ONA26 is shaping up to be a must-attend for creator journalists and newsrooms looking to develop direct, personal conversations and relationships with audiences. In partnership with our friends at Project C and with generous support from the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, we’re bringing together some of our community’s big thinkers on what’s coming next for creators and entrepreneurs in journalism from social video, audio, newsletters, the business model and the role of creator voices in local news ecosystems. Alongside high-level insights, you’ll get practical tips and interactive session elements to help you experiment and adapt to what’s next.
Whether you’re thinking of venturing out on your own, a newsroom looking to broaden your reach by working with creator journalists, or a creator model journalist or entrepreneur, there is a full lineup dedicated to entrepreneurial and creator tracks in the schedule. For the second year, ONA has a dedicated track just for creators and entrepreneurs. Check out some of the sessions you’ll want to be sure to add to your conference agenda:
For creator journalists:
The Creator Journalism Playbook 2026: What’s Working? What Can We Borrow?
Creator-journalists share their most effective tactics and what you need to know this year.
Moderated by Adriana Lacy (Adriana Lacy Consulting) and featuring Liz Kelly Nelson (Project C), Matt A. Brown (Extra Points), Rahim Jessani (Bottom Up Media), and Amber Sherman (Freelance).
The Business of Creator Journalism: How Do I Make Money?
Learn about the business side of independent creator journalism and findings from the recent Rise of the Creator Journalist report.
Moderated by Francis Zierer (Creator Spotlight) and featuring Matt A. Brown (Extra Points), Sky Dylan-Robbins (The Video Consortium) and Matt Kiser (What the Fuck Just Happened Today?)
Don’t Quit Your Day Job (Yet): How To Sustain a Side Hustle — and Still Have a Life!
Learn candid strategies on how to succeed at your 9-5 newsroom job while building a thriving (and profitable) side business.
Speakers include Shelby Blackley and Jessie Willms of WTF is SEO?
Creators Got Next: Pitching Yourself to Newsrooms
Creators learn to pitch themselves to news organizations for partnerships.
Featuring freelancer Amber Sherman.
Working Session: Building a Creator Journalism Code of Ethics
Learn best practices for independent creator journalism ethics and transparency — and help us co-create a code of ethics for creator journalism.
Featuring Mollie Muchna (Trusting News) and Ryan Kellett (The Independent Journalism Atlas).
For newsrooms:
Finding the “We” – Why and How to Integrate News Creator Strategies into Your Newsroom
Learn about the changing news consumption habits and actionable strategies for integrating creators into your newsroom strategy.
Speakers include Jeremy Gilbert (Northwestern Medill), Ryan Kellett (The Independent Journalism Atlas) and Liz Kelly Nelson (Project C).
Case Studies: Newsroom Creator Strategies
Hear directly from three news organizations on the front lines of collaborating with – and borrowing moves from – creators.
Speakers include Sara Goo (The Washington Post), Adrienne Johnson Martin (MLK50) and Devin C. Smith (The Wall Street Journal).
For everyone above, and anyone looking to better understand shifting audience expectations and habits around engaging with creators:
Chicago in Focus: Building Bridges With Independent Voices
Chicago’s independent media ecosystem has always been strong and it’s grown even more varied and rich with the rise of the creator ecosystem.
Moderated by Justin Banks (Independent Journalism Atlas) and featuring Tracy Baim (Press Forward Chicago), Kimbriell Kelly (Chicago Public Media), Natalia Pérez-Gonzalez (beehiiv) and Mackenzie Warren (Northwestern Medill)
5 Questions To Ask Before Your Team Starts A Podcast
Podcasting veterans talk editorial focus, budget, and production needs to help you determine whether it’s time to start a podcast.
Speakers include Shawn Allee, Erin Allen, Alyssa Edes and Jessica Pupovac of Wolf Point Media.
Making Vertical Video: A Hands on Workshop (By Application)
A hands-on workshop on building effective vertical videos for distributed platforms.
Featuring Micah Gelman, Dave Jorgenson and Lauren Saks of LNI Media.
Getting Comfy on Video 101
A collaborative conversation on the ins and outs of producing effective video in today’s journalism landscape.
Moderated by Sky Dylan-Robbins (The Video Consortium) and featuirng Casey Mendoza (Encyclopædia Britannica), Katrina Pham (Borderless Magazine) and Chris Vazquez (Freelance).
