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Sun, Mar 29
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Sunday, March 29, 2026
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
CT
Early Badge Pickup
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
CT
Early Badge Pickup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Kickoff Mixer
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Kickoff Mixer
Location: Offsite
Hosted by
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
CT
Help Desk & App Support
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
CT
Help Desk & App Support
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
Monday, March 30, 2026
7:30 AM - 6:30 PM
CT
Help Desk & App Support
7:30 AM - 6:30 PM
CT
Help Desk & App Support
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
7:30 AM - 6:30 PM
CT
Registration
7:30 AM - 6:30 PM
CT
Registration
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
CT
First-Timer's Orientation
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
CT
First-Timer's Orientation
Location: Salon C5-6 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Erin McGregor (she/her/hers)
– Online News Association
Speaker:
Meghan Murphy (she/her/hers)
– Online News Association
Adaptive Leadership
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
CT
Visit the Midway!
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
CT
Visit the Midway!
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Safety Through Solidarity: Chicago’s Approach to High-Risk Reporting
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Safety Through Solidarity: Chicago’s Approach to High-Risk Reporting
Location: Salon A1 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Maira Khwaja
– Invisible Institute
Speaker:
Tonia Hill
– The Triibe
Speaker:
April Alonso (she/her/hers)
– Cicero Independiente
Moderator:
Lolly Bowean
Reporting and Editing
Brought to you by
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Making AI Real: What Leaders Need to Know Before Scaling
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Making AI Real: What Leaders Need to Know Before Scaling
Location: Salon A2 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Paul J. Cifarelli (he/him/his)
– Reuters
Speaker:
Arlyn Gajilan
– Reuters
Speaker:
Jonathan Leff (he/him/his)
– Reuters
Speaker:
Andy Sullivan
– Reuters
Brought to you by
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
From Grassroots to Fandom: How Hyper-Engaged Audiences and AI Are Reshaping Political Journalism
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
From Grassroots to Fandom: How Hyper-Engaged Audiences and AI Are Reshaping Political Journalism
Location: Salon A3 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Jonathan Franklin (he/him/his)
– Freelance/Georgetown University
Speaker:
Kirstin Garriss (she/her/hers)
– URL Collective Inc
Speaker:
Beatrice Elizabeth Peterson (she/her/hers)
– ABC News
Speaker:
Brandon Pope (he/him/his)
– Independent
Reporting and Editing
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Lock It Down! – Device Safety for Working on the Ground
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Lock It Down! – Device Safety for Working on the Ground
Location: Salon A4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Abigail LP (they/them/theirs)
– Freedom of the Press Foundation
Reporting and Editing
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Finding the "We" – Why and How to Integrate News Creator Strategies into Your Newsroom
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Finding the "We" – Why and How to Integrate News Creator Strategies into Your Newsroom
Location: Salon A5 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Jeremy D. Gilbert
– Northwestern Medill
Speaker:
Ryan Y. Kellett (he/him/his)
– The Independent Journalism Atlas
Speaker:
Liz Kelly Nelson (she/her/hers)
– Project C
Speaker:
Kate Skelly
– Reuters
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
AI for the Newsroom: A Hands-on Guide to NotebookLM & Pinpoint
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
AI for the Newsroom: A Hands-on Guide to NotebookLM & Pinpoint
Location: Salon C3-4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Iain Christie (he/him/his)
– Google News Initiative
Technology and Product
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
The ONA26 Braver Angels Debate: Too Much News?
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
The ONA26 Braver Angels Debate: Too Much News?
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Sam Rechek
– Braver Angels
Adaptive Leadership
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
CT
Service Desk: Free 30-Minute Advisory Sessions
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
CT
Service Desk: Free 30-Minute Advisory Sessions
Location: Grand Tradition (Lobby Level)
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Bringing Readers Back: Real-World Tactics for Combating News Fatigue
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Bringing Readers Back: Real-World Tactics for Combating News Fatigue
Location: Salon A1 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Jennifer Kho (she/her/hers)
– Independent
Speaker:
Angela Pacienza
– The Globe and Mail
Audience Engagement
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Research Group: Supporting Emerging Informers
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Research Group: Supporting Emerging Informers
Location: Salon C1-2 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Amy Mitchell (she/her/hers)
– Center for News, Technology & Innovation
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Early Career Journalists Meetup
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Early Career Journalists Meetup
Location: Salon C Alley (Lower Level)
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
News Product Meetup
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
News Product Meetup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
Technology and Product
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Strategies to Engage Immigrant and Non-English Speaking Communities
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Strategies to Engage Immigrant and Non-English Speaking Communities
Location: Salon A3 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Hillary Flores
– Borderless Magazine
Speaker:
Nissa Rhee
– Borderless Magazine
Reporting and Editing
Audience Engagement
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Methods of Field-Based OSINT-Driven Investigative Journalism
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Methods of Field-Based OSINT-Driven Investigative Journalism
Location: Salon A4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Yousur Al-Hlou
– Freelance, Nieman Foundation at Harvard
Speaker:
Masha Froliak
– freelance
Reporting and Editing
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
AI and Leadership: Practical Takeaways on the Ups and Downs of Navigating Change
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
AI and Leadership: Practical Takeaways on the Ups and Downs of Navigating Change
Location: Salon A5 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Tess Jeffers (she/her/hers)
– The Wall Street Journal
Speaker:
Jonathan Leff (he/him/his)
– Reuters
Speaker:
Ryan Struyk (he/him/his)
– CNN
Speaker:
Giovanny Vega (he/him/his)
– El Vocero de Puerto Rico
Adaptive Leadership
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Reddit for News* *but Were Afraid To Ask
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Reddit for News* *but Were Afraid To Ask
Location: Salon C3-4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Gabriel Z. Sands (he/him/his)
– reddit
Reporting and Editing
Brought to you by
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Insights and Solutions: How Newsrooms Can Reach Young Audiences
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Insights and Solutions: How Newsrooms Can Reach Young Audiences
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Sofia Bliss- Carrascosa (she/her/hers)
– Knight Foundation
Speaker:
Rahim Jessani (he/him/his)
– Bottom Up Media
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Community Journalists Meetup
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Community Journalists Meetup
Location: Salon C Alley (Lower Level)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Visual Journalists Meetup
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Visual Journalists Meetup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Civic Journalism Engages Communities, Informs Audiences, and Empowers Action
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Civic Journalism Engages Communities, Informs Audiences, and Empowers Action
Location: Salon A1 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Vanessa Maria Graber (she/her/hers)
– Free Press
Speaker:
Qing Saville (they/them/theirs)
– Free Press
Adaptive Leadership
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Scaling Small: What We’ve Learned from 27 AI Projects in Local News
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Scaling Small: What We’ve Learned from 27 AI Projects in Local News
Location: Salon A2 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Liam Andrew
– American Journalism Project
Speaker:
Matthew DeFour (he/him/his)
– Wisconsin Watch
Speaker:
Eve Lacivita (she/her/hers)
– City Bureau/Documenters
Speaker:
Cynthia Tu (she/her/hers)
– Sahan Journal
Technology and Product
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
The Creator Journalism Playbook 2026: What’s Working? What Can We Borrow?
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
The Creator Journalism Playbook 2026: What’s Working? What Can We Borrow?
Location: Salon A5 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Liz Kelly Nelson (she/her/hers)
– Project C
Speaker:
Matt A. Brown
– Extra Points
Speaker:
Rahim Jessani (he/him/his)
– Bottom Up Media
Moderator:
Adriana Lacy (she/her/hers)
– Field Nine Group
Speaker:
Amber Sherman (she/her/hers)
– Freelance
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
Brought to you by
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
What Matters: Measuring What Moves Your Newsroom Forward
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
What Matters: Measuring What Moves Your Newsroom Forward
Location: Salon A3 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Abbey Gingras (she/her/hers)
– News Revenue Hub
Speaker:
Sophie Ho (she/her/hers)
– News Revenue Hub
Adaptive Leadership
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
6 Questions To Ask Before Your Team Starts A Podcast
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
6 Questions To Ask Before Your Team Starts A Podcast
Location: Salon A4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Shawn C. Allee (he/him/his)
– Wolf Point Media
Speaker:
Erin Allen (she/her/hers)
– Chicago Public Media & Wolf Point Media
Speaker:
Alyssa Edes (she/her/hers)
– Wolf Point Media
Speaker:
Jessica Pupovac (she/her/hers)
– Wolf Point Media
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Steal This: AI Projects Newsrooms Actually Shipped and How They Got It Over the Line
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Steal This: AI Projects Newsrooms Actually Shipped and How They Got It Over the Line
Location: Salon C3-4 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Emily Brown (she/her/hers)
– Microsoft
Speaker:
Aaron Brezel (he/him/his)
– ProPublica
Speaker:
Tristan Loper
– The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
Speaker:
Aron Pilhofer
– Chicago Public Media
Technology and Product
Brought to you by
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
How To Talk to Funders
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
How To Talk to Funders
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Megan Griffith-Greene (she/her/hers)
– The Poynter Institute
Speaker:
Jake J. Hylton (he/him/his)
– LOOKOUT News
Speaker:
Nina Sachdev (she/her/hers)
– Media Impact Funders
Revenue and Operations
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
CT
Journalists of Color Meetup
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
CT
Journalists of Color Meetup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
CT
From Principles to Practice: Building Open Publishing Platforms for Responsible AI Adoption (By invite only)
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
CT
From Principles to Practice: Building Open Publishing Platforms for Responsible AI Adoption (By invite only)
Location: Salon C5-6 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Alan Smodic
– WordPress VIP
Speaker:
Tyson Evans
– ProPublica
Technology and Product
Luncheon brought to you by
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Hard-Won Lessons: Global Reporters on Journalism Under Autocracy
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Hard-Won Lessons: Global Reporters on Journalism Under Autocracy
Location: Salon A1 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Dana Coester (she/her/hers)
– 100 Days in Appalachia
Speaker:
Jin Ding
– Hybrid Media Stack
Speaker:
Mohamed Mandour (he/him/his)
– Committee to Protect Journalists
Speaker:
Jeje Mohamed (she/her/hers)
– Aegis Safety Alliance
Adaptive Leadership
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Founders and Entrepreneurs Meetup
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Founders and Entrepreneurs Meetup
Location: Salon C Alley (Lower Level)
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
Adaptive Leadership
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Freelancers Meetup
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Freelancers Meetup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Empowering Better Business Decisions with AI & Data
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Empowering Better Business Decisions with AI & Data
Location: Salon A2 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Mariah Craddick (she/her/hers)
– The Atlantic
Speaker:
Nick Hagar (they/them/theirs)
– Knight Lab
Speaker:
Jim Kirk
– Crain's Chicago Business
Speaker:
Abby Reimer (she/her/hers)
– Founding Partner
Revenue and Operations
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Building Blocks of Leadership
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Building Blocks of Leadership
Location: Salon A3 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Tara Puckey (she/her/hers)
– Radio Television Digital News Association
Adaptive Leadership
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Human in the Scoop: AI for Investigative Journalism
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Human in the Scoop: AI for Investigative Journalism
Location: Salon A5 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Rubina Fillion (she/her/hers)
– The New York Times
Speaker:
Garance Burke (she/her/hers)
– The Associated Press
Speaker:
Dylan Freedman
– The New York Times
Speaker:
Sisi Wei (she/her/hers)
– CalMatters & The Markup
Reporting and Editing
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Chicago in Focus: Building Bridges With Independent Voices
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Chicago in Focus: Building Bridges With Independent Voices
Location: Salon C3-4 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Justin Banks
– Independent Journalism Atlas
Speaker:
Tracy Baim (she/her/hers)
– Press Forward Chicago
Speaker:
Kimbriell Kelly
– Chicago Public Media
Speaker:
Natalia Pérez-Gonzalez (she/her/hers)
– beehiiv
Speaker:
Mackenzie Warren (he/him/his)
– Northwestern Medill
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Don't Quit Your Day Job (Yet): How To Sustain a Side Hustle — and Still Have a Life!
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Don't Quit Your Day Job (Yet): How To Sustain a Side Hustle — and Still Have a Life!
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Shelby Blackley (she/her/hers)
– WTF is SEO?
Speaker:
Jessie Willms (she/her/hers)
– WTF is SEO?
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
Audience Engagement
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
CT
Opening Remarks + Featured Presentation: Defunded, Not Defeated: Reimagining the Public Media Model
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
CT
Opening Remarks + Featured Presentation: Defunded, Not Defeated: Reimagining the Public Media Model
Location: Grand Ballroom (2nd Level)
Moderator:
Ashley Alvarado (she/her/hers)
– Texas Public Radio
Speaker:
Thomas Evans (he/him/his)
– National Public Radio
Speaker:
Tim Isgitt (he/him/his)
– Public Media Company
Speaker:
Kimbriell Kelly
– Chicago Public Media
Revenue and Operations
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Welcome Reception
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Welcome Reception
Location: Normandie Lounge (2nd Level)
Hosted by
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
7:45 AM - 3:00 PM
CT
Registration
7:45 AM - 3:00 PM
CT
Registration
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
7:45 AM - 5:00 PM
CT
Help Desk & App Support
7:45 AM - 5:00 PM
CT
Help Desk & App Support
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Interactive Holistic Safety Training Workshop: Part 1 (RSVP)
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Interactive Holistic Safety Training Workshop: Part 1 (RSVP)
Location: Salon C5-6 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Tat Bellamy-Walker (they/them/theirs)
– International Women’s Media Foundation
Speaker:
Jeff Belzil (he/him/his)
– International Women Media Foundation
Speaker:
Christina Piaia
– ProJourn/Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Adaptive Leadership
Brought to you by
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
CT
Visit the Midway!
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
CT
Visit the Midway!
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Table Talks
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Table Talks
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
More AI Tools That Won't Get You Fired
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
More AI Tools That Won't Get You Fired
Location: Salon A1 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Mike Reilley (he/him/his)
– University of Illinois Chicago
Technology and Product
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Getting Your New Project off the Ground: An Interactive Workshop
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Getting Your New Project off the Ground: An Interactive Workshop
Location: Salon A5 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Doug Mitchell (he/him/his)
– Next Gen Journalism
Speaker:
Ryan Y. Kellett (he/him/his)
– The Independent Journalism Atlas
Speaker:
Kathy Lu
– Online News Association
Speaker:
Katherine Reynolds Lewis (she/her/hers)
– The Institute for Independent Journalists
Speaker:
Jodi Rave (she/her/hers)
– Buffalo's Fire
Speaker:
Elaine Díaz Rodríguez
– Tiny News Collective
Adaptive Leadership
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Making Vertical Video: A Hands-On Workshop (By Application)
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Making Vertical Video: A Hands-On Workshop (By Application)
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Micah Gelman (he/him/his)
– LNI Media
Speaker:
Dave Jorgenson (he/him/his)
– LNI Media
Speaker:
Lauren Saks (she/her/hers)
– LNI Media
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
Brought to you by
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Tackle Your Toughest Challenge with MTC @ ONA (By Application)
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Tackle Your Toughest Challenge with MTC @ ONA (By Application)
Location: Salon A4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Benjamin Wagner (he/him/his)
– Media Transformation Challenge
Speaker:
Fran Scarlett
– Media Transformation Challenge
Adaptive Leadership
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Revenue & Growth Office Hours: Drop-In Advisory Session on Funding Your Next Product, Event or Audience Initiative
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Revenue & Growth Office Hours: Drop-In Advisory Session on Funding Your Next Product, Event or Audience Initiative
Location: Grand Tradition (Lobby Level)
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Traveling Safely in Uncertain Times
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Traveling Safely in Uncertain Times
Location: Salon A3 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Abigail LP (they/them/theirs)
– Freedom of the Press Foundation
Speaker:
Jeje Mohamed (she/her/hers)
– Aegis Safety Alliance
Speaker:
Luisa Ortiz Pérez (she/her/hers)
– Vita-Activa.Org
Speaker:
Viktorya Vilk (she/her/hers)
– PEN America
Adaptive Leadership
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Reddit for News* *but Were Afraid To Ask (Encore Presentation)
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Reddit for News* *but Were Afraid To Ask (Encore Presentation)
Location: Salon C3-4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Gabriel Z. Sands (he/him/his)
– reddit
Reporting and Editing
Brought to you by
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Creators Got Next: Pitching Yourself to Newsrooms
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
CT
Creators Got Next: Pitching Yourself to Newsrooms
Location: Salon C1-2 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Amber Sherman (she/her/hers)
– Freelance
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
Brought to you by
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CT
Featured Presentation: How Journalism Can Model Curiosity, Confront Bias and Reduce Polarization
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CT
Featured Presentation: How Journalism Can Model Curiosity, Confront Bias and Reduce Polarization
Location: Grand Ballroom (2nd Level)
Moderator:
Joy Mayer (she/her/hers)
– Trusting News
Speaker:
Mónica Guzmán (she/her/hers)
– Reclaim Curiosity
Reporting and Editing
Audience Engagement
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
CT
LGBTQ+ Journalists Meetup
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
CT
LGBTQ+ Journalists Meetup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
CT
The Business of Creator Journalism: How Do I Make Money?
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
CT
The Business of Creator Journalism: How Do I Make Money?
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Francis Zierer (he/him/his)
– Creator Spotlight
Speaker:
Matt A. Brown
– Extra Points
Speaker:
Sky Dylan-Robbins (she/her/hers)
– The Video Consortium
Speaker:
Matt Kiser
– What the Fuck Just Happened Today?
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
Brought to you by
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
CT
Leading Through Crisis: Newsroom Resilience When It Matters Most (RSVP)
1:15 PM - 2:15 PM
CT
Leading Through Crisis: Newsroom Resilience When It Matters Most (RSVP)
Location: Salon C5-6 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Liliana Velázquez
– John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Speaker:
Erika Carlos (she/her/hers)
– El Tecolote
Speaker:
Laura Lee (she/her/hers)
– NC Local
Speaker:
Jen Sabella
– Block Club Chicago
Adaptive Leadership
Brought to you by
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
CT
Expert Voices Together: Free 15-Minute Psychosocial Micro-Support
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
CT
Expert Voices Together: Free 15-Minute Psychosocial Micro-Support
Location: Grand Tradition (Lobby Level)
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Friends & Neighbors Documentary Screening
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Friends & Neighbors Documentary Screening
Location: Salon A4 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Benjamin Wagner (he/him/his)
– Media Transformation Challenge
Moderator:
Angela Pacienza
– The Globe and Mail
Adaptive Leadership
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Beyond the Hype: A Blueprint for Operationalizing AI Governance in Your Newsroom
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Beyond the Hype: A Blueprint for Operationalizing AI Governance in Your Newsroom
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Alex Mahadevan
– Poynter Institute
Speaker:
Kristyn Wellesley (she/her/hers)
– MediaNews Group | Tribune Publishing
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Working Session: Building a Creator Journalism Code of Ethics
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Working Session: Building a Creator Journalism Code of Ethics
Location: Salon C1-2 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Mollie J. Muchna (she/her/hers)
– Trusting News
Moderator:
Ryan Y. Kellett (he/him/his)
– The Independent Journalism Atlas
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
Brought to you by
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Spanish Speakers Meetup
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Spanish Speakers Meetup
Location: Salon C Alley (Lower Level)
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Drive Engagement and Action with Community-Led Journalism
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Drive Engagement and Action with Community-Led Journalism
Location: Salon A1 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Meghan Goth (she/her/hers)
– LINK Media
Audience Engagement
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Reading the Signals. How AI Is Reshaping Media in 2026
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Reading the Signals. How AI Is Reshaping Media in 2026
Location: Salon A2 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Nikita Roy (she/her/hers)
– Newsroom Robots Lab
Technology and Product
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Preserving the Past, Securing the Future: Strategies for Newsroom Archives in the Digital Era
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Preserving the Past, Securing the Future: Strategies for Newsroom Archives in the Digital Era
Location: Salon A3 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Justine Tobiasz
– Chicago Public Media
Speaker:
Allison Schein, MLIS, CA
– The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Technology and Product
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Building Resilient Newsrooms Without a Safety Net: Lessons from Exile, Immigrant, and Startup Media
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Building Resilient Newsrooms Without a Safety Net: Lessons from Exile, Immigrant, and Startup Media
Location: Salon A5 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Faisal Karimi (he/him/his)
– Nowruz Media
Adaptive Leadership
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
How KQED and The Dallas Morning News Are Winning on Reddit – and How You Can, Too
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
How KQED and The Dallas Morning News Are Winning on Reddit – and How You Can, Too
Location: Salon C3-4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Jasmine Garnett
– KQED
Speaker:
Siali Siaosi
– The Dallas Morning News
Reporting and Editing
Brought to you by
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Educators Meetup
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
CT
Educators Meetup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Case Studies: Newsroom Creator Strategies
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Case Studies: Newsroom Creator Strategies
Location: Salon C1-2 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Liz Kelly Nelson (she/her/hers)
– Project C
Speaker:
Sara K. Goo (she/her/hers)
– The Washington Post
Speaker:
Adrienne Johnson Martin (she/her/hers)
– MLK50
Speaker:
Devin C. Smith (she/her/hers)
– The Wall Street Journal
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
Brought to you by
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Build Your Fundraising Muscle: Stop Planning, Start Asking
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Build Your Fundraising Muscle: Stop Planning, Start Asking
Location: Salon A1 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Candice Fortman (she/her/hers)
– Blue Engine Collaborative
Speaker:
Dustin Block (he/him/his)
– BlueLena
Speaker:
Kimberly Griffin (she/her/hers)
– Self
Revenue and Operations
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Innovative Approaches to Community-Informed Reporting
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Innovative Approaches to Community-Informed Reporting
Location: Salon A3 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Michelle Levander (she/her/hers)
– USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism
Speaker:
Teena Apeles (she/her/hers)
– USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism
Speaker:
Genoa Barrow (she/her/hers)
– Sacramento Observer
Speaker:
Kristen Schorsch (she/her/hers)
– WBEZ Chicago
Audience Engagement
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Legal Panel: Thinking Like A (Newsroom) Lawyer
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Legal Panel: Thinking Like A (Newsroom) Lawyer
Location: Salon A4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Alison Schary (she/her/hers)
– Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Speaker:
Lyndsey Wajert (she/her/hers)
– Dentons US
Adaptive Leadership
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Getting Comfy on Video 101
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Getting Comfy on Video 101
Location: Salon A5 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Sky Dylan-Robbins (she/her/hers)
– The Video Consortium
Speaker:
Casey Mendoza (she/her/hers)
– Encyclopædia Britannica
Speaker:
Katrina Pham (she/her/hers)
– Borderless Magazine
Speaker:
Chris Vazquez (he/him/his)
– Freelance
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Creating Your Test Kitchen: Small-Batch Innovation for Newsroom Leaders
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Creating Your Test Kitchen: Small-Batch Innovation for Newsroom Leaders
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Jake J. Hylton (he/him/his)
– LOOKOUT News
Adaptive Leadership
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
In Conversation: NBC News, the Associated Press, USA Today, and Reddit’s News Partnerships Lead
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
In Conversation: NBC News, the Associated Press, USA Today, and Reddit’s News Partnerships Lead
Location: Salon C3-4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Geet Jeswani (he/him/his)
– NBC News
Speaker:
Nikol Mudrova (she/her/hers)
– USA TODAY
Speaker:
Sophie Rosenbaum (she/her/hers)
– The Associated Press
Reporting and Editing
Brought to you by
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Science and Climate Journalists Meetup
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
Science and Climate Journalists Meetup
Location: Salon C Alley (Lower Level)
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
ONA AI Innovator Collaborative IRL + AI Professionals Meetup
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
CT
ONA AI Innovator Collaborative IRL + AI Professionals Meetup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
Technology and Product
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
CT
Everything Dope Comes From Here: A South Side Chicago Tour
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
CT
Everything Dope Comes From Here: A South Side Chicago Tour
Hosted by
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
CT
CatchLight Live: Seeing What Matters
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
CT
CatchLight Live: Seeing What Matters
Location: Offsite
Hosted By
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
8:30 AM - 11:45 AM
CT
Help Desk & App Support
8:30 AM - 11:45 AM
CT
Help Desk & App Support
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
8:30 AM - 11:45 AM
CT
Registation
8:30 AM - 11:45 AM
CT
Registation
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
CT
Featured Session: In Conversation: Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson and WBEZ’s Sasha-Ann Simons
8:45 AM - 9:15 AM
CT
Featured Session: In Conversation: Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson and WBEZ’s Sasha-Ann Simons
Location: Grand Ballroom (2nd Level)
Moderator:
Sasha-Ann Simons
– WBEZ Chicago
Speaker:
Brandon Johnson
Adaptive Leadership
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Featured Presentation: Defending the First Amendment: The Future of Press Freedom
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM
CT
Featured Presentation: Defending the First Amendment: The Future of Press Freedom
Location: Grand Ballroom (2nd Level)
Moderator:
Sasha-Ann Simons
– WBEZ Chicago
Speaker:
Karen Attiah
– Resistance Studies Series
Speaker:
Versha Sharma (she/her/hers)
– Self-employed
Speaker:
Gunita Singh
– Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Speaker:
Nick Valencia
Adaptive Leadership
10:15 AM - 1:00 PM
CT
Interactive Holistic Safety Training Workshop: Part 2 (RSVP)
10:15 AM - 1:00 PM
CT
Interactive Holistic Safety Training Workshop: Part 2 (RSVP)
Location: Salon C5-6 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Tat Bellamy-Walker (they/them/theirs)
– International Women’s Media Foundation
Speaker:
Jeff Belzil (he/him/his)
– International Women Media Foundation
Speaker:
Luisa Ortiz Pérez (she/her/hers)
– Vita-Activa.Org
Adaptive Leadership
Brought to you by
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Projecting Stability When Everything Is Changing: A Session for CEOs on Funding, Leadership and Getting Shit Done
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Projecting Stability When Everything Is Changing: A Session for CEOs on Funding, Leadership and Getting Shit Done
Location: Boulevard BC (2nd Level)
Speaker:
S. Mitra Kalita (she/her/hers)
– URL Media | Epicenter-NYC
Adaptive Leadership
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Beyond the Follower Count: Funding Your Independent Platform Through Journalism Philanthropy
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Beyond the Follower Count: Funding Your Independent Platform Through Journalism Philanthropy
Location: Salon C1-2 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Nick Swyter
– The New York Times
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
AI and Criminalization
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
AI and Criminalization
Location: Salon A2 (Lower Level)
Moderator:
Hannah Riley Fernandez (she/her/hers)
– The Center for Just Journalism
Speaker:
Jamiles Lartey
– The Marshall Project
Speaker:
Ed Vogel
– Truthout
Reporting and Editing
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Are Immigrants Not Engaging With Your News? Try Listening to Them First
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Are Immigrants Not Engaging With Your News? Try Listening to Them First
Location: Salon A5 (Lower Level)
Presenter:
María Arce (she/her/hers)
– Documented
Presenter:
Nicolás Ríos
– Documented NY
Audience Engagement
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Reimagining News for Next Generation Audiences: A Flash Workshop
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Reimagining News for Next Generation Audiences: A Flash Workshop
Location: Salon A1 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Ashirwaad Badami (he/him/his)
– Knight Lab
Speaker:
Joe Germuska (he/him/his)
– Knight Lab
Audience Engagement
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Audience Engagement Professionals Meetup
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Audience Engagement Professionals Meetup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
Audience Engagement
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Midwestern Journalists Meetup
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
Midwestern Journalists Meetup
Location: Salon C Alley (Lower Level)
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 1: CapCut for Community Storytelling: Workflows, Captions & Sounds That Actually Work
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 1: CapCut for Community Storytelling: Workflows, Captions & Sounds That Actually Work
Location: Salon A3 (Lower Level)
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 2: Braver Angels Debate Pt. 2: Should We Do More to Reach Red Audiences?
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 2: Braver Angels Debate Pt. 2: Should We Do More to Reach Red Audiences?
Location: Salon A4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Sam Rechek
– Braver Angels
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 3: Newsroom Gripes and How To Fix Them
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 3: Newsroom Gripes and How To Fix Them
Location: Salon C3-4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Shelby Blackley (she/her/hers)
– WTF is SEO?
Speaker:
Jessie Willms (she/her/hers)
– WTF is SEO?
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 4: Cut the Algorithm: Why Your Newsroom Should Run Its Own Social Server
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 4: Cut the Algorithm: Why Your Newsroom Should Run Its Own Social Server
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CT
ONA26 Office Hours: One-on-Ones With Mentor/Coaches
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
CT
ONA26 Office Hours: One-on-Ones With Mentor/Coaches
Location: Grand Tradition (Lobby Level)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Understanding Audiences and Algorithms in 2026: An Overview in the Age of AI
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Understanding Audiences and Algorithms in 2026: An Overview in the Age of AI
Location: Salon A1 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Clara Soteras (she/her/hers)
– Clara Soteras
Audience Engagement
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Outside the Bubble and Beyond the Ideological Binary: Strategies and Best Practices for Building Trust
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Outside the Bubble and Beyond the Ideological Binary: Strategies and Best Practices for Building Trust
Location: Salon A2 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Mónica Guzmán (she/her/hers)
– Reclaim Curiosity
Speaker:
Joy Mayer (she/her/hers)
– Trusting News
Reporting and Editing
Audience Engagement
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Stop Starting From Scratch: Shared Data for Local Criminal Justice Reporting
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Stop Starting From Scratch: Shared Data for Local Criminal Justice Reporting
Location: Salon A5 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Ghazala Irshad (she/her/hers)
– The Marshall Project
Speaker:
Ava Sasani
– The Trace
Adaptive Leadership
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Broadcasters Meetup
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Broadcasters Meetup
Location: Salon D (Lower Level)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Creator Journalists Meetup
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Creator Journalists Meetup
Location: Salon C Alley (Lower Level)
Entrepreneurship and Creator Journalism
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Stepping Down to Allow Others to Step Up
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
Stepping Down to Allow Others to Step Up
Location: Boulevard BC (2nd Level)
Moderator:
Sara Lomax (she/her/hers)
– URL Media | WURD Radio
Speaker:
Candice Fortman (she/her/hers)
– Blue Engine Collaborative
Speaker:
Garry Pierre-Pierre (he/him/his)
– URL Media
Speaker:
Charles Sennott (he/him/his)
– GroundTruth
Adaptive Leadership
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 5: Maintaining High Standards When Your Newsroom Is Strapped: Conversations To Learn How Different Newsrooms Are Using AI To Save Time Without Sacrificing Quality
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 5: Maintaining High Standards When Your Newsroom Is Strapped: Conversations To Learn How Different Newsrooms Are Using AI To Save Time Without Sacrificing Quality
Location: Salon A3 (Lower Level)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 6: Still Here, Still Leading: Why Asking for Help Matters in Journalism
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 6: Still Here, Still Leading: Why Asking for Help Matters in Journalism
Location: Salon A4 (Lower Level)
Speaker:
Luisa Ortiz Pérez (she/her/hers)
– Vita-Activa.Org
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 7: What Can A Publisher Do To Truly Be Different Than Competitors & Retain Audience?
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 7: What Can A Publisher Do To Truly Be Different Than Competitors & Retain Audience?
Location: Salon C3-4 (Lower Level)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 8: The City Hall Reporter's AI Toolkit: Sharing What Actually Works
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
CT
ONA26 Unconference - Session 8: The City Hall Reporter's AI Toolkit: Sharing What Actually Works
Location: Salon C7-8 (Lower Level)
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