Attendance
Board members in attendance:
Charo Henriquez, Shazna Nessa, Versha Sharma, Niketa Patel, Rodney Gibbs, Aiyana Ishmael (Student Representative), Benet Wilson, David Smydra, Mandy Jenkins, Celeste LeCompte, Ebony Reed, Fergus Bell, Maryanne Reed, Rubina Madan Fillion, Imaeyen Ibanga, Anita Li.
Staff in attendance: Irving Washington, Executive Director; Jen Mizgata, Director of Programs; Karolle Rabarison, Communications Manager; Bill Brady, Strategic Partnerships Coordinator; Diana Lopez, Administrative Assistant; Meghan Murphy, Community Manager, Jessica Strelitz, Head of Strategic Partnerships; Trevor Knoblich, Chief Knowledge Officer; Hollie Schultz, Program Manager, Awards and Grant-Making; Adam Nekola, Senior Digital Manager; Adam Martin, Meetings Manager.
Notes
The meeting was called to order at 09:01 a.m. ET
Old Business: The board unanimously approved the minutes for the December meeting.
Strategic Planning Overview (Irving)
Areas of focus:
- Emerging tech
- Audience development and metrics
- Leadership development
- Revenue and business models
- Innovative news storytelling
Goal 1: Training (Trevor)
We will be expanding the annual conference to 4 days, Wednesday to Saturday, hosting an executive summit.
We will be back in Europe this year for ONA Insights
Technical deep-dive trainings and virtual offerings and trainings.
Goals 2: Community & Cohorts (Jess)
Expanding WLA, more
Giving access to more people by offering more fellowships and scholarships
Supporting the journalism community through professional development
Goal 3: Recognition (Trevor)
Innovation fund
OJAs introducing new awards
Goal 4: Career Development
Goal 5: Ethics and Standards
We will review our practices
Goals 6-10: Internal Goals (Irving)
Groundwork for International Growth (Irving and Jessica)
For 2020 the anchor is in the training goal. Getting known beyond our annual conference.
ONA Insights is designed to deep-dive conference into a specific topic/conversation. The last one was in Toronto. Struggled on the proper business model of it.
Working Insights with partners
Europe is our area of focus
Discussion
Creating year-round training opportunities (Irving)
June virtual conference
Growing the Annual Conference
Trevor shared data accumulated for the annual conference. Membership – 64% women; 60% white; 40% people of color; 12% LGBTQ+; ONA19 – 55% female; 59% white; 19% no answer; 11% international; 43% from NY, DC, CA; 31% manager; 22% multiplatform; 45% first-time attendee.
We made an expanded effort to engage first-timers and will continue to do so.
There hasn’t been a dramatic fluctuation since 2014.
Midway update: A lot of confusion in 2019 between Midway and exhibit hall. In 2020, Midway and exhibit hall will be merged and branded as one. We will have a large exhibit floor in Atlanta. Seeking to have engaging conversations. Everyone involved with the Midway floor will have an opportunity to pitch to speak on the show floor. Call to pitch will open in May. May change floor hours in the future; hours mirror session hours for 2020.
Awards + Recognition
Hollie introduced new categories to the OJAs with research conducted using OJA 2018 survey, conversations/brainstorming sessions, market analysis, and peer reviews. The new categories added are Topical Reporting: Climate Change, Excellence in Newsletters, and Accessibility.
2020 Budget
David presented a snapshot of 2019 financials and benchmarks for nonprofit financial health: operating efficiency ratio, current ratio, operating reserve ratio
The board unanimously approved the 2020 budget.
Officer Elections
Outgoing President Mandy Jenkins leads the Board election process. Results:
President: Shazna Nessa
VP: David Smydra
Treasurer: Celeste LeCompte
Secretary: Versha Sharma
Committees Overview
The Governance, Awards, Education and Legal Affairs, News Ethics committees give a summary of their 2019 activities.
New committees for 2020 will be assigned soon after the Board meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m. ET
These minutes are submitted by Administrative Assistant Diana Lopez and Board Secretary Versha Sharma.