The Online News Association conference organizers have set up panel tracks for attendees to take depending on their preference: Community and Convergence, Content and Design and Business.
Offering conference guides for attendees will surely help many of those with interests in specific aspects of online journalism, and I thank the organizers for all the efforts of putting the paths together.
But I found out last year I have too many interests and too little time to get everything done that I want to accomplish at the ONA conference. So what should you do if you’re in the same boat?
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- Scrap the tracks, attend what you want to attend (you’ll meet more new people and skip the panels that might not catch your interest)
- Sit next to new people during panels
- Sit at different tables during the lunches and breakfasts (Remember to introduce yourself and ask questions)
- Blog the event, and comment on other blogs about the event
- Twitter what’s going on! (people who are subscribed to your twitter can follow you and see if you are into anything more interesting (follow me)
- Listen, Listen, Listen, and talk
- Participate - People love to talk, but they also love to listen. Share your ideas and help the conversation
- Ask questions!
- Bring business cards, and follow up with new friends via email and blogging
- ATTEND NIGHTLY OUTINGS AND PARTIES!
- Go to dinner with me at The Keg on Church Street!
See you all there! I’ll be in Toronto tonight, if anyone wants hit up Younge Street on Wednesday, let me know!