Lester Strong joined WHDH-TV in June 1984 as a general assignment reporter. He assumed weekend co-anchoring duties in July 1984 and was named co-anchor of the noon broadcast in August 1986. In November of 1991, Strong became the solo anchor on 7 NEWS at Noon. In 1994, Strong moved to the 5:30 newscast, where he currently co-anchors Monday through Friday with Cathy Marshall.

Strong was also named host of WHDH-TV minority affairs program URBAN UPDATE in January 1994. URBAN UPDATE is a multi-cultural program which examines news events and issues that have a braod impact on New England's minority community. It airs weekly on Sundays from Noon-12:30PM.

In addition to his anchoring and hosting, Strong serves as the station's "Healthcast" Reporter for 7 NEWS at Noon, 5:00, and 11PM. With his health and medical reports, Strong creates public awareness on topical issues impacting people's lives. In February of 1994, Strong was honored with the prestigious William A. Hinton Award by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The Hinton Award recognizes outstanding individuals who have significantly contributed to educating the public on health and medical issues.

Prior to joining WHDH-TV, Strong was morning and noon news anchor for WSB-TV in Atlanta. While at WSB, he held a variety of positions including executive producer and special projects director. From September 1978 until June 1980, Strong was program development and community affairs director at WBTV in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also has worked for ABC in New York as east coast manager of children's programs from June 1977 to September 1978.

His first broadcasting associations were at stations he would return to later in his career. From January 1975 until June 1977, he served as community affairs director at Atlanta's WSB-TV. He landed his first broadcasting job at Charlotte's WBTV, where he was the host/producer of the "Lester Strong Show."

During the summer of 1974, Strong worked with the documentary unit of Ghana Broadcasting Company. His work won him a number of awards, including four Georgia Emmys for public affairs programs. He was the executive producer of a documentary on the making of ABC's "Nightline," which won an NATPE Iris award in 1982.

In addition, Strong received a Presidential Commendation in 1982 for a WSB-TV program, "WSB on the Job," which focused attention on the Federal Jobs Campaign. In 1987, he was honored as a Black Achiever by the Greater Boston YMCA for his contributions as a role model for inner-city youths.

A native of Braddock, Pennsylvania, Strong holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina.

Send email to: Lester Strong

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