reasons for you to attend the 2024 Online News Association Conference (ONA24 – Sept. 18-21). But don’t fly solo. Here are just a few of the reasons why you’ll want to bring your team with you to Atlanta.
It’s cost-effective. If you can only invest in one training opportunity this year, make it ONA24. The conference is a one-stop shop for professional development needs and practical training. We guide presenters to provide actionable takeaways from each session — that’s why an overwhelmingly majority of attendees (90%!) say they learn something that they can apply to their work within a month.
Early Bird passes, available from March 21, are $350 for ONA members. Groups of 10 or more registering together get $25 off per ticket, which can be applied on top of the discounted member rate.
It’s a dedicated space for team learning. There’s nothing like a change of scenery to infuse more productive learning and creativity. Taking a break from day-to-day patterns is great for individuals and exponentially impactful for teams.
You can approach team learning and collaboration a few different ways while in Atlanta. For instance, take the “divide and conquer” strategy through the schedule and carve time for a huddle to exchange takeaways and connect the dots. Or, zone in on particular tools that would help everyone work more efficiently and test them together right there on-site. There’s also real value in having a shared language around the big questions, trends and solutions, so you may want to sit together for the featured sessions.
It’s a smart way to jumpstart your annual planning. You can count on ONA24 programming to understand where to focus your 2025 strategy. If you have a staff retreat in the works, consider connecting it to the conference week, either right after or alongside ONA24. We offer a Day Pass ($175) to keep things flexible, so you could join for part of the program and hold the planning meetings the rest of the week. (This is an especially great opportunity for Atlanta area newsrooms!)
It’s fun. Seriously. We’re biased, but surely many will attest that “the ONA way” is just different, in the best way. We’re proud to gather an amazing community of people who are at the forefront of how journalism is evolving. They have a clear-eyed view of the challenges and are actively creating solutions and influencing change in the industry. The camaraderie and shared experiences with the ONA community will help build stronger relationships on your team and set a positive, forward-thinking tone for your organization.
We look forward to welcoming you all at ONA24 in Atlanta. Learn more about conference passes and email us at registration@journalists.org when you’re ready for the group registration discount.
Beyond the conference
ONA offers programming all year to learn with like-minded peers and form deeper connections.