Here are the criteria and rules to seek a nomination to the Online News Association's Board of Directors.
1. The process
An ONA member wishing to be considered for board membership either as a professional board member or an at-large board member must be nominated by an ONA member. Both the nominee and the member making the nomination must be a member in good standing. (Good standing requires that the member's must be current in his or her dues.)
The nominee must meet one of several board qualification criteria. Those criteria include:
Nominations must be submitted to the Nominations Committee two months before the general membership meeting. The Nominations Committee will consider these nominations in its determination of the slate of board candidates put before the membership. By definition, the Nominations Committee can also nominate candidates.
It is the responsibility of the Nominations Committee to present a slate that reflects a diversity of interests in the make-up of the board. These interests include:
The Nomination Committee will recommend a slate of candidates that exceeds the number of available seats. It is the Committee's discretion to determine that number.
The Committee will present the slate to the Board one month before the annual general meeting for its approval. The Board has the right to revise the slate, eliminating candidates or adding a candidates, so long as the number exceeds the number of available seats on the board. Any addition must come from the original pool of names submitted to the Nominations Committee.
The slate will be publicized to the general membership before the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, the slate will be put before the membership for a vote through a ballot. The ballot will ask the membership to select x number of board members from a list of y candidates.
2. Board job description and criteria
In addition to the criteria listed above, any ONA member wishing to serve on the board must be prepared to carry out the following responsibilities:
Board job description:
ONA requires an active and engaged board to continue its growth and success.
Board members are committed to editorial independence, journalism excellence, freedom of expression and freedom of access in digital media.
Board members are committed to developing and supporting a new generation of online journalists through ONA's programs, particularly its annual conference, the Online Journalism Awards, regional events, publications and partnerships with other journalism organizations.
Board members are required to participate in a monthly conference call, attend three board meetings (two of them in person) and serve on one standing committee.
Board members may be asked to lead or participate in various initiatives, including fund-raising or representing ONA at industry events; chair or serve on ad hoc committees; host local events; or stand for election for one the four board officer positions (President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer).
3. Make-up of the Nominations Committee
At the end of each year, the Board will appoint the Nominations Committee for the following year and name a Committee Chair. The Nominations Committee will be made up of a minimum of three members and no more than five members.
Committee members must have served on the board for at least one full two-year term. At least one member of the Committee must be from the new board that begins its term in the new year.
