What stories do you tell, and how might have that changed in the past year?
Celebrating ONA20 Everywhere
Many of us here at Microsoft have long been a part of the Online News Association conferences, the world’s largest gatherings for digital storytellers and technologists. Now, just a year after its 20th conference anniversary, ONA20 has taken on the challenge to put on its first-ever virtual festival. Once again, we’re honored to be sponsor and participant.
But one thing we do miss are those serendipitous hallway conversations. The early-morning-coffee-queue chats. Impromptu socials at the hotel bar. Stories swapped as we explore the streets of New Orleans or Boston or San Francisco. And one thing we do know: In 2020, we all have a story to tell.
We’d love to share them. To that end, we’re launching the Microsoft Film Fest @ONA20 for all attendees around the world.
To make participating a little easier (and not give the edge to broadcasters!), we’re going to show you how to create a video — fast — using PowerPoint. Join our Midway session, Can You Make a Slide Deck? You Can Create a Video!, on October 6 @ 11:45 AM PT/2:45 ET to learn how to lay down graphics, deploy animations and fancy transitions, and drop a narrative track in minutes. Can’t make the session? You can replay the recording and also visit us at our “booth” to post a question or schedule office hours for more help on your creation.
It wouldn’t be a film festival without a competition: You can win a Surface device!
COMPETITION RULES
- Open to registered ONA20 18+ attendees only
- Post/embed videos on your LinkedIn profile using hash tag #MSFTFilmFest #MadeinPPT #ONA20 and @MicrosoftNews by Sunday October 18 @11:59pm PT
- Be available to provide the original Office file to verify use of tools
- Videos will be judged on its creative and polished use of Microsoft 365 tools and how well we get to know the entrant
- Winners will be announced end of October or early November, depending upon the number of entrants
- For more details, please review the full contest rules here: Contest Rules
Meet the FilmFest jury
Victoria Taylor joined LinkedIn as its founding Community Editor in August 2019. Prior to LinkedIn, Victoria led communications and culture at Cake.co and was previously at WeWork from 2015 – 2018 as their director of digital community after serving as reddit’s Director of Communications and Director of Talent, where she assisted with AMAs and more with the reddit community. Before reddit, Victoria was on the digital team at ID PR and helped work on digital strategy for a wide variety of nonprofits, brands, individuals, and entertainment clients. She is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is based out of New York City. @LinkedIn
Natan Edelsburg is the Chief Operating Officer at Muck Rack. He’s also the Producer Emeritus of The Shorty Awards honoring the best of social media. Natan is the company’s most tenured employee and has helped bring on customers, including Mastercard, NBCUniversal, Pfizer, Goldman Sachs and more. Natan is the District Council-Chair Elect for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Natan’s a frequent speaker on social media, PR, journalism and the future of TV. He’s been honored as one of PR News’ Rising Stars and one of PRSA’s 15 Under 35. He’s moderated panels or given presentations at SXSW, PRWeek, Social Media Week, Collision, Web Summit, Digital Hollywood, PRSA, Ragan’s and Cannes Lions. @NatanEdelsburg
Vera Chan is Microsoft News Labs Sr. Manager for Worldwide Journalist Relations. She has worked the prototypical features/A&E/culture beat at local dailies and led global editorial projects and initiatives at the world’s biggest online destinations with a reach of billion. An industry veteran, she is well-versed in hands-on reporting and editing (from breaking news to features projects) to big-picture audience consumption patterns (from web trendspotting to content strategy). Vera works across platforms and teams to analyzing the shift in news reporting and information delivery. Today she works with journalists and newsrooms around the world on technology to help them scale. @FastTalkingD
Bill Monroe is a trainer at Microsoft, helping journalists use the Microsoft 365 products and services more effectively in their jobs. He trains reporters around the world how to use the tools they already have in order to communicate more effectively, streamline internal operations, and share expertise across their organization. In his spare time, Bill hosts and produces the Strokecast podcast where a Generation X stroke survivor explores rehab, recovery, the frontiers of neuroscience, and one-handed banana peeling. His medical records describe him as “pleasant.” @currentlybill, bills_Strokecast
Dave Kane is the Global Lead for Storytelling & Brand at Microsoft News, and is working to empower journalists and publishers to reach billions of readers with technology. He has worked in a variety of roles at Microsoft including launching Windows Mixed Reality and running Channel Partner Readiness & experiential marketing. Dave is passionate about the intersection of technology and storytelling, and is an aspiring sci-fi author. Since last March, he also moonlights as home-school Tutor/IT Director/Vice-Principal and barbeque “pit master.”
Good luck! We excited to see your story.
Microsoft at ONA20
Besides the Film Festival, attendees can
- Watch on-demand an amazing session about how much synthetic voice technology has advanced, our ethical framework, and what a “newsroom” voice sounds like in Microsoft AI: Empowering the Art and Science of Journalism
- Visit the Microsoft booth anytime to post a question, check out our office hours and request a meet
- Stay tuned for announcements for a big upcoming session
By the way, curious as to what the production values of a PowerPoint video export might look like? Check out our own video, below.
