ONA10 Session Selector: FAQ

The Online News Association is seeking your participation in planning sessions for ONA10, Oct. 28-30, in Washington, D.C.

All proposals will be for ONA10 general sessions on Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30.

Submit your session proposals from Feb. 4 through Feb. 28. Then, from March 2 through March 21, the community will vote on sessions they would like to see this fall.

We’ve outlined the process and expectations below. This is the first year for this community-based system, so bear with us as we iron out the kinks, and e-mail ONA10program@journalists.org with questions or comments.

Our thanks to Lindsey Simon for designing the system and Yuri Victor for implementing it.

— Josh Hatch and Amy Eisman, ONA10 Co-Chairs
— Tyson Evans, ONA10 Programming Chair

General Information

Who can submit a proposal via the Session Selector?

Anyone with access to the Internet. Whether you are an executive, a manager, a workhorse, a designer, a consultant, a vendor, an academic or just a very interested news consumer, we want to hear your great programming ideas.

Do I need to have an account to submit a proposal?

No, you do NOT need to create an account to submit to the Session Selector.

How many proposals can I submit?

There is no limit to the number of proposals you can submit. However, ONA reserves the right to remove any submission for any reason.

Will panel ideas be accepted after the Feb. 28 deadline?

Yes, late entries will be accepted — but, these entries will be penalized in our scoring system. We think that if you aren’t organized enough to submit a proposal before the deadline, then you probably aren’t organized enough to put together a successful session. To be clear, putting together a successful panel takes a great deal of pre-event planning and organization.

Why determine all the programming months before the event begins? Aren’t there late-breaking issues that need to be covered?

The sooner we can put together a slate of panels, the more time organizers have to schedule the best speakers. If new developments in the industry arise, session organizers are welcome to adapt. We also leave open slots for last-minute un-conference sessions.

How long is each session?

Most sessions will be one hour, but we may experiment with shorter and longer time blocks and invite proposals in that spirit.

Tips for Session Selector Success

What makes for a good proposal?

As a rule: the more specific, the better. Why? Because specificity demands a lot more thought and planning — and pre-event thought and planning are the two biggest keys to a successful panel. As an example, ONA10 organizers are more interested in titles, such as “How The Times Tackles Agile Web Design,” than something like “Design Trends.”

Is it better to submit a panel or a solo/dual presentation?

We have found that solo/dual presentations are more popular among attendees and easier to organize. So, if you think you have enough material to fill up an entire session, then that is the way to go. Of course, panels of three to four individuals can be excellent, but the topic and speakers should be in sync and meticulously prepared so each has enough time to share their expertise and the audience learns something.

What makes for a good title?

Cute titles are fun, but your title is going to be fighting for attention with hundreds of others on the Session Selector. So, the more direct / explanatory your title, the better. As an example, “Size Matters: Scaling Wordpress Blogs” is better than something like “Why Size Matters.”

The submission form asks whether my proposal is targeted to experts. What does that mean?

An expert-level panel provides advanced information about the topic and means a newbie will likely be lost — which isn’t necessarily bad. But, we’d like to flag these sessions to set expectations.

Do I need to have speakers confirmed when I submit my panel idea?

No. In fact, we strongly prefer that you do NOT confirm speakers until your session proposal is accepted. ONA10 organizers will want to work closely with you to ensure there is sufficient diversity and expertise in your session.

When the voting interface goes live, can I post comments about my own panel proposal?

Yes. We strongly encourage you to use the comment section of the Session Selector voting interface to further explain your proposal and respond to others’ questions.

Time Commitment & Timeline

If my idea is selected, what happens next?

ONA10 organizers will work closely with you to fine-tune the focus of your session and to select other speakers, if necessary. As a general rule, the more time you devote to preparation, the better the session will be. Pre-event planning involves communicating with session speakers in the weeks before the event to clarify the focus of the session. ONA10 attendees are smart and they enjoy smart programming. If they realize you haven’t prepared for your panel, they will leave the room and go to the more interesting panel next door. If you aren’t prepared to spend a significant amount of time between now and the conference preparing your session, then you are better suited to be an attendee than a session organizer.

If my idea is selected, does ONA pay for my travel or lodging?

All speakers are given a complementary day pass, which can be applied as a discount to attend the whole conference. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide travel, lodging or other financial compensation for panelists.

When will I learn about the status of my proposal?

You will be notified in early April whether your session proposal has been accepted (or not accepted) or if we are still reviewing your idea.

Voting Process

When does voting begin?

Tuesday, March 2, is the day that the digital journalism community can begin to vote on ONA10 session proposals. Voting closes at midnight EST on Sunday, March 21.

What do I need to do to be able to vote?

To vote or comment, you must create a log-in account on the site, which is free, quick and easy. And, your sign-up information remains completely confidential. However, if you'd like to receive ONA10 updates, please join our ONA10 mailing list.

How important is voting from the community?

Voting from the community is essential. It accounts for 30 percent of the decision-making process. The rest of the process is composed of input from the ONA10 Conference Committee, ONA Staff and a Board of Directors representative.

Can anyone post comments on session proposals?

Yes. To post comments on proposals, users first have to create a log-in account. Log-in information will remain confidential and not be used for other purposes.

If I submitted a proposal to the Session Selector, should I encourage my friends to vote for my submission?

Absolutely. Rallying your friends and associates to vote for your proposal demonstrates energy, motivation and organizational ability. And, all of these skills are important when it comes to organizing a successful session for ONA10.

Why aren’t voting totals posted?

Opinions can be easily swayed by the bandwagon effect. We don’t post voting totals because we don’t want people to focus only on those that seem popular rather than voting for sessions they really want to attend.

How can I compete against people who are well known?

Voting by the community accounts for 30 percent of the selection process. If you put together a strong idea that intrigues ONA10 organizers, then you won’t need to worry about competing with higher profile speakers.