Kathy Lu is the founder of Audiencibility consulting. She brings more than 20 years of experience in journalism to her work in creating more inclusive workplaces and in supporting managers and leaders.
She provides diversity, equity and inclusion training for newsrooms through her work as an adjunct for Poynter Institute for Media Studies, a nonprofit journalism school and research organization in St. Petersburg, Florida. She also has given training on being effective managers, editing, writing, and audience development. She is a graduate of leadership development programs such as the ASNE Emerging Leaders Institute, AAJA Executive Leadership program and the Maynard Institute.
Kathy also has experience in public media as a digital and social media editor for America Amplified, a community engagement project funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
At The Kansas City Star, Kathy honed her management skills, edited and produced daily print sections, implemented strategy to grow digital audiences, and launched a daily sports podcast.
At The Roanoke (Va.) Times, she rose from reporter to features editor and led community-oriented programs such as the annual Minority Journalism Workshop for high school students. In 2004, Kathy received the Citizen of the Year in Media award from the local chapter of the NAACP.
Reflecting on her journey as a child of Chinese immigrants assimilating into American society has been invaluable in her DEI work. Kathy believes we need empathy and compassion for ourselves, our colleagues and our sources to create more effective, impactful and meaningful journalism.
As for fun stuff, Kathy enjoys fostering kittens, traveling, learning about the Midwest as an East Coast transplant, and adding shows to her K-drama list (swoon!).