ONA26 will be hosted March 30 – April 1 in Chicago. This annual event sits at the intersection of tech and media, convening digital innovators and newsroom leaders to advance journalism.
ONA’s annual conference attendees are a diverse professional community, including audience and analytics experts; news product, strategy and business executives and entrepreneurs; and editors, reporters and broadcasters.
Attendees come to ONA for essential conversations about and hands-on training with emerging technology, interactive learning and problem-solving, high-level summits and focused career development workshops. Attendees leave with actionable insights and invaluable connections to drive journalism forward.
ONA26 offers many opportunities to connect with a diverse group of attendees that includes funders, executives, technologists and journalism innovators:
- Access to attendee profiles and the ability to connect with attendees through the conference app and in-person
- Being a part of the essential conversations, learning and solutions
- Contributing to the agenda through programming and events
- Clear, focused networking times and options
The Online News Association relies on proceeds from the conference to carry out our mission to inspire and support innovation and excellence in journalism. It’s the primary fundraiser that allows us to provide accessible learning, training and networking opportunities year-round.
While the ONA26 prospectus will be ready in November 2025, schedule a conversation at any time to discuss available opportunities! Email Hanaa Rifaey, Head of Strategic Partnerships, at hanaa@journalists.org, for details.
General Overview
- 80%+ employed in the journalism space (12% in related technology/tools; 8% academic)
→ 18% reported being the primary decision maker in purchasing decisions, and 64% reported having high or medium influence
→ 31% were in senior management positions (Director, Executive, C-Suite)
- 89% visited exhibit areas and lounge spaces
- 82% reported that they will definitely or very likely attend ONA25
*Data based on ONA24 attendees
Newsrooms Represented
- Digital Only: 28%
- Magazine: 5%
- Multiplatform: 27%
- Newspaper: 14%
- Podcast: 7%
- Radio: 6%
- Television: 8%
- Video: 8%
- Wire Service: 3%
- Digital Only: 28%
- Magazine: 5%
- Multiplatform: 27%
- Newspaper: 14%
- Podcast: 7%
- Radio: 6%
- Television: 8%
- Video: 8%
- Wire Service: 3%
Top 10 types of exhibitors/sponsors attendees requested for future events*
- Analytics tools
- Newsletter platforms and tools
- Project management and workflow tools
- Social media platforms and management tools
- Data journalism and visualization tools
*Data based on ONA24 attendees
- Content management systems
- Audio, video, and/or immersive storytelling production tools and equipment
- Communication and collaboration tools
- Journalism schools and fellowship opportunities
- Large language models and related technologies
Notes:
- ONA will share several updated attendee lists in advance of the meeting with confirmed sponsors and exhibitors. This information will include name, title, affiliation and LinkedIn URL (if shared); this information will not include email addresses or phone numbers.
- ONA will ask for permission to share attendee information for all RSVP-only events. RSVP lists will include email addresses.
- ONA cannot target individual attendees as part of attendee outreach related to any sponsor packages, including RSVP-only events.
- Limited sponsor/exhibitor storage is available at the Hilton Chicago on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Discounted conference passes, designed for staff needed in exhibiting spaces, are available for $300/each. Limit 2 per sponsor group. All staff in the exhibiting space must have an ONA26 pass.
- The option to provide coffee to ONA26 attendees in exhibiting spaces is limited exclusively to the ONA26 official coffee sponsor. This restriction does not apply to private sponsor lounges in assigned rooms outside of the common networking areas.