Each year the Online News Association (ONA) convenes leaders and changemakers working at the intersection of journalism and tech for several days of learning, networking and collaboration at our annual conference. In 2025, we’re meeting in New Orleans from Sept. 10–13.
If you’ve attended an ONA conference before, you know it’s not just like any other conference. If you’re new, welcome … and get excited to join a community that has a strong grasp of the trends and challenges facing journalism along with a clear-eyed, positive energy to build solutions and evolve the industry. Attendees are an inspiring mix—bringing expertise from many roles in the industry, including editing, audience development, newsroom management, education and independent journalism. You’ll be in great company.
“What motivates me most about being part of this vibrant community is that it’s truly a hub for people who, even amid rapid change and disruption, can see opportunities to strengthen and reinforce the value that journalism brings,” explains ONA Director of Programs Meghan Murphy.
For ONA25, the program will focus on three areas that will impact every role in journalism in the next few years: AI, climate and resilience.
- Artificial intelligence: AI is revolutionizing news production, business models and audience engagement. Building on ongoing learning through the AI in Journalism Initiative, we’re designing in-person learning opportunities that address practical skills and strategies for effective and ethical adoption.
- Climate: Climate change affects every aspect of our lives and operations. While climate has been woven into past conferences, this year we’re dedicating significant space to highlight how climate considerations are for everyone, not just a specialized beat.
- Resilience: In an industry that regularly faces disruptions, we need to be intentional about building resilience. We’ll facilitate discussions on cultivating resilience in individual careers, in journalism organizations and in the communities we serve.
You’ll find these themes reflected throughout the conference, in breakout sessions across the schedule and in deep-dive workshops, networking meetups and plenary conversations. Since we host such a diverse cross-section of journalism, we’ll explore each one in the context of several areas of practice:
- Leadership, strategy and culture
- Technology and product
- Reporting and editing
- Revenue and sustainability
- Audience development
- Entrepreneurship and creator journalism
So … see you in New Orleans?
Registration is open. Learn more about conference passes, including discounts for ONA members.
Beyond the conference
ONA offers opportunities all year to learn with like-minded peers, collaborate on pressing questions and form deeper connections.