The Online News Association is the world’s largest digital journalism association. Membership includes journalists, technologists, executives, students, educators and other digital media professionals.
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ONA’s mission is to inspire and support innovation and excellence in digital journalism. The mission is served through work in five focus areas: Developing strategies for emerging tech, sharing best practices on audience engagement and metrics, innovative news storytelling, experimenting and finding new revenue and business models & cultivating newsroom leadership, culture and diversity. The one-year fellowship is designed to provide support and guidance to early-career journalists on a digital journalism project, as well as their own professional development. Themes for projects may include audience and social engagement, product development, and digital or business strategy.
Benefits
- Free registration to ONA’s annual conference. Fellows get free registration at digital journalism’s largest event and opportunities to network and share their work. The fellowship covers registration, hotel and flights for ONA22, Sept 21-24.
- Three tailored coaching sessions. Based on the projects that fellows are working on and the skills they are looking to build, ONA works with industry leaders to design custom coaching sessions for the group. Past sessions have covered topics such as pitching projects, career advancement in a changing world, audience engagement, marketing and entrepreneurship.
- ONA membership, with three year’s dues paid in full.
- Additional opportunities to showcase work and expertise. During their fellowship year, fellows share insights from their projects and career journeys to ONA’s community. These insights become evergreen resources for the digital journalism community.
Eligibilities
The fellowship is designed for up-and-coming journalists between the ages of 23 and 30 who are just beginning to make their voices heard in the industry and who are working to expand the boundaries of digital news through ongoing creative and innovative projects. Fellows can be working inside or outside the newsroom, and we encourage freelance and independent journalists to apply. Applicants in 2022 must meet the following requirements at the time of application:
- Born between June 26, 1992 and June 25, 1999
- Be a working digital journalist (either for an organization or self-employed); ONA encourages freelancers and journalists from diverse backgrounds to apply.
- Be fluent in English
- Be involved in a digital journalism project
- Full-time students are not eligible.
Application Process
The application has five parts. Applications and all submitted materials must be in English. Any links you provide as part of the application must be public — with no password required.
- Section 1: Contact Information, Resume and Photo. Provide name, date of birth, address, email, phone number, relevant online presences, photo and resume.
- Section 2: Project, Experiment, Concept
Provide a description of and link to your digital journalism experiment or project, which is either ongoing or started after Jan. 1, 2021. You should specify your role — whether you were the sole creator or a member of a team. The project should be more than a concept or idea; it should be far enough along to show substantial progress. Themes for projects may include audience and social engagement, product development, and digital or business strategy.The selection committee is looking for projects that show creativity and innovation. Applicants should explain how their strategy moves digital journalism forward or provides valuable lessons or outcomes. - Section 3: Testimonial / Recommendation
An employer, instructor or technology partner will be asked to fill out a recommendation form affirming the candidate as a standout young digital journalist. The recommender must have knowledge of the applicant’s project in order to confirm the applicant’s description of his/her role in the project. - Section 4: Personal Statement or Presentation
Tell us about yourself in a personal statement or a multimedia presentation. Video presentations are strongly encouraged. - Section 5: Professional Coaching
Fellows will receive three group coaching sessions with leaders in digital journalism who offer practical advice and guidance. Sessions are based on what Fellows need most to advance their projects and their careers. Past sessions have covered topics such as skills building; pitching projects; career advancement in a changing world; audience engagement; marketing and entrepreneurship. In 200 words or less, what topics would you most like covered.
Application Deadline: July 15, 2022
Application ClosedOfficial link
