Anita Li elected to LION Publishers Board of Directors

Longtime journalist, news entrepreneur, media consultant and educator Anita Li has joined the Board of Directors at LION Publishers, after a unanimous vote.

“Over the past couple of years, I’ve watched LION grow to become a leading resource and association for local indie news publishers in North America,” Li says. “It will be integral to shaping the future of local journalism worldwide, so I’m grateful and thrilled to be part of LION’s stellar board of directors.”

Li’s presence on the LION Board solidifies the organization’s global influence and reach, said Board Chair Tracie Powell. 

“Anita is a powerhouse. She’s established herself as a global thought-leader in terms of independent journalism,” Powell added. “And in a lot of ways, she symbolizes LION’s growth and our goal of becoming a destination board for independent news entrepreneurs in the U.S. and beyond. We welcome Anita and her expertise. LION is a much better organization due to the diversity of its new board leadership, and we’re happy to have Anita as part of that.” 

Powell, who led LION’s board development efforts this past year, credits and appreciates Jay Allred’s leadership in bringing Li into the fold, continuing the work of strengthening the organization.

Li is the founder, editor and CEO of Toronto’s The Green Line, and she teaches graduate level journalism innovation at Ryerson (X) University and community-driven journalism to undergraduate students at Centennial College in Toronto. In addition, she coaches media executives and news entrepreneurs at the City University of New York’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.

“As LION grows programming and membership, effective collaboration and a broad view of the independent media landscape are crucial for the board and staff,” says Jay Allred, LION’s board development committee chair. “Anita’s life and work experience are assets on both fronts, and I’m so glad she’s joined us.”

Li, who joins 10 other professionals on LION’s volunteer Board of Directors, is also a member of the Online News Association Board of Directors, as well as an alum of the inaugural 2016 Poynter-NABJ Leadership Academy for Diversity in Digital Media. In 2018, she co-founded Canadian Journalists of Colour, a rapidly growing network of “racialized media-makers in Canada.”

In July 2021, LION’s Board of Directors unanimously approved an ambitious strategic plan, as well as new vision and mission statements for the association. The Board also completed diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging training with The Press Forward, an industry-leading nonprofit working to advance culture in the news industry through training, research and education. 

LION’s programs and efforts are supported by the Knight Foundation; Democracy Fund; the Meta Journalism Project; and the Google News Initiative.

Learn more about LION’s Board of Directors and committees.