A total of twelve candidates — five new nominees and seven incumbents, representing a wide and diverse range of digital media — ran for six open seats in the 2023–24 Online News Association Board of Directors election.
There are a total of 16 seats on the ONA Board, including one appointed, non-voting student representative. Eight directors were up for re-election. The other eight members are serving their current two-year terms through 2023. The Board will appoint one additional seat for the 2023-24 term before the end of the year.
Terms are for two years and begin Jan. 1, 2023.
The 2023 ONA Board election opened on Sept. 12, 2022. At that time, ONA members as of Sept. 8 were eligible to cast ballots. Voting closed on Oct. 3, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The twelve candidates delivered lightning talks on Sept. 22, 2022 at ONA22.
Winners
The new director joining the Board Jan. 1, 2023 are:
- Kristen Reed, Content Director, TEGNA
The re-elected members are:
- Ashley Alvarado, Vice President, Community Engagement + Strategic Initiatives, Southern California Public Radio (KPCC/LAist)
- Rubina Madan Fillion,* Director of Strategy, Opinion, The New York Times
- Rodney Gibbs, Senior Director, Strategy & Innovation, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Imaeyen Ibanga, Presenter/Senior Producer, AJ+
- Niketa Patel,* Digital Media Advisor & Executive Coach
Voter turnout was 11.73% of ONA’s eligible membership; out of 2,216 eligible voters, 260 voted.
New Candidates
- Dan Gilgoff, Executive Editor, Digital & Content, AARP
- Robin Kwong, New Formats Editor, The Wall Street Journal
- Kristen Reed, Content Director, TEGNA
- Margaret Schneider, Head of Training & Documentation, Newspack, Automattic
- Allison Shirk, Digital and engagement editor, Chattanooga Times Free Press
Incumbent Candidates
- Ashley Alvarado, Vice President, Community Engagement + Strategic Initiatives, Southern California Public Radio (KPCC/LAist)
- Rubina Madan Fillion,* Director of Strategy, Opinion, The New York Times
- Andrew Fitzgerald, SVP, Streaming Video Services, Hearst Television
- Rodney Gibbs, Senior Director, Strategy & Innovation, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Imaeyen Ibanga, Presenter/Senior Producer, AJ+
- Niketa Patel,* Senior Director, Partnerships & Platforms, The 19th
- Anita Zielina, Director Strategic Initiatives, Newmark J-School at CUNY
Board member Susan Gonzalez is at the end of her board term.
*Rubina Madan Fillion and Niketa Patel have recused themselves from the Board’s Governance Committee during this election.