Rebekah Monson named LION Publishers Board Chair

The LION Publishers Board of Directors has a new chair, vice chair, and treasurer, with one seat left to fill after the board’s annual meeting last month prior to the Independent News Sustainability Summit in Austin.

Rebekah Monson, co-founder of Letterhead and WhereBy.Us, assumed the role of board chair, succeeding Pivot Fund founder Tracie Powell, who becomes LION’s immediate past chair. 

“As we experienced at the Summit and throughout this year’s programming, LION members are making an extraordinary impact in the communities they serve, especially among those left behind by traditional corporate media, and they’re building stronger organizations every day,” Monson said. “Our board aims to build upon the culture of inclusion and equity that Tracie pioneered in her tenure as chair and to deepen LION’s ability to help all members build thriving, resilient businesses.” 

Powell also became chair of the organization’s Board Development Committee, which puts forward qualified candidates to serve on the governing and strategic body. Terms for board members are 3 years, and members can serve up to two consecutive terms pending a vote of the directors. The Committee is seeking interested volunteers for finance, governance and membership committees; those interested in service should contact committee chairs, listed here. People outside of LION’s Board of Directors may serve as committee volunteers.

Gunita Singh, a staff attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, was elected vce chair by unanimous vote. Per LION’s bylaws, the roles of chair, vice chair and immediate past chair change every year, after a confirmation vote by the board.

“LION’s board has never been more professionalized, diverse, and committed to overseeing this organization as it is ushered by our Executive Director into the next phase of top-tier programming and resources for local newsrooms,” Singh said. “I am overjoyed to work alongside Rebekah Monson and the rest of our outstanding board to be an ambassador for and a steward of LION at this exciting moment in time.”

Jamaal Glenn, a managing director at Schmidt Ventures and board member since 2020, was named treasurer after a unanimous board vote, succeeding Alváro Gurdián, who’s served in the role since 2020. 

“I’m thrilled to have the privilege to serve as LION’s next treasurer,” said Glenn. “I’m excited to help continue implementing the financial stability and growth necessary to allow LION to continue to serve its members and promote news entrepreneurship.”

Last month, LION Publishers welcomed new board members Dan Hu, executive director of The Yappie; Mazin Sidahmed, co-founder of Documented; and Neil Chase, CEO of CalMatters. 

LION’s Board of Directors has filled 14 of a possible 15 seats, per its bylaws, which also require that a majority of the board members must be active publishers. 

At the meeting, the board also approved December 14, 2022 as the date of LION’s Annual Member Meeting, where LION staff will present our 2022 work and share our plans for 2023. Details on that virtual gathering will be sent in the near future.