The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) sends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Liyna Anwar, a beloved member of the AAJA family. Liyna, 30, who had waged an active fight against leukemia, died March 26.
As senior podcast producer at the Los Angeles Times, Liyna had just proudly launched “Asian Enough,” a podcast about Asian American life. Liyna’s identity as an Indian American and her deep Islamic faith drove her passion as a journalist to tell stories of communities of color. Before helping to expand the L.A. Times’ digital offerings, she interned for the Coastline Pilot in Laguna Beach, CA. Her natural talent and boundless energy led her to produce stories for NPR, KCRW, Marketplace, and Brooklyn-based StoryCorps. She was a graduate of UCLA, where she found her passion for journalism while majoring in anthropology.
Liyna fought a battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). She rallied nationwide support through her #SwabForLiyna campaign to raise awareness of the hurdles people of South Asian descent face in finding a bone marrow match.
Liyna was an active member of AAJA, and a friend to many, including those in the Radio & Podcasting Affinity Group. She will be missed.
–AAJA Board of Directors
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