Online News Association

Online News Association
AbbreviationONA
Formation1999
Type501(c)(3) organization
PurposeSupporting online journalism
HeadquartersWashington D.C., US
Region served
Global
Membership
3,257 (2023)
Official language
English
CEO and Executive Director
LaSharah S. Bunting
Websitejournalists.org

The Online News Association (ONA), founded in 1999, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Washington D.C., United States.[1] It is the world's largest association of digital journalists,[2] with more than 3,200 members.[3] The founding members first convened in December 1999 in Chicago. The group included journalists from WSJ, Time, MSNBC, and the FT, among other outlets.[4]

The majority of ONA members are professional online journalists. The association defines "professional members" as those "whose principal livelihood involves gathering or producing news for digital presentation." These include news writers, producers, programmers, bloggers, designers, editors, photographers and others who produce news for the Internet or other digital delivery systems. Other members include journalism educators, journalism students, business development, marketing and communications professionals in the media and those interested in the field of online journalism.

AI in Journalism Initiative

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The Online News Association runs the AI in Journalism Initiative, which offers a mix of training, networking opportunities, thought leadership, and other resources for journalists and media executives. Microsoft contributed initial funding for the initiative, which was announced alongside AI-related partnerships with other media groups, including Semafor, the Craig Newmark School of Journalism, and the GroundTruth Project.[5][6][7]

Online Journalism Awards (OJAs)

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The Online News Association administers the Online Journalism Awards, a set of global awards honoring excellence and innovation in digital journalism. The OJAs focus on independent, community, nonprofit, major media and international news sites. The awards were launched in May 2000 as a joint effort of the Online News Association and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.[8][1] Winners are announced at the annual conference.

Each year features over 20 categories for journalism awards. Examples include awards for excellence in Newsletters, Technology Reporting, Social Media Engagement, Online Commentary and Breaking News. Select categories come with a cash prize, which over the years have been provided by supporters such as the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, SmartNews and others.[9][10]

From 2017-2023, the OJAs honored projects in the Excellence in Immersive Storytelling category. Winning work included journalism by The New York Times, FRONTLINE, The New Yorker and Al Jazeera.[11][12][13]

In 2024, the OJAs introduced a journalism award for "Excellence in AI Innovation."[14]

Online News Association Conference & Awards Banquet

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The organization holds an annual conference and awards banquet in the U.S., the Online News Association Conference & Awards Banquet, which features four days of training, networking, exhibits, and career exploration. The event revolves around trends and key issues at the intersections of journalism, emerging technology, and leadership.

Past keynote speakers include:

MJ Bear Fellowship

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Starting in 2011, MJ Bear Fellowships have been awarded to three promising journalists under the age of 30. The program was expanded to recognize six fellows beginning in 2019. The fellowships "identify and celebrate young digital journalists, working independently or for a company or organization, who have demonstrated — through professional experimentation, research or other projects — that they deserve support for their efforts and/or vision."

2023 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Alice Wilder, Producer, American Public Media Group
  • Bertin Huynh, Multimedia journalist, BBC News
  • Blake Stoner, Founder & Chief Reporter, Vngle Grassroots News Agency
  • Laura Anaya-Morga, General Assignment Reporter, Long Beach Post
  • Maria Mendez, Service and Engagement Reporter, The Texas Tribune
  • Ugur Dursun, Arts Engagement Producer/Reporter, KQED

2022 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Alex Castro, Senior Social Media Producer, GMA Network [19]
  • Caitlin Hernández, Reporter, L.A. Explained, Southern California Public Radio[20]
  • Claire Thompson, Associate Editor, Grist
  • Jessica Lee Senior Assignment, Editor, Snopes
  • Myrka Moreno, Audience Engagement Producer, The 19th
  • Tazeen Pathan, Data Consultant, Freelancer

2021 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Adriana Lacy, Digital and Audience Engagement Editor, Nieman Foundation
  • Beena Raghavendran, Engagement Reporter, ProPublica
  • Canela López, Health Reporter
  • Caroline Bauman, Community Engagement Strategist, Chalkbeat
  • Jasmine Lee, Freelance
  • Natalie Van Hoozer, Bilingual Reporter and Community Engagement Coordinator, KUNR Public Radio and Freelance

2019 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Abbey Crain, Reporter, AL.com/Reckon[21]
  • Kevin Nguyen, Digital Producer, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Lance Dixon, Director, The New Tropic
  • Nigel Ndlovu, Freelancer
  • Shadab Nazmi, Visual Data Journalists, BBC News/South Asia
  • Taylor Blatchford, Engagement Reporter, The Seattle Times

2018 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Tania Karas, Freelance Foreign Correspondent and Editor
  • Anand Katakam, Manager for Data Products, Scroll.in
  • Vignesh Ramachandran, Web Producer, ProPublica Illinois

2017 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato, Freelance Reporter and Editor
  • Kelly Moffitt, Online Producer, St. Louis Public Radio[22]
  • Subhashish Panigrahi, Chapter Development Manager/Asia Pacific, Internet Society

2016 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Alex Laughlin, News Audio Fellow, BuzzFeed[23]
  • Rose Eveleth, Producer, 30 for 30 Podcasts, ESPN
  • Sohara Mehroze Shachi, Programme Associate, United Nations Development Programme

2015 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Keron Bascombe, Freelancer Writer/Blogger, Trinidad and Tobago[24]
  • Nadia Tamez-Robledo, Communication Specialist, Texas Nurses Association, Austin, TX[24]
  • Ariana Tobin, Engagement Reporter, ProPublica, New York City, NY[24]

2014 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Anika Anand, Director of Engagement at Chalkbeat, an education news network[25]
  • Rajneesh Bhandari, Independent Multimedia Journalist
  • Aaron Williams, News Applications Developer, Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR)[26]

2013 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Armie Garde, assistant content editor, multimedia journalist, Sun.Star Publishing, Cebu City, Philippines[27]
  • Ashley Lohmann, freelance journalist and associate editor, Fair Observer, San Francisco[27]
  • Kyle Stokes, reporter, StateImpact Indiana, a collaboration of WFIU and Indiana Public Broadcasting[27]

2012 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Hagit Bachrach, video producer at the Council on Foreign Relations[28]
  • Tricia Fulks, freelance digital journalist; founding story director of "Hollow" interactive documentary[28]
  • Denise Hassanzade Ajiri, web writer for Web writer for Radio Farda, Radio Free Europe.[28]

2011 MJ Bear Fellows:

  • Lucas Timmons, a data journalist and web producer for The Edmonton Journal[29]
  • Laura Amico, the founder and editor of Homicide Watch in Washington, D.C
  • Lam Thuy Vo, formerly multimedia reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong, now at NPR's Planet Money.

AP Google Journalism and Technology Scholarship

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ONA administers a national scholarship program funded by the Associated Press and Google Inc. to foster digital, computer science and new media skills in student journalists. The scholarship, ran from 2011-2014 and awarded six $20,000 scholarships to undergraduate and graduates students to apply to tuition.[30][31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Online News Association moves into new NPR building". Current. July 8, 2013. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  2. ^ Seth Young (2018-06-12). "OMLN Partners with Online News Association To Provide Legal Assistance to Independent Journalists". Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  3. ^ Rabarison, Karolle (2024-01-31). "ONA's 2023 Retrospective". Online News Association. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  4. ^ The Origins of ONA: An Almost-True History
  5. ^ Bishop, Todd (February 5, 2024). "Microsoft announces AI newsroom projects with Semafor and others, as NYT lawsuit looms". GeekWire.
  6. ^ Nicolaou, Anna (2024-02-05). "Microsoft in deal with Semafor to create news stories with aid of AI chatbot". Financial Times. Retrieved 2024-10-27 – via Ars Technica.
  7. ^ It's All Journalism Episode 609: ONA Launches AI in Journalism Initiative
  8. ^ Christian, Nichole M. (2000-12-05). "Columbia Gives Awards For Journalism Done Online (Published 2000)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  9. ^ Blazina, Carrie (2023-04-20). "Submit your work to the 2023 Online Journalism Awards". Online Journalism Awards. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  10. ^ Rabarison, Karolle (2020-08-05). "SmartNews commits $60,000 in cash prizes for General Excellence winners in the Online Journalism Awards". Online Journalism Awards. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  11. ^ Jossi, Katherine (October 18, 2021). "Several Grantees Win Online Journalism Awards". Pulitzer Center.
  12. ^ FRONTLINE’s “Un(re)solved” Wins Two Online Journalism Awards
  13. ^ "Excellence in Immersive and Emerging Technology Storytelling". Online Journalism Awards. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  14. ^ "2024 online journalism contest open [Worldwide]". International Journalists' Network. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  15. ^ GOEL, VINDU (Oct 5, 2009). "Twitter Seeks to Build Value, Not Revenue". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  16. ^ "For the Online News Association, the Future Is Now". American Journalism Review. 2011. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  17. ^ "NPR@ONA: NPR Receives Top Digital Awards; Vivian Schiller Co-Headlines ONA Luncheon". NPR. November 3, 2010. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  18. ^ Local, national, and international journalists represented during ONA23 in Philadelphia
  19. ^ GMA Public Affairs senior social media producer among the 2022 MJ Bear Fellows
  20. ^ Comings and goings
  21. ^ Koplowitz, Howard (2019-08-29). "AL.com reporter Abbey Crain selected as MJ Bear Fellow for up-and-coming journalists". al. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  22. ^ "St. Louis Public Radio's Kelly Moffitt earns fellowship, moves on to StoryCorps". UMSL Daily. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  23. ^ "Alex Laughlin – Podcast producer, Buzzfeed". Future of StoryTelling.
  24. ^ a b c Mook, Ben (September 4, 2015). "Engaging audience around digital distraction lands fellowship for young WNYC producer". Current. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  25. ^ "Anika Anand Named 2014 ONA MJ Bear Fellow". Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. August 4, 2014.
  26. ^ "Aaron Williams". The Washington Post.
  27. ^ a b c Sefton, Dru (August 13, 2013). "CPB gets five new board members, Deggans joins NPR as its new television correspondent, and more . . ". Current. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  28. ^ a b c "SOJ alumna selected as one of Online News Association's journalists under-30 to watch". West Virginia University Reed College of Media. August 3, 2012. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  29. ^ "Hanged: A special series about the history of capital punishment in Alberta". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  30. ^ "AP, Google offer scholarships to digital journalism students". Poynter Institute. 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  31. ^ "AP-Google Scholarship". Online News Association. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
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