Nominations Are Open for ONA's 2027-28 Board of Directors

It's that time of year again: the Online News Association is looking for its next class of board members, and nominations are officially open. Every year, ONA members elect and appoint the directors who guide the organization's strategy — and this cycle, there are three open elected seats up for grabs, including two incumbents running for re-election.

If you've been thinking about stepping into a leadership role in journalism, or you know someone who'd be a great fit, now's the time to act. Nominations close September 16.

How to Submit a Nomination

There are two paths, depending on whether you're nominating yourself or someone else:

• Run for the board yourself by completing the candidate form with your bio, your vision for journalism, and a photo. If approved for the slate, this profile is what members will see before they vote. Due Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
• Nominate a colleague who you think would make a strong board member. Both you and your nominee need to be ONA members in good standing. Also due Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Who's Eligible to Run

The Governance Committee reviews every nominee against a set of criteria before finalizing the slate:

• Membership in good standing. Both the nominee and whoever nominates them need to be current ONA members.
• Leadership in a focus area, such as emerging technology strategy, audience engagement, newsroom culture and diversity, community-serving storytelling, or sustainable revenue models.
• A contribution to a well-rounded board. The committee weighs things like demographic and geographic representation, industry experience, strategic planning chops, technology acumen, and fundraising capacity.
• Capacity to serve, including the time and resources to meet board responsibilities and familiarity with BoardSource's ten essential responsibilities of nonprofit boards.
• A track record with ONA, ideally through volunteer work on a committee, event, or initiative.

What the Role Actually Involves

ONA's board is strategic, not operational — its job is to set direction and provide oversight, not run day-to-day operations. Board members take on three legal duties: care (participating actively and exercising good judgment), loyalty(putting the organization's interests first), and obedience (ensuring ONA follows the law and stays true to its mission).

Beyond those duties, board members are expected to:

• Champion editorial independence, journalistic excellence, and freedom of expression
• Support ONA's programs — its annual conference, the Online Journalism Awards, training, and more
• Fundraise on the organization's behalf and make a personal annual gift
• Join about five board calls a year and attend two in-person meetings (typically late January and June), at their own expense
• Serve on committees, organize local events, or be willing to stand for an officer position
• Represent ONA publicly and stay familiar with its bylaws and history

Have Questions?

Here's everything you need to know about running for the board. Reach out to Governance Committee Liaison Erin McGregor at [email protected] for anything related to the nomination process. Not an ONA member yet? You'll need to join ONA before you can nominate yourself or someone else.