Honoring World Press Freedom Day
Press freedom is the foundation that makes journalism possible. At ONA, supporting a free press means more than recognizing its importance; it means showing up for it in concrete, sustained ways. From programming and partnerships to advocacy and community-building, our work over the past year reflects our commitment to the journalists and news organizations holding the line on independent reporting. Here's a look at what we've been part of.
Press freedom was a central theme at ONA26 in Chicago. ONA's CEO and Executive Director Niketa Patel delivered opening remarks providing an overview of programming and highlighting some of the challenges facing journalists and press freedom today. Featured sessions at the conference revolved around press freedom. The opening plenary Defunded, Not Defeated: Reimagining the Public Media Model dove into the mechanics of radical collaboration, the reality of merging legacy brands with digital startups, and the specific revenue and content innovations that ensure public media remains undefeated in a hyper-competitive landscape. Day three featured sessions included a conversation with Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson and WBEZ's Sasha-Ann Simons, which covered the First Amendment, the right to protest, and free speech and press freedom through a local Chicago lens. That session was followed by Defending the First Amendment: The Future of Press Freedom, which explored how to navigate threats to press freedom, how to support independent journalists risking attacks and arrests to hold the powerful accountable, the historical context of movement and protest coverage, and the institutional moves to silence voices showing a way forward.
ONA26 facilitated six sessions on safety, including two holistic safety trainings for journalists made possible by the International Women's Media Foundation and Ford Foundation, and built on last year's training, Safe on Assignment: Navigating Law Enforcement. ONA's annual conference builds sessions on pillars set in ONA's strategic plan, including adaptive leadership, which gives people the tools to lead through turbulence and change, driving sustainability and resilience.
In the months leading up to the conference, ICE raids on major cities across the country led to the detainment and arrests of journalists on the ground. ONA condemned the arrests of journalists covering an anti-ICE demonstration in Minnesota and stood with the Press Freedom Coalition in calling for the release of journalist Estefany Rodriguez.
We also know that press freedom is not possible without local news. ONA was a founding partner of the inaugural Local News Day, and we partnered with Rebuild Local News to bring our audiences a 2026 State Policy Playbook for Newsrooms. In November 2025, ONA joined the Rebuild Local News Coalition, deepening a shared commitment to ensuring communities nationwide have access to reliable, high-quality local journalism.
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