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Join us today for a policy conference on deepfakes
Our Deepfakes, Disinformation and Democracy Policy Conference is today, Wednesday, June 2, from 1-4 p.m. EDT (5-8 p.m. UTC). This virtual conference—hosted by ONA, along with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and the Association of Computing Machinery’s U.S. Technology Policy Committee (USTPC)—will feature lawmakers, media representatives, technology companies and more discussing the new era of deepfakes and how that affects politics, trust and the future of democracy. Register here.
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The possibilities of collective journalism
Many newsrooms are used to competing. But increasingly, efforts in collaborative journalism are important to expand coverage and reach communities that otherwise wouldn’t have reliable news sources. Last year, when NPR announced that it would build the Gulf States Newsroom with public radio stations in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, WBHM News Director Gigi Douban, who is based in Alabama, was skeptical. “How do you get people to care, who are in Alabama, about what’s happening in Louisiana or Mississippi?” she asked. Since then, Douban says, she has seen how collaborative newsrooms have helped beat reporters fill gaps in local news and give important stories, like reporting on union organizing at Amazon in Alabama, enough weight.
NPR isn’t the only newsroom that is pushing on this collaborative model. The BBC built one of the world’s largest collaborative journalism networks based entirely on local news and California news outlets are collaborating instead of competing on stories about police misconduct. The model can be attractive to funders too: According to Current, the Gulf States Newsroom model has attracted support from major donors and helped develop new corporate underwriting revenue. Rick Edmonds from Poynter argues that, for local news, collaboration is a key part of growth.
So what does a successful collaborative partnership look like? Montclair State University’s Center for Cooperative Media has a useful series of guides on best practices for collaborative journalism partnerships, including specific resources for building equity in collaborations, building a tool set and dealing with budget and finance considerations.
Some takeaways:
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Be realistic in both directions: Keep an eye on goals (including continued collaboration) but also wrestle with questions like what it would look like for a project partner to exit in both ideal and non-ideal circumstances.
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Make sure to talk over all the nitty-gritty of applying for funding for the projects: Will there be a lead station or publication and is everyone OK with that? Will the application be independently or as a team? Is in-kind funding an option?
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Be very clear about norms around communication and asset management, from the types of technology used to file naming conventions. This will save a lot of heartache later on.
Dig deeper: Collaborating For Impact: “Case Cleared” Investigative Partnership — hour-long recording with Mark Fahey and Bernice Yeung (2019)
OJAs: In 2018, the OJAs added a category for Excellence in Collaboration and Partnerships, becoming the first major awards program to respond to, and honor, this trend. The 2020 winner was “The Pangolin Reports,” a trailblazing collaboration among newsrooms in Asia and Africa documenting the illicit trade of pangolins, the world’s most trafficked animal. Submissions to the 2021 OJAs are due June 10.
We’re always on the lookout for helpful resources and tips. If you have other examples to share, please reply directly to this email.
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Advertisement
AIR/SoundPath Webinar: Audio Reporting From Abroad
 NPR’s Founding Seoul Bureau Chief Elise Hu (TED Talks Daily, VICE News Tonight) will share insights and actionable tips on the unique challenges of international journalism, building sources and telling authentic stories across cultural barriers. The webinar is June 3 at 11 a.m. PDT. Enroll today.
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Submit your best pandemic reporting to the 2021 OJAs
The pandemic has been a major news topic for over a year. Now, we have a new topical reporting award just for Pandemic Coverage. This award recognizes a single story or portfolio spotlighting an issue relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, whether that be economic impact, science, health, policy or something else. Entries can include, but are not limited to, writing, photography, data visualization, video and audio. Submit by June 10.
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Share your resume ahead of ONA21 Career Day
Are you exploring career opportunities, graduate programs, fellowships or a new position? You can register for free for ONA21 Career Day on June 21. The event—featuring one-on-one interviews, networking using ONA’s Grip platform and recruiter sessions—will be held Monday, June 21, 12–3 p.m. EDT (16:00–19:00 UTC). It is free for all career opportunity seekers, and attendees do not need to be registered for the ONA21 conference.
In advance of the event, share your resume here so registered recruiters and fellowship and grad program leaders can set up meetings with you on Grip.
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Sign up for ONA21 News
 ONA21 is just a few weeks away! Make sure you’re up-to-date with the latest news on events, opportunities, sessions and more by subscribing to ONA21 News. We’ll announce speaker updates, give you a sneak peek at the schedule and tell you everything else you need to know about participating in the conference.
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Stat of the week
When quantifying the similarity of Democrats’ and Republicans’ media diets, Princeton University political scientist Andrew Guess found roughly 50% overlap in the two groups’ distributions in 2016 (preprint). Overall, Guess writes, “the findings support a view that if online ‘echo chambers’ exist, they are a reality for relatively few people who may nonetheless wield disproportionate influence and visibility in society.”
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Important dates
Note: All ONA events are currently happening online, and open to all regardless of where you’re located.
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Career opportunities
ONA’s Career Center is an excellent resource for jobs, fellowships and internships in digital journalism. Recent postings include:
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On our radar
The radar is now open for suggestions. Have you written or read a piece lately that would benefit others in journalism? We’re interested in sharing insights on trends, how-to guides, lessons from a project and other inspiration for innovation in digital journalism.
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| Join as an ONA member or make a donation to help sustain ONA’s mission to inspire and support innovation in digital journalism. If you’re looking to promote an event, product, job opening or other opportunity, explore options to reach the ONA community.
We also rely on philanthropic and corporate support. Contact Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer Jessica Strelitz at jessica@journalists.org to learn about the many ways to invest in our mission.
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