It’s that time of year again: We’re all taking stock of the year and looking forward to our work ahead. Here at ONA, we’ve been having big conversations about what’s keeping our members up at night, and what we want to talk more about in 2026. Whether at our annual conference, our monthly member gatherings or virtual trainings, ONA is the place the journalism community gathers to make sense of what’s coming next for the industry, to adapt our strategies to a changing landscape, and to get practical guidance on how to better serve the public. Each year, we identify a few core themes that we’ll navigate together in more depth in our programming and community discussions.
Building on the conversations our members led throughout 2025, we’ve solidified three themes we’ll continue exploring together in 2026:
Evolving trends in newsgathering and delivery
From generative AI to social video, audio, newsletters and the rise of creator-model journalism, we’ll unpack the ways emerging tech and shifting audience expectations are changing newsroom strategies for gathering, reporting and distributing news.
How journalism builds community resilience
Healthy communities depend on strong journalism, and many news organizations are exploring their roles beyond storytelling as connectors and community partners. Journalists are seeing the potential to play a role in supporting the public square, driving important discourse and supporting community resilience. Through discussions, case studies and partnerships, together we’ll explore how journalists can help communities navigate issues including climate change, immigration and more.
Protecting democracy
At a moment when democratic institutions and press freedom are under attack worldwide, journalism’s role is both more complex and more essential. Journalists are part of civic leadership, helping their communities be informed and involved. We’ll explore how journalism can deepen civic engagement and rebuild trust, and what your newsroom needs to know about covering elections in 2026.
Evolving journalism roles
One of ONA’s superpowers is our community’s diverse cross-section of roles and responsibilities. Our programming will explore each theme in the context of several areas of practice:
- Adaptive Leadership
- Audience Engagement
- Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
- Reporting and Editing
- Revenue and Operations
- Technology and Product
We’ll have sessions for folks in all of these segments of the community at our annual conference, ONA26, in Chicago March 30-April 1. The conference will be a place to dive into how the major themes above intersect with roles and functions within newsrooms, and to learn what’s around the corner for the next year and beyond.
We want to hear from you
We want your perspective on your work for 2026 and beyond: What’s keeping you up at night? What are you proud of, and how can others learn from your perspective? Do you want to lead a conversation on how you’re thinking about any of the issues above? Here’s how you can add your voice to our programs:
- Co-host a virtual community event or conversation: ONA hosts virtual trainings and community conversations year-round to connect the community around what’s happening now and next for our industry. If you have a virtual session idea, pitch it to us.
- Join us at ONA26 in Chicago: This week, we launched our initial program for the annual conference, and we’re accepting pitches to help us fill some gaps in the schedule. You’ll also be able to pitch community discussions, meetups and unconference sessions early in the new year. Learn more about the process and see what session ideas we’re hoping to hear about.
- Showcase your work through the Online Journalism Awards: Each year we honor exceptional projects in more than 20 categories, including climate reporting, community engagement and AI innovation. The call for entries for the 2026 OJAs will open in late March. Now is a great time to start connecting with your team about which projects to submit.
- Partner with ONA: We’re excited to collaborate with other individuals, groups and organizations who are also thinking about democracy, community resilience, emerging news delivery models and more. We’re seeking partners for programming, promotion, sponsorship, and philanthropic funding. Send me a note at meghan@journalists.org if you’d like to hear more about partnering with ONA.
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