Village Media is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Gingras as chair of its board of directors. Mr. Gingras brings over four decades of experience in digital media and journalism innovation to Village Media, the parent company of Northern Ontario Business.
"We are thrilled to welcome Richard Gingras to our board as chair," said Jeff Elgie, CEO of Village Media. "Richard's extensive experience in digital media and his commitment to journalistic integrity align perfectly with our mission to innovate and strengthen local news. I have worked with Richard for many years and he has become both a mentor of mine and a passionate supporter of the work we do. His leadership will be invaluable as we continue to grow and serve our communities."
Mr. Gingras has been a prominent figure in the evolution of digital journalism. As the longtime global vice-president for news at Google, he guided the company's strategies related to the media ecosystem as well as tools for news publishers. He continues at Google as a senior advisor.
Mr. Gingras also helped create the Center for News,Technology, and Innovation, a global “think-and-do” tank focusing on the role of journalism in open societies, where he is a founding board member along with Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa and former executive editor of the Washington Post Marty Baron.
Prior to Google, Mr. Gingras served as CEO of Salon Media Group, operated the news site Salon.com, and held significant roles at Apple, the @Home Network, and the Excite search engine. He also helped found the Trust Project, a global initiative to promote transparency and trust in journalism.
In addition to his professional roles, Mr. Gingras serves on the boards of several organizations, including the First Amendment Coalition, the International Center for Journalists, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the UC Berkeley School of Journalism, and PRX, the public media podcast network.
"I am honoured to join Village Media as chair of the board," said Mr. Gingras. "Village Media's dedication to local journalism and strengthening local communities is of critical value and importance. I look forward to working with Jeff and the talented Village team to further their mission and explore new avenues for innovation in local news delivery."
Village Media is a digital media company committed to strengthening communities through local journalism. In 2025, they are pivoting to become a Community Impact Organization with the launch and expansion of their hyperlocal social network, SPACES. They own and operate 26 local news sites in Ontario, five other news-related sites, and license their publishing platform, Villager, to another 120 publications across Canada and the United States.
