All ONA committees and advisory boards, chaired and run by Board members and other community leaders, work with the ONA Executive Director and staff to focus on issues of importance to digital journalists.
Awards and Recognition Committee
The Awards and Recognition Committee is responsible for highlighting innovation and excellence in journalism through our Online Journalism Awards and individual award recognition programs, including the Rich J. award and the James Foley Award. The committee oversees the entry and judging processes and rules governing the awards.
Co-chair: Shazna Nessa
Co-chair: Niketa Patel
Vice-Chair: Rubina Fillion
Staff Liaisons: Trevor Knoblich and Hollie Schultz
Governance Committee
The Governance Committee is responsible for ongoing review and recommendations to enhance the quality and future viability of the board of directors. The work of the committee revolves around the following five major areas: board roles and responsibilities, board composition, board knowledge, board effectiveness, and board leadership. The governance committee also oversees the annual elections.
Chair: Benet Wilson
Vice Chair: Ebony Reed
Members: Mandy Jenkins, Celeste LeCompte
Staff Liaisons: Irving Washington and Diana Lopez
Community and Education Committee
The community and education committee is responsible for collaborating with ONA staff to provide insights on programmatic efforts serving the ONA membership and community, with a special emphasis on all aspects of diversity. Committee members may serve as education peer reviewers, mentors and volunteers for ONA programs.
Chair: Charo Henriquez
Vice-Chair: Anita Li
Members: Maryanne Reed, Imaeyen Ibanga, Aiyana Ishmael
Staff Liaisons: Meghan Murphy and Jen Mizgata
Legal Affairs, News Ethics, and Standards Committee
The Legal Affairs and News Ethics and Standards Committee formulates ONA’s position on legal and ethical standards in the field in three primary ways:
- Advising the board on the lawsuits ONA should get involved in, either as a party or as an amicus (or “friend of the court”), and reviews and comments on proposed briefs to make sure that the positions taken are consistent with the interests of ONA’s members.
- Evaluating proposed legislation that may have an impact on journalists, particularly journalists whose work is distributed in digital formats, with a view toward weighing in on pending legislation as appropriate.
- Researching, crowdsourcing, and sharing ethical best practices and high journalistic standards related to digital news and emerging tech.
Chair: Rodney Gibbs
Vice-Chair: Versha Sharma
Members: Fergus Bell, David Smydra
Staff Liaisons: Irving Washington and Karolle Rabarison
Executive and Financial Oversight Committee
The executive committee is responsible for working in support of, or occasionally in place of, the full board. It also oversees the approval of the budget, monitor and report on the financial status and activities of the organization, and ensure the financial policies and practices are followed.
Chair and Vice-Chair: ONA President and Vice President
Staff Liaisons: Irving Washington and Jessica Strelitz