In 2020, ONA took the tech space at our annual conference — formerly branded as the Midway — and applied it to all companies interested in showcasing their tools, products and more to ONA’s audience; effectively combining our exhibit hall and the Midway space. The Midway features the Start-Up Alley, as well as a dedicated series of curated sessions featuring conference supporters. With ONA24, the main exhibit space onsite — Regency Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta — is called the Midway. All types of organizations are now included in the Midway, from social platforms to newsrooms seeking top talent.

• Maximizing Your Conversion Rate: Tips from LA Times, NPR and Reuters – ONA23
• The Power of Online Communities: How To Cultivate a Loyal and Engaged Audience – ONA22
• Why Real-Time Centric Analytics Failed News – ONA21
• How Crosswords and Other Puzzles Can Create More Loyal Readers (and Higher Revenue) – ONA20

Yes, absolutely! Please email Hanaa Rifaey, who manages the Midway Programming, at hanaa@journalists.org with any questions. She can have a quick conversation to talk through your ideas, but please do not plan for her to edit your proposal.

Yes! If you don’t already have a relationship with that group, please let Hanaa know if it would be helpful to have an introduction.

It is possible if it will make for better programming. As examples: ONA has merged submitted ideas for Midway programming into one session. ONA has also created collaborative sessions with other groups participating in the Midway who may not have considered participating in Midway Programming.

In recent years, it has rarely been the case that what is submitted and selected is exactly what the session looks like at the conference. ONA will work with you to refine the concept and public title/description to set your group up for the greatest potential success.

Midway Programming is not a place for sales pitches — but there is space for you to do that at your onsite exhibit space and as you connect with attendees. We also are offering special RSVP-only sessions on Wednesday, Sept. 18, specifically for organizations looking to train existing or prospective customers on new tools or systems.

We’re more interested in your idea and the kind of information you want to share than a well-crafted description meant for promotion. The more specific your idea is, the better. Check out the ONA23 schedule to get a sense of the various types of sponsored programming, including Midway sessions.

No. Please take this into consideration when considering potential speakers from your group because every speaker must have an ONA24 full or day pass to present.

This is something we would address on a case-by-case basis. If this is something you are considering, please include this in your session proposal.

With the rebranding of the Midway to include what was previously known as the ONA Exhibit Hall, it is not logistically possible to accommodate all of the participating groups.

Yes, but if selected, your group will need to have a signed agreement in place within one week of the acceptance email (by May 31) to move forward.

No, but basic A/V, including mics and screens, will be provided as part of the programming space

No.

No. All speakers participating in live Midway Programming must have a full or day pass to ONA24 and plan to be present onsite at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta on the scheduled day of their session.

Ideas don’t always translate accurately when written; a conversation allows ONA to ask for clarification or pose questions while learning more about what the group intends with their submission. This is also an opportunity for the group to ask questions of ONA. Schedule your conversation via Calendly to take place no later than May 22. If there is not a time slot that works for your time zone, please email hanaa@journalists.org to share what time zone you are in and general availability.

ONA is strongly committed to being as inclusive as possible in speaker selection and topic programming. This means supporting diversity in speaker demographics, including sex and gender, ethnicity and race, ability and disability, region and geography and professional background and experience, among other metrics. It also means balancing active versus passive session concepts, programming for people working multiple news focus areas and work roles, attracting ONA conference newcomers and making sure sessions are not dominated by a single organization.

ONA will work closely with you to develop your session. The more preparation you put in, the better the session will turn out. We estimate a minimum of four hours of prep will be needed. We will work together to flesh out your concept, develop the format, and execute the session itself.

ONA attendees are smart people who enjoy smart programming. They will figure it out if you have not fully prepared and will leave your session to find something more interesting.

ONA reserves the right to cancel your session if you do not communicate in a timely fashion, adhere to our diversity principles, submit information on a pre-discussed schedule or take part in the pre-event development process.