New York, June 25, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists announced today that Nika Soon-Shiong, the executive director of the Fund for Guaranteed Income, has joined the organization’s board of directors.
“We are delighted to welcome Nika to the CPJ board,” said Kathleen Carroll, chair of the board. “She is enthusiastic about the mission of protecting journalists in an increasingly dangerous environment. She is a strong advocate of inclusiveness, which is important to the many journalists CPJ serves. And she will bring a fresh and global perspective to the board’s work.”
Soon-Shiong leads the Fund for Guaranteed Income (F4GI), which catalyzes the redistribution of wealth by stewarding and championing a universal income floor. She also directs the F4GI Compton Pledge, one of the largest guaranteed income initiatives in U.S. history, supported by Compton Mayor Aja Brown’s office, Black Lives Matter, One Fair Wage, Brother Crusade, and over 20 advocacy organizations. In addition, she is a doctoral candidate at Oxford University’s Department of International Development, researching India’s national digital ID and cash transfer system.
Soon-Shiong is also involved in journalism. She has reported for The Daily Dispatch, The Mail & Guardian, and The Los Angeles Times— where she serves as an informal adviser to her family, which purchased the newspaper in 2018 and has invested in its revitalization.
“I’m honored to join the fight to protect journalists around the world who are documenting the injustices of settler colonialism, mass incarceration, and political repression. As a staunch believer in the link between press freedom and political freedom, I look forward to working in this unique collaboration to protect both,” Soon-Shiong said.
Soon-Shiong will play an integral role in providing strategic guidance to the organization as a member of CPJ’s board, as journalists face threats from all corners of the globe. CPJ’s board recently announced that its 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award will honor Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned founder of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily newspaper, in recognition of his sustained commitment to press freedom. His imprisonment comes as China’s Communist Party intensifies its crackdown on free expression in Hong Kong. More about CPJ’s 2021 International Press Freedom Awards can be found here.
More about CPJ’s work, including a full list of board and staff members, can be found on CPJ.org.