While we know that training focused on leadership skills is essential for our industry, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to becoming effective newsroom leaders or building future-proof careers in digital journalism. Explore these sessions at ONA19 to discover a range of perspectives on leading change, cultivating talent, recovering from burnout and increasing success in navigating uncertainty.
Career Advice from the Women’s Leadership Accelerator
Women add unique value and perspective in newsrooms even as they face unique challenges navigating career transitions and leadership roles. Get to know inspiring women who have been through ONA’s Women’s Leadership Accelerator as they share their stories and leadership lessons in this series of lightning talks. Speakers include Versha Sharma, Managing Editor and Senior Correspondent, NowThis; Jess Terrell, Podcast and Multimedia Editor, Honolulu Civil Beat; Brittany Grant, General Editor, Strategic Analytics, ESPN’s The Undefeated; Elizabeth Whitmire, Senior Director of Audience, Alabama Media Group; Julia B. Chan, Managing Editor, Digital, KQED; and Emily Withrow, Director, Quartz Bot Studio.
How to Hire (and Invest In) the Interns
Here’s a clear throughline: Investing in interns is investing in your newsroom is investing in the industry. Newsroom leaders and others supporting early-career journalists, join POLITICO Production Editor Kristen East for a training on best practices for effective internship programs. You will walk away with practical guidance on hiring and cultivating talent to become more valuable contributors to digital journalism.
Product Thinking for News Leaders
While newsrooms large and small face rapidly evolving technology and changing roles within the organization, journalists already have the skills to be effective product thinkers and develop strategic solutions. Becca Aaronson, Director of Product at Chalkbeat; Shannan Bowen, Lead Product Manager for News at McClatchy; and freelance newsroom consultant Emma Carew Grovum will facilitate a discussion on diving into data and research, connecting the dots and making strategic decisions about the newsroom’s priorities and goals.
Are You Having a Journalism Midlife Crisis?
If you are waking up every day with existential questions about your journalism career or you are ready to call it quits on the industry, this workshop is made for you. Take a break from the daily grind to hear refreshing perspectives from journalists who pursued other career and leadership opportunities. Kim Fox, Managing Editor, Audience and Innovation, for The Philadelphia Inquirer; Sharon Chan, Vice President of Innovation, Product & Development at The Seattle Times; and Paul Cheung, Director of Journalism and Technology Innovation for the Knight Foundation, will guide you in this workshop to find inspiration for your goals and next steps.