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Judges Spotlight December 19, 2018

5 Things You Should Know About Melinda Lee

BuzzFeed's first Chief Content Officer, Melinda Lee, is always two steps ahead of the latest trends in video. Get to know one of our newest Webby Judges.

Let’s face it: Today’s video industry is always changing, and it can be hard to keep up. But one woman remains ahead of the curve—while also developing business strategies to make the biggest impact with her video work.

Meet Melinda Lee, she’s the first-ever Chief Content Officer at BuzzFeed, and a new member of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences.

Read on for 5 great things you need to know about this new Webby Judge.

5 Things You Didn't Know About Melinda Lee

BuzzFeed's first Chief Content Officer, Melinda Lee, is always two steps ahead of the latest trends in video. Get to know one of our newest Webby Judges.

She's a Self-Described "Food Spy"

When she’s not overseeing digital content strategy and product development, you can find Melinda trying the best ramen, bacon cheeseburgers, and crab sandwiches across New York City.

Follow her food spying expeditions (and more) on Instagram at @mykarmarocks.

She's Also a "Recovering Lawyer"

Prior to becoming a video content and digital strategy guru, Melinda was a lawyer, working as a judicial law clerk in the New Jersey court systems. In a 2008 Tubefilter interview, she describes herself as a  “recovering lawyer, turned new media rights person for major media company, turned digital content management person for a start-up, turned entrepreneur.”

Fun fact: Her practice was in intellectual property.

She's an Entrepreneur

In 2007, Melinda co-founded Uncensored Interview, an award-winning digital production studio and video content outlet that gives indie artists a platform to express themselves through raw Q&As.

Fun fact: Weird Al Yankovic made Melinda’s list of artists she’d like to interview.

She's BuzzFeed's First Chief Content Officer

When BuzzFeed Media Brands was formed, a leader was needed to oversee their content. In comes Melinda, who’s been tapped as their first-ever Chief Content Officer.

In her role she oversees the editorial and business operations of the lifestyle brands: Tasty (food), Nifty (home), Goodful (wellness), As/Is (beauty and style), and Playfull (new parenting).

Keep up with BuzzFeed to see how Lee further develops its lifestyle brands.

She Helped License High-Quality Music to Artists

Melinda is a lifelong music lover—a passion that developed while she attended law school in Philadelphia.

That passion pushed her to work at MTV Networks in the early 2000s, head up Getty Images’ music services, and found Uncensored Interview.

Fun fact: She truly admires songwriters.

Drag