ONA Weekly #14

By on July 2, 2014

   
 ONA Weekly No. 14
 

ONA says goodbye, congrats to our founding general counsel

As ONA grew from an upstart group of web pioneers to more than 2,500 members, our General Counsel Jon Hart was there, advising every Board and three executive directors during a transformative era for media. ONA sends all congratulations to Jon as he joins NPR as its new Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, and welcomes our new GC, Michael Kovaka, to the fold.

Same Jess, new title

We’re delighted to announce that Jessica Strelitz has been promoted to Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships. In her year-long tenure at ONA, Jess has brought in new revenue streams for our conference, events, newsletter and digital properties and took the lead on our our newest initiative, the Digital Media Leadership Breakfast series. Congrats, Jess!

Legal updates include successes and setbacks

On June 23, the Standing Committee at the Senate Gallery denied SCOTUSblog’s appeal for receiving credentials. ONA had joined a May 22 letter drafted by the Reporters Committee in defense of SCOTUSblog’s application, urging a reconsideration of its denial.

Last week, the Supreme Court ruled against warrantless searches of cell phones, agreeing with an argument in a March 10 brief ONA joined with 13 other media organizations that such a search would violate the First and Fifth Amendments. “It is essential for the Court to make clear that a search warrant is required in cases like these to prevent changing technology from eroding our most basic rights.”

ONA and 15 other news organizations joined a brief filed by The Reporters Committee to argue that Idaho’s “ag gag” statute weakens food safety guarantees at the same time that it stifles free speech. Journalists’ investigations into meat-processing facilities have long been credited with advancing the safety of the food the public consumes.

Upcoming events:

Come to Collab/Space Workshop Before ONA14!

How can media startups survive and thrive? That will be the focus of the Collab/Space Chicago workshop on Sept. 24, the day before ONA14. ONA members get a 20% discount with the promo code DISCOUNT for the collaborative workshop, using improv techniques, and spotlighting innovative media startups. Register here!

What we’re reading:

Some recent posts we’ve highlighted on the ONA Issues Tumblr:
 
 
Jeremiah Patterson

Jeremiah Patterson

Jeremiah was ONA's Digital Manager from 2012 to the fall of 2016 and was responsible for ONA's collection of websites, including journalists.org, conference websites, the membership center, awards platforms and more. Before joining ONA, he served as a web producer and content developer at The Wildlife Society, maintaining the organization’s website, email marketing and other online services. An Ohio native and media enthusiast, Jeremiah grew up with a deep interest in video production and graphic design. He now focuses in user experience and human-centered design.