LIVE BLOG: Recapping the 2012 Online News Association Conference

5:03 p.m. Microsoft Application Development Lab attendant helps us connect with ONA Northwestern students via Skype. Technology struggles...

5:08 p.m. We can hear ONA Northwestern students loud and clear!

5:10 p.m. MU Futures Lab Director Mike McKean says the biggest takeaway of the conference is that ONA is the most diverse and active journalism organization out there. He says based on what he learned in conference sessions, MU journalism is preparing students for the real world.

5:15 p.m. McKean says MU alums Meredith Artley of CNN.com and Juana Summers of Politico are influential in ONA.

5:25 p.m. McKean says young professionals need to be proficient and current in social media skills, as well as have knowledge of coding and programming. Many organizations want to approach multimedia projects as a team. That means it could be good to specialize instead of being a "jack of all trades."

One session discussed "making apps like lasagna." That means they're made with uncluttered layers, so they are easy to navigate. News aggregation apps are also becoming more popular. This includes Columbia's own Newsy, as well as Newsala.
5:30 p.m. RJI Communications Director Brian Steffens says social media videos on Twitter and Facebook will be more common (based on what he learned at the conference). Steffens says not every reader comes to a story with the same knowledge. Developers are shooting to develop apps that provide more background information for less-informed readers and only give the latest updates to readers who have been following particular stories.

Steffens says to expect more ambient social networks. People want more apps that show who is near. He also learned at the conference that in the future, technology shouldn't favor men or women.

5:35 p.m. ONA12 featured several sessions on revenue. McKean says developers are shooting to get revenue from event sponsorships and by delivering custom content (versus getting revenue solely from advertising).

5:40 p.m. Dan Hill of ONA Northwestern says there were a wide variety of sessions. He went to sessions focused on data and Web design. Presenters focused on "sustaining" journalism by keeping up with the latest social media and technology trends.

5:45 p.m. Katie Zhu of ONA Northwestern received an AP-Google Journalism and Technology Scholarship to attend the conference and spoke on a panel. Zhu says she enjoyed hearing an NPR journalist speak about the industry keeping up with technology and software development.

5:50 p.m. Steffens says there was discussion of "Who verifies what's verifiable?" with regards to fast-paced coverage. Also, he heard discussion about what constitutes a "true fact" versus an interpretation of a fact?

ONA Northwestern says there is talk of the conference happening in Atlanta next year.

5:58 p.m. ONA Mizzou President Erin Dismeier thanks presenters for coming! Successful meeting everyone!





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