OPA Convention rescheduled for 2021

OPA’s Annual Convention and Awards Banquet, originally scheduled for June 19-20, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Board of Directors met by conference call on April 2 and voted to move the date of this year’s convention to June 2021.

The convention will be held next summer on June 11-12, 2021, at the downtown Sheraton Hotel in Oklahoma City.

 The Board considered holding the event in fall 2020, but medical professionals and government authorities are uncertain how long we will be social distancing and avoiding large gatherings.

Economic strain will also be a concern for many members that would normally attend the convention and awards banquet.

"It was a difficult decision and thoughtfully considered by the board," said Mark Thomas, OPA executive vice president. "We will miss seeing everyone this summer but the health of our members, both physical and financial, is of the utmost importance to us because your communities depend on their local newspaper to keep them informed."

Better Newspaper Contest award winners, along with all other award recipients, will be announced online in June 2020. Plaques and certificates will be mailed or delivered to offices as permitted by our current restrictions under the coronavirus pandemic.

OPA will notify publishers later this month as to which categories your newspaper placed in the Better Newspaper Contest.

We will share announcement details here and email the information to publishers as soon as it’s available.