Students Establish Online News Association at the Missouri School of Journalism

Columbia, Mo. (April 18, 2011) — Missouri School of Journalism students interested in digital journalism have a new extracurricular outlet for professional networking and development, the Online News Association (ONA) Mizzou club.

ONA Mizzou Executive Board
ONA Mizzou Executive Board

“The Online News Association provides our students with a unique professional and networking outlet,” said Amy Simons, assistant professor who serves as the club’s faculty adviser. “The nature of our profession has evolved to the point where all journalists are online journalists, and this club offers something to students in all of our interest areas.”

ONA was founded in 1999 and has more than 1,600 professional members worldwide. It believes that the Internet is the most powerful communications medium to be created since the dawn of television. As digital delivery systems become the primary source of news for a growing segment of the world’s population, ONA hopes to help navigate the complex challenges and opportunities for journalists.

ONA Mizzou“ONA is still a relatively new organization,” Simons said. “Our students are among the first to show an interest in bringing a club onto a college campus, earning them the attention, support and praise of members across the country.”

ONA Mizzou’s first officers are:

  • President: Laura Hibbard
  • Vice President: Amanda Klohmann
  • Treasurer: Stephanie Stouffer
  • Social Media Editor: Matthew Hibbard

ONA Mizzou holds monthly meetings with guest speakers from all media platforms. Its first meeting featured co-founder of CNN.com and CEO of Armchair Media Scott Woelfel, BJ ’81.

For more information about ONA Mizzou, please visit onamizzou.wordpress.com. ONA Mizzou can also be found on Facebook and Twitter (@ONAMizzou).

Updated: May 29, 2020

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