With the Labor Day holiday nearly here, now is a good time to organize your calendar and plan for the following training opportunities.

Developing a Mobile-First Strategy, Sept. 2. Webinar. In a world where use of smart phones is growing rapidly, it’s not enough for newspapers to adopt a web-first strategy. They need to start thinking mobile-first, changing how news, advertising, technology and marketing staffs operate to serve an increasingly mobile community. Newspapers need to develop new revenue streams helping businesses in communities reach the mobile audience. Steve Buttry, director of community engagement for online local news at Allbritton Communications, will instruct the session. Presented by Online Media Campus. Deadline is Aug. 30. Registration is $35. Visit onlinemediacampus.com.

Social Media Workshop, Oct. 2. The Ohio State University. Those taking part will better understand the latest in the digital media landscape and how to use new tools to connect with large online audiences, leverage social media such as Facebook, Twitter and other channels to build and sustain stronger online networks, and use cutting edge technologies to monitor what people are saying about their organization as well as the beats and people they cover. Presented by the Associated Press, produced by the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs at The Ohio State University and sponsored by ONA. Registration is $40, which includes breakfast, lunch and snacks. Deadline to register is Sept. 24. Visit oab.org/ap.

Watch for details of these additional sessions on the fall calendar:

Improving Your Website to Increase Traffic and Revenue, Oct. 13. Webinar.

Newspaper Design with Kevin Dilley. Webinar. Date TBA.

ONA weekly newspaper members are reminded that an optional “Best Website Competition” is included in the Osman Hooper Newspaper Contest for this year. Complete details for the annual competition were announced two weeks ago and sent to all weekly newspaper members via e-mail.

The Best Website Competition is divided into two categories: one for independent or stand-alone websites and one for websites with shared content among group-owned newspapers or websites sharing resources such as reporting, design or advertising as part of a larger corporate operation.

Websites entered in the competition will be judged according to random visits made by the judges during the period of December 1 through 31 of this year. The sites will be evaluated according to content, navigation, design, advertising and the role of “gatekeeper to the local community.”

First, second and third-place awards will be made in each of the two contest categories. Winners will be honored during the Hooper Awards presentation at the ONA Convention Feb. 10, 2011, at the Hilton Columbus at Polaris.

Complete details for entering the Best Website Competition or any other class in the Hooper Newspaper Contest are available at hooper.ohionews.org. The deadline for entering the Best Website Competition is Nov. 5. The deadline for all other parts of the Hooper Newspaper Contest is Oct. 8.

Additional questions or inquiries should be directed to Sue Bazzoli, ONA manager of administrative services, at (614) 486-6677 ext. 18 or sbazzoli@ohionews.org.

Following up on the success of the inaugural contest a year ago, ONA’s Collegiate Newspaper & Newspaper Website Competition is back for a second year. Complete contest details have been sent to all eligible student-run campus newspapers in Ohio.

While the contest is limited to collegiate newspapers that are ONA members, the call for entries includes membership information for those student journalists who would like to apply in conjunction with entering the contest. The annual membership dues include the contest as well as several other ongoing services, with no additional contest entry fee.

The collegiate newspaper competition has seven classes ranging from news coverage and editorial writing to sports coverage and arts & entertainment. There is an additional Best Website Competition. A points system is used to determine a General Excellence winner as well as winners in each of the individual classes. Winners will be honored in a Collegiate Newspaper Awards presentation at the ONA Convention on Feb. 10, 2011 at the Hilton Columbus at Polaris.

The deadline for entries is Oct. 29. Complete details and entry forms are available at collegiateawards.ohionews.org. Additional questions or inquiries should be directed to Sue Bazzoli, ONA manager of administrative services, at (614) 486-6677 ext. 18 or sbazzoli@ohionews.org.

Those ONA members not currently enrolled in the association’s Workers Comp Group Rating Program are encouraged to sign up for a no-cost, no-obligation evaluation.

It’s as simple as signing one short authorization form for representatives of CompManagement to conduct the confidential evaluation. Those employers determined to be eligible would then be sent invitations for the 2011 Workers Comp Group which could result in premium savings ranging from 35% to 60%.

ONA members currently in the program will be automatically evaluated and no further action is necessary.

The deadline for those employers wishing to be evaluated is Oct. 1. Complete details are available by using this link. Additional questions can be directed to CompManagement at (800) 825-6755 and selecting “Option 3” to speak to a customer service representative or by contacting Frank Deaner, ONA executive director, at (614) 486-6677 ext. 16 or fdeaner@ohionews.org.