I’m doing the Rails training here at ONA, and just to correct Derek slightly, it was our suggestion to do Rails and not Django. It was ONA’s decision, but our suggestion.

At the risk of fanning the flames of this stupid Coke/Pepsi debate (we’re above that, right?), the reason is that while more newspaper websites use Django, far far more websites period use Rails. (Also, a good number of news websites use Rails too, FYI — the AP, LA Times, AJC and the NYTimes of course just to name three I know of.)

We thought it would be a better sell at ONA than Django, and so far so good: We have 20 registered and a waiting list of 10. This is our first time doing this session, so if it turns out that Django is what people actually want, we’ll switch — no problems there.

I have no personal preference when it comes to teaching. I’ve have helped teach Django at each of the last three IRE conferences, and will be teaching a three-day Django bootcamp in March at IRE. So, I’m a fan of both.

Just so you know.

@Tom Thanks for commenting and clearing up that ONA members can attend the job fair for free without registering for the convention, I’ve corrected it above.

Regarding the meals/costs, I understand the challenges organizers of these events face. I’ve been involved in managing several conventions like this (not exactly this size, but close). I don’t know ONA’s budget or how they’re managing things but as long as your fiscally responsible and not catering everyone’s meals, if you line up a handful of corporate sponsors and you get a good deal on the hotel — it’s very easy to not loose money on events like this. In other major journalism organizations, the award entry fees alone usually cover most of these kind of events. But again, I don’t know ONA’s numbers, just what I’ve experienced.

I guess my (and I’m assuming others) fundamental challenge is, if one hotel charges you a ‘discount’ of $259 a night for a room and $125 for a single meal, maybe there’s a better hotel option out there. We don’t have to be at *THE* premier HIlton in absolute heart of the nation’s capitol. I’m staying at The Hilton Garden Inn, a few blocks away and it’s less than half the price of the conference hotel.

What’s done is done for this convention and again, please understand I think you guys have a done a great job! Thank you for your hard work and please keep listening to member’s thoughts!

I can appreciate the frustration expressed here. Unfortunately, we can’t charge any less for a banquet meal than the hotel charges. I could buy a Porsche for less. Believe me, I wish I could charge $12 per dinner. But that’s not gonna get you much at any hotel large enough to host this conference. Maybe two hors d’ouvres – seriously. That $125 is a break even price.

My job as executive director is to work with Amy Webb (this year) to get a create a really good conference — which she has most assuredly done – and to not lose money. Because if you lose money on conferences, sooner or later you can’t hold them any more.

I also want to correct thing I saw above. ONA members can also attend the job fair for free. The only cost is to those folks who aren’t ONA members.

But anyway, I came to comment on the awards banquet dinner. I agree, $125 for what amounts to a $12 catered meal smack of price gouging. I’m not sure whose making those kinds of decisions, but they’re really unfair. And ludicrous.