ONA Weekly #523: New Funding From The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation

By on August 7, 2024

We can feel that deadline buzz, with dozens of you from newsrooms large and small confirming your ONA24 conference passes yesterday. The discounted “Getting Closer” phase ends Thursday, Aug. 8, 11:59 p.m. EDT. Register now!

New funding from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation

We’re thrilled to share ONA will expand the AI in Journalism Initiative, including both virtual and in-person trainings and convenings, with a $250,000 grant from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation.

“AI technologies are changing so quickly, and it’s a phenomenon that impacts news organizations of all sizes everywhere,” said Meghan Murphy, Director of Programs at ONA. “There are many journalists and newsrooms at risk of missing out on the opportunities because they don’t know what latest developments are most relevant to their work or what skills are most pressing to build now. We look past the hype and zoom in on the practical questions. With this additional support from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, we’re excited to create more resources to reach as many people as possible.”

Read the full announcement on what’s next for ONA’s AI programming.

Add RSVP-only workshops to your ONA24 registration

While most sessions on the ONA24 program are open to all, select workshops and meal events have limited capacity and require advance sign-up to ensure ONA and our partners can deliver a focused, high-quality experience.

RSVPs are open now for everyone who has registered for the conference, including both four-day and one-day pass holders. If you’ve already registered, find your personalized registration link in your confirmation email; follow it updated your pass with specific RSVP-only sessions under “Select Courses and Events.” If you haven’t registered yet, you will see the available options during the registration process, including (but not limited to):

  • First-Time Managers Training, facilitated by the Maynard Institute
  • Finding Your Mid-Career Groove Workshop, with the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism’s Niketa Patel, Marie Gilot and Divine L. Williams
  • Safety Workshop Series, presented in four parts by IWMF, Freedom of the Press Foundation, Center for News Technology and Innovation and PEN America
  • Enter the Journalism Intermediaries: A Collaborative Summit, moderated by The Pivot Fund CEO Tracie M. Powell
  • Designing the Future Newsroom Workshop: AI in 2030, facilitated by Hacks/Hackers

Stories from the Online Journalism Awards

It’s August again—which means we’re nearing the end of a weeks-long process to select the finalists in the Online Journalism Awards, thanks to nearly 100 volunteer judges who deliberated over a wide array of entries to surface the most award-worthy work. As we get ready to celebrate the 2024 finalists, take a look back at some of the inspiring stories from last year’s honorees:

Careers in AI x journalism

Connect with fellow ONA members on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at the monthly meetup of the AI Innovator Collaborative. Rubina Madan Fillion, ONA Board Member and Associate Editorial Director for A.I. Initiatives at The New York Times, will host this month’s conversation. She’ll share perspective on how her team at the Times came together and how to prepare if you’re interested in working at the intersection of AI and journalism. Come to discover tips and share your own ideas about how news organizations are recruiting go-to experts on AI strategies and tools. Join the AI Innovator Collaborative.

Mark your calendar

Career opportunities

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

On our radar

Support ONA

There are many ways to help sustain ONA’s mission to drive innovation in digital journalism: