2026 Celebration
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026
City Winery, New York
Hosted by V Spehar of Under the Desk News
With support from
There are many ways to support ONA tonight, from a one-time gift to membership.
Ways to giveTonight
- 6:00–6:30
Arrivals and drinks
Featuring a slideshow by Dysturb.
- 6:30–7:30
Dinner
Three courses. See the menu
- 7:30–9:30
Awards ceremony
Hosted by V Spehar of Under the Desk News. See the program
- 9:45
Bar closes
Awards program
Learn about each award category
Opening
V Spehar
Welcome
Marc Lacey, managing editor, The New York Times
Rich Jaroslovsky Founder Award
Honoring José Zamora
Excellence in Audio Digital Storytelling
Presented by V Spehar
Excellence in Newsletters
Presented by Versha Sharma
Excellence in Social Media
Presented by V Spehar
Excellence in Visual Digital Storytelling
Presented by Imaeyen Ibanga
Gather Award in Community-Centered Journalism
Supported by the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication’s Agora Journalism CenterHonoring previously announced winners
Presented by V Spehar. See the winners
General Excellence in Online Journalism
Presented by Andrew Fitzgerald
Knight Award for Public Service
Presented by Amalie Nash
Supported by the Knight FoundationUniversity of Florida Award in Investigative Data Journalism
Presented by Rick Hirsch
Supported by the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and made possible by the Loraine Dingman FundTopical Reporting: Artificial Intelligence
Presented by Konstanze Frischen
Supported by Aspen Digital, a program of the Aspen InstituteTopical Reporting: Immigration
Impact Award
Honoring Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Presented to Ramin Hedayati and Max Browning by Ben Collins
Closing thanks
Niketa Patel, executive director and CEO, Online News Association
Music throughout tonight’s ceremony was created by Ben Powers, a 14-year-old producer from St. Louis.
Ways to support ONA
Your support funds ONA’s year-round programs and training for journalists.
Gifts and memberships are not drawing entries. ONA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Tonight’s drawing
Each $25 donation is one entry for the item you choose, and you can enter as many times as you’d like. Entries close at 9:15 p.m., and the drawing is at 9:25 p.m.
No donation is necessary to enter or win, and free entries count the same as donated entries. Enter free
Official rules
- No donation is necessary to enter or win. Donating does not improve your odds over entering free.
- How to enter: each $25 donation through an item’s donation link is one entry for that item. To enter free, submit the free entry form; each submission is one entry for the prize you select, and you may submit the form more than once. There is no limit on entries by either method. Entries made by script, bot or other automated means are void.
- Open to anyone 18 or older. ONA staff and members of their households are not eligible.
- Entries close at 9:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. Winners are drawn at random from all eligible entries at 9:25 p.m. ET at City Winery in New York. Odds depend on the number of entries received.
- Winners are notified by email right after the drawing and can collect their prize at the front desk before leaving. If a winner has already left, ONA will contact them to arrange pickup or delivery.
- Prizes and their approximate values are listed above. The total value of all prizes is under $1,000. Prizes can’t be exchanged for cash, and winners are responsible for any taxes.
- This drawing is run by the Online News Association, Washington, D.C. Void where prohibited.
Thank you to our supporters
Tonight is made possible by these organizations.