Volunteers

Each year we rely on the support of our wonderful volunteers to help us make our conference environment warm and welcoming for all attendees. Volunteers work alongside the best minds in online journalism, and revel in the satisfaction of pulling off one of the best events in the industry.

Our volunteer schedule is currently full and we’re operating a waitlist, which is available to join below.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What will volunteers be doing?
    We will have volunteers working as:

    • Chat hosts/notetakers, who welcome people in the session chat, post conversation starters and document key takeaways
    • Transcript editors, who clean up session transcripts created by our AI transcription platform
  • Do volunteers receive a pass to ONA21?
    Yes, each of our volunteers will receive one complimentary, non-transferable registration to attend ONA21 virtually.
  • I have already volunteered at several ONA conferences, what does this mean for my chances of getting selected again?
    Beginning in 2019, ONA implemented a new cap system for returning volunteers. We’re suspending this cap for the virtual conferences to allow as many people as possible to participate. We’ll accept applications on a rolling basis this year so please keep an eye on the conference newsletter for the opening announcement.
  • Are volunteers able to attend educational sessions?
    Volunteers are welcome to attend sessions and events outside of their scheduled volunteer hours. Both volunteer roles also require tuning in to a session as part of the responsibilities.

Who can I contact? Contact Sr. Manager of Communities & Local Journalism Initiatives Meghan Murphy at meghan@journalists.org with questions about volunteering.

Volunteer Application

Volunteer applications will open when registration opens in early May and close on May 19 at midnight EST (May 20 at 4:00 UTC)