Session Formats/Types (max speakers #)

1. Best practices provide takeaways for tips and tricks for improving work (3)
2. Case studies / Under-the-Hood are deep dives illuminating projects’ successes and challenges (2)
3. Learn a skill workshops provide a hard skill to take back to newsrooms (3)
4. Masterclass is a solo talk or fireside chat with a topical expert (2)
5. Panel discussions lead a nuanced dive into a complex topic or challenge (5)
6. Research open up new information about the latest trends in news (2)
7. Solutions gathering is networked collaboration on challenges and defining solutions (2)
8. Template building is collaborative work on templates to start a project and improve workflows (2)

What are we doing to bring about change?

1. Accelerating organizations for change through a branded ONA skills-based “innovation training” tailored for five innovation training focus areas
2. Advancing diversity and inclusion in journalism through
   1. advancing women in leadership, and
   2. building equitable and inclusive organizations.
3. Building futurists and forecasting business trends for local news.

Innovative training focus areas

1. Emerging technology
   We provide insight into trends that help journalists tell stories in new formats and news executives make informed, ethical decisions for investing resources.
   
2. Audience development & metrics
   Analytics support understanding of what information is compelling, when and how individuals choose to engage and what opportunities exist for growth.
3. Leadership development
   Leadership training and professional development ensure a diverse group of change making journalists are equipped to navigate uncertainty.
   
4. Revenue & business models
   Creating and adapting business models for journalism is essential for a thriving news ecosystem.
   
5. Innovative news storytelling
   By telling stories using new tools or platforms, journalists have a variety of options to creatively engage communities.

Vision Statement

The journalism community boldly innovates to better engage and inform the public.

Mission Statement

To inspire and support innovation and excellence in digital journalism. 

Values statement

We believe technology and innovation have a powerful effect on journalism. As digital platforms and emerging technology become the primary source of news, it presents complex challenges and opportunities for journalists and the communities they serve.

• Integrity: Responsible journalism using innovative tools and platforms means the distinction between news and other information must always be clear; the original source for information should be apparent; and efforts made to verify information should be explicit.
• Inclusivity: Diversity and inclusion in all journalism roles contributes a variety of perspectives critical for empathetic storytelling, driving innovation and accessing new markets. 
• Journalistic Ethics: Journalists should maintain the highest principles of fairness, accuracy, objectivity and responsible independent reporting, as well as in distributing, sourcing, reviewing and corroborating information.
• Excellence: As journalists strive for the highest quality storytelling — no matter the medium — they should be strategic in their use of reporting tools, design techniques and distribution platforms.
• Community: Journalists should foster a vibrant, respectful, and supportive environment for the communities they serve, and for one another.
• Freedom of Expression: Journalists must be free to report the news without fear of retribution, detention or personal harm, and will advocate for unfettered access to public information and officials. They will support the public’s right to be informed and to freely express opinions about the news.