Earlier today, FingerLakes1.com National News Editor Gabriel Pietrorazio was named as one of nine undergraduate and graduate students from across the country who were selected as a part of this year’s Student Newsroom and Innovation Lab for ONA21.
ONA, also known as the Online News Association, is a nonprofit membership organization for digital journalists — “connecting journalism, technology and innovation.” This prestigious mentorship opportunity has been offered to students each year ever since 2009 — allowing them to work, learn alongside prominent journalism educators and professionals while covering their annual Online News Association Conference.
As a rising second-year master’s candidate at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland-College Park, Pietrorazio has been interning at the National Press Foundation since December and recently named as a 2021 Delta Sigma Chi Foundation scholar on behalf of the Society of Professional Journalists D.C.-pro chapter.
Thank you @ONAConf for the opportunity to learn alongside some of the best in our business. I cannot wait to start working with my peers as a part of this year’s Student Newsroom and Innovation Lab. I’m equally proud to represent @merrillcollege at #ONA21, too! #MerrillMade https://t.co/I6yPzjGnL9
— Gabriel Pietrorazio, M.J. (@GabePietrorazio) June 3, 2021
Previously, Pietrorazio also attended ONA20 on behalf of FingerLakes1.com as a local news scholarship recipient and proud to once again represent the Finger Lakes regional media market on the national stage in this role.
“I’m honored and equally humbled to join the Student Newsroom and Innovation Lab ahead of ONA21 — serving as an ambassador not only for Merrill College, but our newsroom as well,” Pietrorazio told FingerLakes1.com.
Gabe covered health and indigenous affairs in the Finger Lakes between 2019 and 2022. His award winning coverage was cited by the federal government and provided residents with an invaluable service during the coronavirus pandemic.