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Isaac Lee

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Isaac Lee Possin
Isaac Lee Possin - Los Angeles, CA - April 1, 2019
Born (1971-01-05) January 5, 1971 (age 53)
Bogotá, Colombia
NationalityAmerican and Colombian
Occupation(s)CEO and co-founder of EXILE Content Studio
EmployerEXILE Content Studio (Candle Media)
Known forFormer: Chief Content Officer of Univision and Televisa; Chief News, Entertainment & Digital Officer of Univision;
Editor-in-chief of Revista Semana
Co-founder of Fusion
President of News for Univision
Executive producer for Science Fair documentary
TelevisionEl Chapo
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Lee and the second or maternal family name is Possin.

Isaac Lee Possin (born 1971) is a Colombian journalist, entrepreneur and film & television producer. He is the founder and CEO of EXILE Content Studio,[1] a media company developing premium original content for audiences across the U.S. and Latin America. Lee is also the Chairman of HYBE Latin America, a subsidiary of HYBE Corporation (HYBE) and comprises HYBE Latin America US, DOCEMIL Music, Zarpazo Entertainment, and AJÁ Podcasts.[2] He previously served as Chief Content Officer for Univision Communications and Televisa, the world's largest Spanish-language media conglomerate.[3][4] He founded StoryHouse Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based, scripted content development unit of Univision, which produces acclaimed scripted TV Series El Chapo (Netflix), as well as Outpost (HBO), Residente and Hate Rising docu-features.

Lee was born in Bogotá, Colombia to Jewish immigrants.[5]

Career

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When Lee was 23, he reported that Colombia's then president Ernesto Samper had received funding from the Cali Cartel. Lee was fired immediately afterward.[6]

At the age of 25, Lee was appointed editor of Cromos.[6] At 26, he was named editor-in-chief of the Colombian magazine Semana. During his tenure at Semana, the magazine became a publishing house with several titles and digital properties. The magazine was crucial in several of Colombia's most important political junctures. A 1997 cover story forced two Colombian cabinet ministers to resign shortly after.[7] Semana also covered political corruption, guerrillas, the military and paramilitaries, narco-traffickers and the peace process.

PODER Magazine

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Lee founded and was the editor-in-chief of PODER Magazine, a pan-regional magazine for the business elite with special editions for the US Hispanic market, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela and Peru with a total circulation of over half a million copies. The magazine was later sold to Televisa and other investors.[6]

Univision

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On December 9, 2010 Univision announced the appointment of Lee as President of News.[8]

Shortly after joining Univision, Lee announced he was working on the launch of a 24-hour cable news channel in English; the new channel was officially announced in May 2012 as a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and Univision.[9] In February 2013, both networks announced the new channel would be called Fusion.[10]

Two new departments within news were created in 2011:[11] an Investigative Unit led by Gerardo Reyes[12] and a Documentary Unit led by Juan Rendón.[citation needed] The Documentary Unit later became StoryHouse a content development and production venture producing original content for UCI's portfolio of owned networks as well as third party networks and platforms.[13]

Under Lee's tenure, Univision News has attained several recognitions for journalistic excellence such as the 2012 Peabody[14] and IRE Awards[15] for its "Fast and Furious" investigation, three Emmy's for outstanding investigative reporting, outstanding newsmagazine and outstanding breaking news coverage and two Gracie awards,[16] and the Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism.[17]

In February 2015, as part of a reorganization of Univision's digital operation, Lee's role was expanded to lead Digital for all of Univision as President of Digital.[18] Shortly after, under Lee's leadership, Univision announced the acquisition of African-American news site The Root.[19]

In November 2015 Lee was named to the newly created position of chief news and digital officer, with additional responsibilities over multicultural and music and maintaining oversight of the news and digital divisions.[20]

Exile Content Studio

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In 2018, Lee co-founded Exile Content Studio[1] with several fellow former colleagues. Exile was acquired by Candle Media in 2022,[21] with Lee continuing to lead the subsidiary.[22]

Organizations and Boards

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  • Board of Directors Associated Press[23]
  • Board of advisors of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics[24]
  • Journalism advisory board of ProPublica.[25]
  • International Advisory Board of the Committee to protect journalists.[7]
  • Hirshhorn Museum[26]
  • Frmr. Boardmember Legendary Pictures
  • Board of Directors Ualá

Lee is also a member of the IAPA, the NAHJ, the Foro Iberoamérica Presided by Ricardo Lagos and Carlos Fuentes and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Projects

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Film

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  • Paraiso Travel (2008) He was a producer[27] of feature film "Paraíso Travel", an immigration story based on a novel of acclaimed writer Jorge Franco.[28]
  • When lambs become lions (2019) Lee was the executive producer[29] for this feature film where a small-time ivory dealer fights to stay on top while forces mobilize to destroy his trade. When he turns to his younger cousin, a conflicted wildlife ranger who hasn't been paid in months, they both see a possible lifeline.

TV

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  • El Chapo (2017) Produced[30] TV Series for Univision and Netflix about El Chapo's life in crime, from his lowly beginnings in the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s through his rise to power—and eventual fall—as the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.
  • Colombia Hostage Rescue (2010) In 2010 he co-produced[27] his first documentary "Colombia Hostage Rescue" for National Geographic TV which aired in 13 countries.
  • Operación Jaque He also co-produced with Televisión Española an International Emmy Award nominated TV mini-series about Operación Jaque.[31]
  • Who Killed Malcolm X 6 part investigative follows activist and investigative journalist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad as he embarks on a complex mission seeking truth about the assassination of the African American Leader Malcolm X.[32]
  • TrumpLand Fusion teams up with “Kill All Normies” author Angela Nagle to examine the social and political forces which have emboldened white nationalists in the age of Trump, in this follow-up to the emmy-nominated: The Naked Truth-Trumpland.

Other projects

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  • Mars 2030 VR A virtual reality exploration of Mars with a realistic future habitat on the surface of the red planet. The simulation includes a dig into the history of the planet's landmarks in immersive 3D. Developed in collaboration with NASA and MIT.[33]

Personal life

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Lee is openly gay.[34]

References

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  1. ^ a b de la Fuente, Anna Marie (October 10, 2018). "Univision Alum Isaac Lee Launches Exile Content (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.
  2. ^ "HYBE acquires Latin music label Exile Music, establishes HYBE Latin America". Music Business Worldwide. 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  3. ^ Lieberman, David (July 7, 2016). "Univision Promotes Isaac Lee To Chief News, Entertainment & Digital Officer". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  4. ^ de la Fuente, Anna Marie (2018-07-17). "Isaac Lee Exits as Content Chief for Univision and Televisa, Sets Production Venture (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
  5. ^ "Isaac Lee Possin - Biography". Isaac Lee Possin Journalist. Archived from the original on January 9, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (April 12, 2013). "Univision of the Future". Financial Times.
  7. ^ a b "Timeline of Colombian history - Wikipedia". wikipedia.nd.ax. Retrieved 2020-05-12.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Isaac Lee, President of News". Univision. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  9. ^ "ABC News, Univision Announce Multiplatform Plan". ABC News. May 6, 2012. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  10. ^ Kim, Susanna (February 11, 2013). "ABC and Univision Announce New Cable Network 'Fusion' Will Launch Later in 2013". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Anna Marie de la Fuente (August 27, 2011). "Univision bets big on news". Variety. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  12. ^ "Univision News Investigation Into Operation Fast and Furious; New Weapons Revealed". ABC News. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  13. ^ "Univision Communications Inc. Launches New Los Angeles Based Development and Production Unit". Univision Communications Inc. May 11, 2016. Archived from the original on July 19, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "72nd Annual Peabody Awards: Complete List of Winners". Peabody Awards. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "Investigative Reporters and Editors - 2012 IRE Award winners". Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
  16. ^ 2013 Gracie Awards Winners Archived 2013-09-21 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "Cronkite Award 2013 Winners Announced". Archived from the original on 2015-05-03. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  18. ^ Winslow, George (February 9, 2015). "Univision Promotes Digital Execs". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  19. ^ Bond, Shannon (May 21, 2015). "Univision buys African-American news site The Root". The Financial Times. Archived from the original on October 29, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  20. ^ "Univision Promotes Isaac Lee to Chief News and Digital Officer in Multicultural Content Push". Variety. 2015-11-17. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30.
  21. ^ "Exclusive: Candle taps James Goldston for new nonfiction studio". axios.com. February 21, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  22. ^ "Candle Media to acquire Exile Content Studio". axios.com. May 24, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  23. ^ "AP names three new directors, re-elects another at annual meeting". Associated Press. April 30, 2014. Archived from the original on May 1, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  24. ^ Johnson, Dirk (February 2013). "David Axelrod on His Move to the University of Chicago". Chicago magazine. Archived from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  25. ^ Board and Advisors - ProPublica
  26. ^ "Hirshhorn Elects Four New Trustees and Announces Record-Setting Fundraising Year". East City Art. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Isaac Lee on IMDB". IMDB. imdb.com. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  28. ^ Padgett, Tim (March 11, 2008). "An Honest Look at Illegal Immigration". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Archived from the original on July 22, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  29. ^ "WHEN LAMBS BECOME LIONS". WHEN LAMBS BECOME LIONS. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  30. ^ "Univision and Televisa's chief of content, Isaac Lee, steps down". Los Angeles Times. 2018-07-17. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  31. ^ "Operation Checkmate" (2010) - Full cast and crew
  32. ^ Leland, John (2020-02-06). "Who Really Killed Malcolm X?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
  33. ^ July 2017, Sarah Lewin 31 (31 July 2017). "Mars 2030: What It Was Like to Explore the Red Planet in Virtual Reality". Space.com. Retrieved 2020-05-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ Morales, Ed (13 November 2013). "The New Wave of Latin TV: Inside the Fusion Network". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
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