Isaac Lee Explained

Isaac Lee Possin
Birth Date:	5 January 1971
Birth Place:	Bogotá, Colombia
Nationality:	American and Colombian
Known For:	Former: 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
Television:	El Chapo
Employer:	EXILE Content Studio (Candle Media)
Occupation:	CEO and co-founder of EXILE Content Studio

Isaac Lee Possin (born 1971) is a Colombian journalist, entrepreneur and film & television producer. He is the founder and CEO, and the former executive chairman of EXILE Content Studio,^[1] a media company developing premium original content for audiences across the U.S. and Latin America. He previously served as Chief Content Officer for Univision Communications and Televisa, the world's largest Spanish-language media conglomerate.^{[2] [3]} 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.^[4]

Career

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.^[5]

At the age of 25, Lee was appointed editor of Cromos. 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.^[6] Semana also covered political corruption, guerrillas, the military and paramilitaries, narco-traffickers and the peace process.

PODER Magazine

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.

Univision

On December 9, 2010 Univision announced the appointment of Lee as President of News.^[7]

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.^[8] In February 2013, both networks announced the new channel would be called Fusion.^[9]

Two new departments within news were created in 2011:^[10] an Investigative Unit led by Gerardo Reyes^[11] and a Documentary Unit led by Juan Rendón. 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.^[12]

Under Lee's tenure, Univision News has attained several recognitions for journalistic excellence such as the 2012 Peabody^[13] and IRE Awards^[14] for its "Fast and Furious" investigation, three Emmy's for outstanding investigative reporting, outstanding newsmagazine and outstanding breaking news coverage and two Gracie awards,^[15] and the Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism.^[16]

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.^[17] Shortly after, under Lee's leadership, Univision announced the acquisition of African-American news site The Root.^[18]

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.^[19]

Exile Content Studio

In 2018, Lee co-founded Exile Content Studio^[1] with several fellow former colleagues. Exile was acquired by Candle Media in 2022,^[20] with Lee continuing to lead the subsidiary.^[21]

Organizations and Boards

• Board of Directors Associated Press^[22]
• Board of advisors of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics^[23]
• Journalism advisory board of ProPublica.^[24]
• International Advisory Board of the Committee to protect journalists.
• Hirshhorn Museum^[25]
• 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

Film

• Paraiso Travel (2008) He was a producer of feature film "Paraíso Travel", an immigration story based on a novel of acclaimed writer Jorge Franco.^[26]
• When lambs become lions (2019) Lee was the executive producer^[27] 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

• El Chapo (2017) Produced^[28] 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^[29] 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.^[30]
• 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.^[31]
• 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

• 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.^[32]

Personal life

Lee is openly gay.^[33]

External links

• EXILE CONTENT Homepage
• Isaac Lee on IMDB.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: Univision Alum Isaac Lee Launches Exile Content (EXCLUSIVE). de la Fuente. Anna Marie. October 10, 2018. variety.
2. Web site: Univision Promotes Isaac Lee To Chief News, Entertainment & Digital Officer . Lieberman . David . July 7, 2016 . Deadline . February 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240109200626/https://deadline.com/2016/07/univision-promotes-isaac-lee-chief-news-entertainment-digital-officer-1201783615/ . January 9, 2024.
3. News: Isaac Lee Exits as Content Chief for Univision and Televisa, Sets Production Venture (EXCLUSIVE). de la Fuente. Anna Marie. 2018-07-17. Variety. 2018-08-09. en-US.
4. Web site: Isaac Lee Possin - Biography . Isaac Lee Possin Journalist . February 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110109145337/http://www.isaacleepossin.com/Biography/ . January 9, 2011.
5. Web site: Univision of the Future . Andrew . Edgecliffe-Johnson . April 12, 2013 . Financial Times.
6. Web site: Timeline of Colombian history - Wikipedia. wikipedia.nd.ax. en. 2020-05-12.
7. Web site: Isaac Lee, President of News . Univision . February 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140829082306/http://corporate.univision.com/leader/isaac-lee/ . August 29, 2014.
8. Web site: ABC News, Univision Announce Multiplatform Plan . May 6, 2012 . ABC News . February 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120508023930/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/abc-news-univision-announce-multiplatform-plan/story?id=16292412 . May 8, 2012.
9. Web site: ABC and Univision Announce New Cable Network 'Fusion' Will Launch Later in 2013 . Kim . Susanna . February 11, 2013 . ABC News . February 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130212142547/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/abc-news-univision-announce-cable-network-called-fusion/story?id=18468776 . February 12, 2013.
10. Web site: Univision bets big on news . Anna Marie de la Fuente . August 27, 2011 . Variety . February 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111330/https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/univision-bets-big-on-news-1118041849/ . March 4, 2016.
11. Web site: Univision News Investigation Into Operation Fast and Furious; New Weapons Revealed . ABC News . February 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121002072108/https://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/page/univision-news-investigation-operation-fast-furious-weapons-revealed-17352963 . October 2, 2012.
12. Web site: Univision Communications Inc. Launches New Los Angeles Based Development and Production Unit . Univision Communications Inc . May 11, 2016 . March 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160719055055/http://corporate.univision.com/2016/05/univision-communications-inc-launches-new-los-angeles-based-development-and-production-unit/ . July 19, 2016.
13. Web site: 72nd Annual Peabody Awards: Complete List of Winners . Peabody Awards . February 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130518145332/http://peabodyawards.com/2013/03/72nd-annual-peabody-awards-complete-list-of-winners/ . May 18, 2013.
14. Web site: Investigative Reporters and Editors - 2012 IRE Award winners . 2013-06-27 . 2013-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130629130911/http://ire.org/awards/ire-awards/winners/2012-ire-award-winners/ . dead .
15. http://www.thegracies.org/2013-grace-awards.php 2013 Gracie Awards Winners
16. http://www.cronkiteaward.org/ Cronkite Award 2013 Winners Announced
17. Web site: Univision Promotes Digital Execs . Winslow . George . February 9, 2015 . Broadcasting & Cable . March 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150210085458/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/fates-and-fortunes/univision-promotes-digital-execs/137865 . February 10, 2015.
18. Web site: Univision buys African-American news site The Root . Bond . Shannon . May 21, 2015 . The Financial Times . March 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151029071840/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/920a0990-ffcf-11e4-bc30-00144feabdc0.html . October 29, 2015.
19. Web site: Univision Promotes Isaac Lee to Chief News and Digital Officer in Multicultural Content Push . 2015-11-17 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230330053127/https://variety.com/2015/digital/news/univision-isaac-lee-promoted-chief-digital-officer-1201642307/ . 2023-03-30 . live .
20. Web site: Exclusive: Candle taps James Goldston for new nonfiction studio. axios.com. February 21, 2023. November 21, 2023.
21. Web site: Candle Media to acquire Exile Content Studio. axios.com. May 24, 2022. November 21, 2023.
22. Web site: AP names three new directors, re-elects another at annual meeting . April 30, 2014 . Associated Press . March 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140501034937/http://www.ap.org/content/press-release/2014/ap-names-three-new-directors-and-re-elects-another-at-annual-meeting . May 1, 2014.
23. Web site: David Axelrod on His Move to the University of Chicago . Chicago magazine . February 2013 . Johnson . Dirk . March 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130113185352/http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/February-2013/David-Axelrod-on-His-Move-to-the-University-of-Chicago/ . January 13, 2013.
24. https://www.propublica.org/about/leadership/ Board and Advisors - ProPublica
25. Web site: Hirshhorn Elects Four New Trustees and Announces Record-Setting Fundraising Year . East City Art . 16 November 2016 . March 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210925132223/https://www.eastcityart.com/art-news/hirshhorn-elects-four-new-trustees-announces-record-setting-fundraising-year/ . September 25, 2021.
26. An Honest Look at Illegal Immigration . Padgett . Tim . March 11, 2008 . en-US . Time . March 4, 2024 . 0040-781X . https://web.archive.org/web/20140722175214/https://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1721458,00.html . July 22, 2014.
27. Web site: WHEN LAMBS BECOME LIONS. WHEN LAMBS BECOME LIONS. en-US. 2020-05-08.
28. Web site: Univision and Televisa's chief of content, Isaac Lee, steps down. 2018-07-17. Los Angeles Times. en-US. 2020-05-08.
29. Web site: Isaac Lee on IMDB . IMDB . imdb.com . 15 May 2019.
30. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1567715/fullcredits#producers "Operation Checkmate" (2010) - Full cast and crew
31. News: Leland. John. 2020-02-06. Who Really Killed Malcolm X?. en-US. The New York Times. 2020-05-14. 0362-4331.
32. Web site: Mars 2030: What It Was Like to Explore the Red Planet in Virtual Reality. July 2017. Sarah Lewin 31. Space.com. 31 July 2017. en. 2020-05-12.
33. Morales. Ed. The New Wave of Latin TV: Inside the Fusion Network. Rolling Stone. 13 November 2013. 13 September 2016.