Siani Lee

October 8, 1962 (age 39)

Seoul, South Korea

She previously worked in several other cities including Savannah, Georgia, Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, District of Columbia. She began her career in 1987 at WTKR-television in Norfolk, Virginia as a producer. In 1988, she moved to WTOC-television in Savannah, Georgia where she was a reporter and producer. In 1990, she joined WMAR-television in Baltimore, Maryland where she spent one year as a general assignment reporter. In 1991, Lee became an anchor and reporter at News Channel 8 in Washington, District of Columbia. She earned an award for her in-depth coverage of Washington District of Columbia"s Asian American community from the National Association for Professional Asian Women. In 1992, Siani earned Sigma Delta Chi Society of Professional Journalists Dateline Award for her report on Korean American and African American race relations. In 1993, she joined WCAU-television (which was owned by Columbia Broadcasting System at the time) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as weekend evening anchor and reporter. She spent six years at the station reporting for major events including the 1993 Storm of the Century, the North American blizzard of 1996, and the station"s affiliation swap with KYW-television in 1995 (WCAU became an National Broadcasting Company-owned station at that time). She also anchored the weekend newscasts. Siani Lee"s big break came in 1999 when she joined KYW-television as the main weekday 6pm co-anchor and consumer reporter. On Sunday, October 28, 2001, 20 days after her 39th birthday, Lee was driving her Mercedes in Schuylkill Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania when she went through a stop sign at a major intersection. She was hit on the driver"s side in a head on collision. Lee was not wearing a seat belt at the time and was pronounced dead at the scene from severe neck and head trauma. Lee was the President of the Philadelphia chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association and was the first Asian American to anchor in the Philadelphia market. She served on the board of directors at MANNA, an agency which provided food to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome patients. Lee was remembered by her colleagues as a hardworking and valued woman and was also known for her willingness to help others and for her humor. Lee was posthumously inducted into "The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia"s Hall of Fame" on November 29, 2009.

Siani Lee

Edit Profile

reporter

Background

Lee was born in Seoul, South of Korea and was raised in several military bases as an infant. Lee grew up in Newport News, Virginia where she graduated from Denbigh High School in 1981.

Education

Lee graduated from Hampton University in 1985 where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications and journalism.

Career

She previously worked in several other cities including Savannah, Georgia, Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, District of Columbia.

She began her career in 1987 at WTKR-television in Norfolk, Virginia as a producer. In 1988, she moved to WTOC-television in Savannah, Georgia where she was a reporter and producer. In 1990, she joined WMAR-television in Baltimore, Maryland where she spent one year as a general assignment reporter.

In 1991, Lee became an anchor and reporter at News Channel 8 in Washington, District of Columbia. She earned an award for her in-depth coverage of Washington District of Columbia"s Asian American community from the National Association for Professional Asian Women.

In 1992, Siani earned Sigma Delta Chi Society of Professional Journalists Dateline Award for her report on Korean American and African American race relations. In 1993, she joined WCAU-television (which was owned by Columbia Broadcasting System at the time) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as weekend evening anchor and reporter.

She spent six years at the station reporting for major events including the 1993 Storm of the Century, the North American blizzard of 1996, and the station"s affiliation swap with KYW-television in 1995 (WCAU became an National Broadcasting Company-owned station at that time). She also anchored the weekend newscasts.

Siani Lee"s big break came in 1999 when she joined KYW-television as the main weekday 6pm co-anchor and consumer reporter.

On Sunday, October 28, 2001, 20 days after her 39th birthday, Lee was driving her Mercedes in Schuylkill Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania when she went through a stop sign at a major intersection. She was hit on the driver"s side in a head on collision. Lee was not wearing a seat belt at the time and was pronounced dead at the scene from severe neck and head trauma.

Lee was the President of the Philadelphia chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association and was the first Asian American to anchor in the Philadelphia market.

She served on the board of directors at MANNA, an agency which provided food to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome patients. Lee was remembered by her colleagues as a hardworking and valued woman and was also known for her willingness to help others and for her humor.

Lee was posthumously inducted into "The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia"s Hall of Fame" on November 29, 2009.

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Connections

Connections

Siani Lee

Background

Education

Career

Born

Died

Nationality