Annual Convention

Each year, the convention attracts more than 300 people. Attendees include the top executives and decision makers in the Ohio newspaper business. Convention audiences include owners and publishers, general managers, ad directors, editors and additional newspaper staff. They represent a cross-section of ONA’s 83 member daily newspapers and 182 weekly newspapers.

Convention headquarters is the elegant Columbus Hilton at Easton Town Center. The Ohio Newspaper Association Annual Convention is a three-day event.

The Welcome Reception, held Wednesday includes a presentation of “The First Families of Ohio Newspapers Award,” ONA’s most prestigious award. In alternating years, members of the Ohio General Assembly are reception guests.

The convention program includes the Osman Hooper Newspaper Show, a presentation of awards to ONA’s best weekly newspapers. The competition is named for one of Ohio’s best-known journalism educators.

General sessions always include the hot topics and critical issues of concern to newspaper executives. Previous convention speakers have included Helen Thomas, Eleanor Clift, Abigail Van Buren, Clarence Page, Tom Wicker, and Robert Novak.

Several business meetings precede formal opening of the convention on Wednesday. Adjournment is on Friday.

All of the sessions are covered by a news bureau staffed by students from one of Ohio’s university journalism schools. The students write, design and edit a Special Edition Convention Newsletter that is is distributed to all of the the members of ONA.