ONA Board Elects New President, Vice President and Secretary

The Online News Association (ONA) is proud to announce new officer appointments to its Board of Directors: Andrew Fitzgerald as President, Angela Pacienza as Vice President and Rodney Gibbs as Secretary.

The Board of Directors voted on these leadership positions during its January 12–14 meeting in Chicago. The newly elected officers begin their roles immediately, helping to guide ONA’s strategic direction and advance its mission.

Andrew Fitzgerald, President, is Senior Vice President of Streaming Video Services at Hearst Television. He previously served as ONA’s Vice President and brings extensive experience in digital media leadership, innovation, and organizational governance to his new role. “ONA has given me so much throughout my career and being a member of the Board alongside such incredible talent from all around the industry has been an enormous privilege,” said Andrew. “ONA is at this new moment, setting out with a new strategic focus under the leadership of Niketa Patel, and I'm thrilled to have the chance to try to repay in some small way the incredible gift it's been to be a member of this Board.” 

Angela Pacienza, Vice President, is Executive Editor at The Globe and Mail. She most recently served as ONA’s Secretary and is recognized for her newsroom leadership and commitment to journalistic excellence. I deeply believe in ONA’s mission, and in times like these, journalism matters more than ever,” said Angela. “I look forward to collaborating with the staff and board on initiatives that drive innovation and adaptability, ensuring our journalism community continues to thrive.”

Rodney Gibbs, Secretary, is Executive Director at Heartland Signal. In his eighth year as a board member, Rodney brings deep expertise in audience strategy, product development and local journalism sustainability. He has also served as ONA Treasurer in the past. “ONA and its members embody the best qualities of our industry: collaborative, resilient and innovative,” said Rodney. “Coming to journalism mid-career, I was immediately struck by the ONA community's generosity and openness. That's what inspired me to get involved and stay engaged.”

In addition, Ryan Kellett, Co-Founder of The Independent Journalism Atlas, will continue serving as Treasurer as he is midway through his two-year term.

Former Board President, Charo Henríquez, Deputy Washington Editor, Strategy and Operations at The New York Times, will transition to Immediate Past President. 

These leadership appointments reflect ONA’s ongoing commitment to its mission as the organization continues to support journalists and media leaders navigating a rapidly evolving industry.

“I’m so delighted to collaborate with these incredible officers as we kick off the new year,” said Niketa Patel, ONA’s Executive Director and CEO. “Each of them brings a wealth of experience from their respective professional backgrounds and from their tenure on our Board of Directors to help us fulfill our mission.”