ONA Weekly #462: LaSharah Bunting On Innovation And Authenticity

LaSharah Bunting on innovation and authenticity

“There is no newsroom innovation without employing digital tools to create pathways for two-way conversations between those reporting the news and those consuming it,” said ONA CEO and Executive Director, LaSharah S. Bunting on a recent episode of the News Literacy Project’s podcast, Is That a Fact?

During the episode, LaSharah also discussed the role digital innovation plays in helping newsrooms create deeper connections with audiences, demystifying the reporting experience and the importance of understanding the needs of the communities newsrooms are serving. Listen to the full episode: The future of newsrooms: Innovation and authenticity.

Act fast! Award submissions are closing

The deadline for entries to the 2023 Online Journalism Awards (OJAs) is this Thursday, May 25, at 11:59 pm EDT (03:59 am UTC).

The OJAs are the only comprehensive set of journalism prizes honoring excellence in digital journalism around the world. Don’t miss the chance to join the competition in more than 20 categories.

Want to be a part of the review process? Apply to be a volunteer screener.

ICYMI: Resources against misinformation

How have journalists been able to effectively build trust with their audiences? Have there been any lessons learned about misinformation and disinformation through pandemic-related coverage?

We addressed these questions in a recent virtual event featuring experts in journalism and community engagement, consumer behavior and global public health communications.

Explore resources for fighting misinformation that we curated from the conversation, including a recorded panel discussion, relevant research and tools. ONA thanks 3M for its support of this series

On the calendar

May 25: Online Journalism Awards entries Deadline!
May 25: OJA screener applications Deadline!
May 31: Deadline: COVID-19 Misinformation Playbook suggestions
June 13: ONA Spain: Artificial intelligence and journalism (Virtual)
June 29: ONA23 Scholarship applications
July 18: Newsletter meetup: Audience engagement strategies for newsletters (New York City)
Aug. 23–26: ONA23: Philadelphia
Aug. 26: 2023 Online Journalism Awards Ceremony and Banquet
Sept. 28–29: ONA23: Onward (Virtual)

Career opportunities

ONA’s Career Center is an excellent resource for jobs, fellowships and internships in digital journalism. Recent postings include:

Audience Manager, The Forward
Assistant Editor, Sojourners Magazine
HBCU Student Reporting Fellow, Open Campus
News Standards and Best Practices Editor, U.S. Agency for Global Media / Voice of America
Social Media and Engagement Editor (Temporary), Global Investigative Journalism Network
Special Projects Editor, WHYY
Director of the Center for Culture and Inclusion in Media, Arizona State University
News & Politics Writer, Texas Monthly

On our radar

Misinformation, media retractions and evolution of social media editors – what does recent research say?, Anna Sofia Lippolis for The Fix
Journalism’s essential value, A.G. Sulzberger for Columbia Journalism Review
What happened to journalism’s racial reckoning?, Anissa Durham for Word in Black
News executive leadership transition guide, Amy L. Kovac-Ashley
To build trust in the age of AI, journalists need new standards and disclosures, Christina Veiga for Poynter

Directory spotlight

The Tiffany Shackelford Foundation

The Tiffany Shackelford Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to opening more pathways in the media business for women and underrepresented groups.

Dozens of technology companies, foundations, consultants and journalism organizations contribute to ONA’s mission throughout the year. Explore our Industry Directory to discover new tools and potential partners, or learn how to get listed.

Support ONA

There are many ways to help sustain ONA’s mission to inspire and support innovation in digital journalism.

Share your ONA story
Join as an ONA member
Make a one-time donation
Explore options to reach the ONA community about your event, product, job opening or other opportunity
Invest in ONA programs: Contact Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer Jessica Strelitz, jessica@journalists.org, to learn about philanthropic and corporate support.