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Lisa J. Ling is an accomplished American journalist, author, and television personality who currently serves as a news contributor for CBS News.
She previously held the role of host for “This Is Life with Lisa Ling” on CNN, co-hosted the ABC daytime talk show “The View” from 1999 to 2002, served as the host of “National Geographic Explorer” from 2003 to 2010, and acted as a special correspondent for “The Oprah Winfrey Show from 2011 to 2014.
About Lisa Ling
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lisa J. Ling |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of Birth | August 30, 1973 |
| Age | 50 |
| Place of Birth | Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Spouse | Paul Song |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | Journalist, TV Personality, Writer and Screenwriter |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.65 m) |
| Nationality | American |
| Net Worth | $12 Million |
Early Years and Education
Ling was born in Sacramento, California. Her mother, Mary Mei-yan, is a Taiwanese immigrant from Tainan, Taiwan, who served as the head of the Los Angeles office of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs.
Ling’s father, Chung Teh “Douglas” Ling, is a Hong Konger immigrant born in Hong Kong in 1937.
Her parents divorced when she was seven years old. She and her sister were raised by their father in Carmichael, near Sacramento. Ling developed an admiration for reporter Connie Chung and harbored aspirations of becoming a journalist herself.
She completed her education at Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks, California, graduating in 1991 and pursuing her degree program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Opting to depart from USC before completing her degree, Ling embarked on a career as a reporter for Channel One News. She chose to “find her education by visiting different countries instead.” Addressing USC students in 2016, Ling emphasized that traveling is the best education.
Lisa Ling Career
Ling ventured into television as one of the selected hosts for Scratch, a nationally syndicated teen magazine show based in Sacramento.
At 18, she joined Channel One News as one of their youngest reporters and anchors, taking on diverse roles, including war correspondent assignments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ling garnered acclaim, winning several awards for her impactful reporting and documentaries.
On August 2, 1999, Ling secured a spot on The View after surpassing approximately 12,000 hopefuls vying to replace Debbie Matenopoulos. During her on-air audition, Ling even got a navel piercing, which Barbara Walters found “disgusting.”
She departed the show after three and a half years, towards the end of 2002, to resume international reporting. Known for proposing segments such as investing for women, Ling aimed to provoke thought with daily statements, eliciting both praise and criticism.
Her remarks following the September 11, 2001 attacks sparked controversy, as she questioned the motives behind such an assault on the U.S.
Ling accepted an offer to host National Geographic Ultimate Explorer, which later transitioned to the National Geographic Channel, reclaiming its original name, National Geographic Explorer, in 2005.
Ling’s coverage ranged from the drug war in Colombia to investigations into the notorious MS-13 gang and explorations of U.S. prison culture. Notably, she gained access to North Korea with a medical missionary group, documenting the rare insights in the 2007 National Geographic documentary “Inside North Korea.”
Subsequently, Ling became a special correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show, contributing investigative pieces, including a report on North Korea.
Ling’s role was “Oprah Show Investigative Reporter,” and her reports covered various global issues such as child trafficking in Ghana, bride burning in India, the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda, gang rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the April 2007 Virginia Tech Massacre, undercover investigations of Pennsylvanian puppy mills with Main Line Animal Rescue and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and
In December 2008, Ling appeared in CNN’s award-winning documentary Planet in Peril, specifically in the series’ second installment, “Battlelines.”
As a correspondent, she investigated issues such as excessive shark fishing in Costa Rica, elephant poaching in Chad, and the civil struggle within Nigeria for control over its oil. In 2010, Ling co-founded SecretSocietyOfWomen.com, providing a platform for women to share their concerns anonymously.
On February 16, 2011, Ling’s show Our America with Lisa Ling premiered on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, running for five consecutive seasons. On April 14, 2014, CNN announced Ling as the host of the documentary series “This is Life with Lisa Ling,” which premiered on September 28, 2014.
In November 2022, the series was discontinued after then-CNN CEO Chris Licht ceased the CNN Original Series produced by external production companies.
On October 22, 2019, Ling signed an overall deal with HBO’s streaming service HBO Max. The initial project, titled Birth, Wedding, Funeral, was announced. On April 22, 2021, HBO Max ordered Ling’s six-part documentary series, Take Out, exploring the world of America’s Asian takeout restaurants and the lives of the people and families sustaining them.
On May 31, 2023, Ling was appointed as a contributor for CBS News, reporting in-depth stories for its programs, including CBS News Sunday Morning.
Personal Life
In 2004, Ling encountered Florida businessman Philip Levine through mutual acquaintances, initiating a romantic relationship that led to their engagement on February 18, 2005.
However, by October of the same year, Ling decided to end the engagement, citing their demanding schedules, particularly the frequent global travel associated with her profession, as the primary reason for the split.
On January 3, 2007, Ling disclosed her engagement to radiation oncologist Paul Song. They exchanged vows on May 26, 2007, in Los Angeles, California, with notable guests such as Connie Chung, one of Lisa’s heroes, and actresses Kelly Hu and Diane Farr attending the wedding.
Ling welcomed her first child, a daughter named Jett Ling Song, on March 8, 2013. Her second child, a daughter named Ray Ling Song, was born on June 6, 2016The Ling-Song family calls Santa Monica, California, home.
Lisa Ling proudly identifies herself as a “die-hard feminist.” At the age of 40, Ling was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.
Lisa Ling Net Worth
Celebrity Net Worth stated that Lisa has a net worth of $12 million. Information about her properties and assets is not made known to the public.
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