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Columbian journalist and media executive (b. 1971) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Isaac Lee Possin | |
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![]() Isaac Lee Possin - Los Angeles, CA - April 1, 2019 | |
Born | |
Nationality | American and Colombian |
Occupation(s) | CEO and co-founder of EXILE Content Studio |
Employer | EXILE Content Studio (Candle Media) |
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 |
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.[5] 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.
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.[5]
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.[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.[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]
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]
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.
Lee is openly gay.[33]