University of Kwazulu-Natal

The Evolution Of The Online News Association Localpod Co

Bonisiwe Shabane
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the evolution of the online news association localpod co

From AI’s role in newsrooms to the evolving landscape of climate reporting and resilience, the Online News Association is shaping the industry and supporting journalists in an era of rapid change. In this episode of Small Press, Big Ideas, I sat down with Karolle Rabarison and Meghan Murphy from the Online News Association (ONA) to explore the evolving landscape of digital journalism. Our discussion touches on everything from the history of ONA to the future of AI in newsrooms, the importance of community-building among journalists, and the organization’s plans and initiatives for 2025. The Online News Association, the world’s largest digital journalism association, was founded in the late 1990s as the internet began reshaping news media. At the time, traditional journalists were skeptical about digital news – so much so that there was even a report when online news was first “accepted as credible”. At this time there wasn’t a professional organization dedicated to supporting the pioneers experimenting with online platforms.

ONA emerged as a response to this need, bringing together forward-thinking journalists and technologists who saw the potential of digital storytelling. Today, ONA’s membership is diverse, spanning reporters, editors, product managers, technologists, and independent content creators. The organization remains committed to fostering innovation in journalism, supporting members navigating the rapid changes in technology, and ensuring that journalism remains a trusted and credible source of information in an increasingly digital world. Para ouvir episódios explícitos, inicie sessão. Inicie sessão ou crie uma conta para seguir podcasts, salvar episódios e receber as atualizações mais recentes. 25 years of convening and supporting changemakers in journalism

The annual conference is moving to the spring! Join leaders and changemakers in journalism at ONA26, March 30–April 1, in Chicago. ONA is advancing collaboration around AI, climate and resilience in journalism. From trainings to networking, ONA offers opportunities to learn and connect all year. Special thanks to our ONA sponsors. .ona-ad { width: 728px; height: 90px; background: #e3e3e3; margin: 0 auto; } @media ( max-width: 900px ) { .ona-ad { width: 320px; height: 50px; } }

Sarah Lee AI generated Llama-4-Maverick-17B-128E-Instruct-FP8 5 min read · May 25, 2025 The way we consume news has undergone a significant transformation over the past few decades. The rise of online news has revolutionized the journalism industry, presenting both opportunities and challenges for news outlets and consumers alike. In this article, we will explore the evolution of online news, its impact on traditional news outlets, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. The shift from traditional print to digital media has been a gradual one. The widespread adoption of the internet in the 1990s and early 2000s marked the beginning of this transition.

As internet penetration increased, online news outlets began to emerge, offering readers a new way to access news content. The decline of traditional print media was a result of several factors, including: Social media has played a significant role in the dissemination of online news. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have become essential channels for news outlets to reach their audiences. Social media has also enabled readers to share news content with their networks, increasing the reach and engagement of online news. Some key statistics highlighting the role of social media in news dissemination include:

Today Paul sits down with Justin Gordon, founder of The LA Grind, a rapidly growing local media and events company focused on LA's startup scene.Justin shares the origin story of The LA Grind: how... Justin brings tons of value for local media startups as well as established local publications.Links:The LA GrindJustin Gordon - LinkedIn---This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, helping local news publishers produce revenue generating podcasts. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠---Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribeLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices In this episode, Paul chats with Joe Coughlin, co-founder and Editor in Chief of The Record North Shore, a nonprofit news outlet serving Chicago’s northern suburbs. Joe shares the journey from legacy local journalism at 22nd Century Media to launching an independent, community focused newsroom during the pandemic.Links:The Record North Shore[email protected]Joe Coughlin - X/Twitter---This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,...

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠⁠---Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribeLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices In this episode, Paul sits down with Mike Gyi, founder of TownSpot, a hyperlocal events platform born from a passion for place making, social impact, and uncovering hidden gems in your own backyard. From his architecture roots to building tech with social purpose, Mike shares the story behind TownSpot: a digital calendar that aims to rewire how we engage with our communities.Links:Townspot.coMike Gyi - LinkedInMike Gyi -... ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠⁠---Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribeLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show Paul Myers explains how Mineral King Publishing is confronting the crisis in local journalism by rethinking the business model. Traditional advertising and subscriptions no longer cut it and AI is both a threat and a tool. With Lantern AI, Paul aims to turn high value local reporting into products for businesses (like developers and entrepreneurs) who need timely, local insights.Links:Paul Myers - LinkedInLantrn.aiThe Sun-GazetteMid Valley Times---This podcast is sponsored by... ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co⁠---Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribeLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices In this episode, Paul talks with TJ Larkin, the publisher behind Larkin Media and the creator of 14 hyperlocal newsletters (and counting).

TJ shares his unexpected journey from a family insurance business to becoming a driving force in the revival of community driven media. They explore why email newsletters are uniquely powerful for local engagement, TJ's data driven growth and monetization strategies, and how local entrepreneurs can transform newsletters into full fledged local media businesses.Links:⁠Inbox Famous⁠⁠TJ Larkin -... ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LocalPod.co---Subscribe to the Local News Industry Pulse newsletter to receive a weekly briefing of news, policy, trends, and more in the local news industry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://localnewsindustrypulse.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices To listen to explicit episodes, sign in. Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

Founded in 1999, the Online News Association (ONA) is a nonprofit membership organization and the essential hub for adaptive leadership in journalism. We convene and equip changemakers in journalism with the insights, training and connections they need to shape the future of the industry. ONA’s members include journalism professionals in all functions and career stages and a network of supporters across industries, including philanthropy, technology, and academia. ONA offers virtual and in-person programs throughout the year, hosts an annual conference and administers the Online Journalism Awards. A journalism industry that doesn’t just survive change but thrives through it—where continuous learning, strategic collaboration, and adaptive leadership across all roles and functions create an ecosystem powerful enough to meet democracy’s evolving information... We equip journalism professionals across all roles, functions and career stages with adaptive leadership capabilities, strategic foresight, and collaborative communities and networks, creating a connected ecosystem where shared learning, experimentation and innovation strengthen journalism’s...

We establish ONA as journalism’s essential intelligence hub, combining industry knowledge with outside-in perspective to help journalism professionals anticipate and adapt to change, while creating a comprehensive content ecosystem that reaches changemakers year-round. By Online News Association on October 29, 2025 The Online News Association (ONA), one of the largest nonprofit membership organizations advancing journalism leadership and technology innovation, is pleased to announce the promotion of Meghan Murphy to Head of … Read more. By Online News Association on September 9, 2025 As my six-month anniversary at the helm of ONA approaches, I’m excited to share that we’ve been hard at work putting together our new three-year strategic plan. Our new north … Read more.

By Karolle Rabarison on September 5, 2025

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