Student Newsroom and Innovation Lab

The Student Newsroom and Innovation Lab immerses undergraduate and graduate college students in a digital media environment by providing hands-on experience during the three-day Online News Association conference, and including the Online Journalism Awards Ceremony and Banquet.

Twenty select students will produce content and tools for the ONA19 Student Newsroom website before and during the conference under the personal guidance of professional mentors.

The Student Newsroom is sponsored in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Univision and the Gannett Foundation. If you are interested in sponsoring the newsroom program, please contact Jessica Strelitz. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

“The reason [my supervisor] hired me was because of the content I created at ONA17. I landed my dream job before I even graduated, thanks to my experience with the newsroom.”

Graduate Student, Journalism
New York University
Senior, Photojournalism
Pennsylvania State University
Senior, Journalism
American University
Graduate Student, Journalism
Arizona State University
Senior, Telecommunications and News
University of Florida
Senior, Journalism
Northwestern University
Graduate Student, Journalism
Boston University
Graduate Student, Journalism
Northeastern University
Senior, Journalism
Indiana University
Graduate Student, Journalism
Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
Junior, Mass Communication
Loyola University New Orleans
Senior — English, Political Economy and Jewish Studies
Tulane University
Senior, Journalism Mass Communication and Black Women Studies
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduate Student, Journalism
New York University
Senior, Journalism and User Experience
Michigan State University
Junior, Political Science
University of Utah
Graduate Student, Data journalism
Stanford University
Senior, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
University of California, Davis
Graduate Student – Media, Communications & Development
London School of Economics and Political Science
Senior, Journalism and Visual Communication
Ohio University

Mentors

  • Bonnie Layton, Senior Lecturer, Indiana University
  • Brittany Mayes, Graphics Reporter, The Washington Post
  • Curt Chandler, Assistant Professor of Teaching, Pennsylvania State University
  • Jeff South, Associate Professor and Director of Undergrad Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Jeremy Bowers, Director of Newsroom Engineering, The Washington Post
  • Jo Herrera, Social Engagement Specialist, Public Radio International/PRX
  • Justin Madden, The Associated Press, Desk Editor
  • Lisa Collins, Professor, Loyola University New Orleans
  • Lori Shontz, Instructor of Journalism, University of Oregon
  • Matt Sheehan, Director, Stories and Emerging Platforms, University of Florida
  • Peg Achterman, Assistant Professor of Communication & Journalism, Seattle Pacific University
  • Philip Tenser, Digital Media Manager, WCVB-TV
  • Rachel Piper, Senior Director of Digital News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  • Rodney Gibbs, Chief Product Officer, Texas Tribune
  • Sam Kirkland, Product Manager, BuzzFeed
  • Sarah Blaskovich, Food Writer, The Dallas Morning News
  • Stephanie TooneMartin, Sponsorship Content Coordinator, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Steve Fox, Senior Lecturer, UMass Journalism Department