Table Talks are a series of highly-participatory conversations aimed at tackling major issues in digital journalism. These hour-long sessions provide attendees with the opportunity to collaborate with top minds in the field in exploring new ideas and solutions to challenges.
Introduced at ONA15, this format has consistently been ranked among the top experiences at ONA conferences.
On the day, attendees will gather in one of three large rooms, each dedicated to an ONA25 focus area (climate, AI and resilience), each room filled with round tables. Following a brief introduction from trained facilitators, attendees will select a topic and join the conversation of their choice at the corresponding table. Hosts will gently lead conversation, making sure everyone is participating and that someone is taking notes.
We encourage everyone to attend, and we invite you to pitch an idea for a Table Talk you'd like to host!
If your ideas is accepted, you will "host" a 8-12 person table with fellow ONA25 attendees from 9-10 a.m. CDT on Friday, September 12, at which your pitched idea will be discussed in detail. These conversations can and will vary widely in tone and topic, ranging from engaging coffee-shop discussions with like-minded attendees to frank conversations about "big ideas" in journalism to in-depth examinations of stickier professional issues less easily addressed in standard conference formats. Anyone attending the conference can join your table for the discussion — up to 12 people in total — which means you may get a range of perspectives and experiences in the discussion. ONA will provide hosts with tips and ideas for keeping the conversation going.
The types of prompts that make for great Table Talks are questions that don't have a singular correct answer and that benefit from many different perspectives. It can be a topic in which you have a particular perspective or expertise, but it often works best when it's a problem you don't have a solution for and that you're authentically thinking about, too. Framing your question as a "how might we...?" problem is often a good place to start!
Here are some other past examples of topics others have hosted:
➡️ If you have “strategy” in your job description, let’s talk about what that means
➡️ How to get the newsroom and your community onboard with engagement reporting practices
➡️ The pros and cons of pop-up newsletters
➡️ Writing about disinformation responsibly
➡️ What’s your dream cross-functional team — and how do you build it?
Table Talks are NOT standard conference sessions. They do not suit lectures, advertisements, complaints, or any ideas which might require a singular voice. Hosts should not deliver a presentation. Table Talks should at all times be maximally participatory, involving everyone at the table and providing an opportunity for a free exchange of ideas.
