Lily Jamali – BBC Technology Correspondent and Global Financial Journalist
Lily Jamali is a respected BBC North America Technology Correspondent, based in San Francisco, California, where she covers the intersection of technology, finance, and society. With an illustrious career spanning major international news organisations including Bloomberg, Reuters, KQED, and Marketplace, Lily has established herself as one of the most insightful voices in business and technology journalism. Her work reflects a perfect balance between financial analysis, technological innovation, and human impact, making her one of the most influential multimedia journalists of her generation.
Fluent in Farsi, Spanish, and French, she brings a global and multicultural perspective to her reporting, embodying a blend of analytical precision and storytelling depth.
Early Life and Education of Lily Jamali
Lily Jamali’s educational background reveals her unique combination of literary curiosity and financial acumen. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in English with a Minor in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2002. Her strong command of language and interest in social issues naturally led her to pursue journalism.
She continued her academic journey at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she earned her Master of Science in Journalism in 2007. During her time there, she specialised in new media, radio, and video documentary, gaining skills that would later help her navigate the changing digital media landscape.
Driven by a passion to understand global economics, she later pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University (NYU). Her coursework in finance, macroeconomics, and data analytics, combined with membership in the Graduate Finance Association and Stern Investment Management and Research Society, shaped her into a journalist equally comfortable with balance sheets and breaking news.
Her education at three of the world’s most prestigious universities equipped her with the versatility to analyse markets, interview global leaders, and interpret complex financial trends for the public.
Early Career in Journalism
Lily Jamali began her journalism career in California as a Reporter and Fill-in Anchor at KRCR-TV from 2004 to 2006. She quickly developed a reputation for thoughtful, in-depth storytelling that prioritised accuracy and empathy. From there, she moved to New York, where she joined NY1 News in 2007 as a Criminal Justice Reporter covering the NYPD, court cases, and national security. Her ability to report live under pressure made her one of the station’s most reliable correspondents.
She also gained experience at NBC News, where she worked as a Bilingual Reporter and Producer for NBC News Mobile, presenting daily news segments in both English and Spanish. Her bilingual proficiency and global perspective set her apart in the competitive New York media environment.
Expanding Horizons – Freelance and International Reporting
From 2010 to 2014, Lily Jamali broadened her scope as a Freelance Multimedia Reporter and Producer. During this period, she worked with internationally recognised outlets including BBC/PRI’s “The World”, CNN, CBC, and Deutsche Welle.
Her assignments took her to countries such as Switzerland, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, and Brazil, where she produced in-depth reports on climate change, global economics, and social justice. She also covered the World Economic Forum in Davos, providing insights on international markets and leadership trends.
In 2012, she travelled to Rio de Janeiro on a reporting grant from PRI/BBC’s “The World”, where she explored topics like public safety in the favelas, religious diversity, and economic inequality. Her global experience and willingness to work in challenging environments reflected her dedication to authentic, field-based storytelling.
Establishing Expertise – Reuters and Bloomberg
Time at Reuters TV
Lily joined Reuters TV in 2013 as a Technology and Business Reporter. Working from both New York and San Francisco, she covered corporate innovation, start-ups, and market developments. Her coverage included major technology events, financial results, and global summits such as Davos and the Aspen Ideas Festival. She played a key role in translating complex economic shifts into engaging stories for a global audience.
Anchor at Bloomberg TV Canada
In 2017, Lily became Anchor and Executive Producer of Bloomberg Markets: Canada, an hour-long daily broadcast focused on finance, business, and politics. She led editorial coverage, interviewed high-level executives, and reported on how international policy and market movements affected North American economies. Her work combined deep financial knowledge with exceptional presentation skills.
At Bloomberg, she also contributed to the Bloomberg Terminal, writing enterprise stories about the Canadian economy, market shifts, and business trends during the Trump administration. Her leadership and analytical insight strengthened Bloomberg’s coverage of cross-border trade and investment.
Public Radio and Investigative Reporting
After Bloomberg, Lily Jamali joined KQED in San Francisco as Co-Host and Correspondent for The California Report. She spent three years covering California’s most pressing issues, including energy policy, housing, and environmental justice.
Her investigative reporting on PG&E’s bankruptcy and the 2018 Camp Fire earned widespread recognition. Reporting directly from Butte County while the fire was still burning, she provided real-time updates that informed the public and humanised the crisis. Her coverage of wildfire recovery and corporate responsibility displayed her signature blend of empathy and rigour.
She also guest-hosted Forum, KQED’s flagship talk programme, showcasing her ability to moderate discussions on politics, culture, and technology.
Senior Reporter at Marketplace
In October 2021, Lily joined Marketplace, one of America’s leading public radio programmes focused on business and the economy. As a Senior Reporter at American Public Media Group, she covered financial markets, consumer trends, and the economic impact of technology. Her nuanced reports on post-pandemic recovery, inflation, and sustainability reflected her ability to interpret both data and human experience.
During this period, she also contributed to podcasts and digital content, demonstrating her versatility across platforms.
Current Role at BBC News
In September 2024, Lily Jamali joined BBC News as the North America Technology Correspondent. In this capacity, she covers the rapidly evolving technology sector, including artificial intelligence, digital policy, and the social implications of innovation.
Stationed in San Francisco, she reports from the heart of Silicon Valley, offering analysis of how tech trends influence global economics and human behaviour. Her reporting combines financial insight with storytelling depth, helping global audiences understand not only what technology does but what it means for society.
Skills, Recognition, and Multilingual Abilities
Lily Jamali’s career is defined by multimedia expertise and cross-platform versatility. She has worked in television, radio, and digital journalism, seamlessly adapting her skills to each format.
Her work has earned recognition from institutions such as:
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The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Mid-Career Grant)
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The SAJA Reporting Fellowship for climate reporting in the Maldives
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The National Press Photographers Association’s Paul Threlfall Award
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Columbia University’s Leslie Sander Social Justice Award
In addition to English, Lily speaks Farsi, Spanish, and French, reflecting her Iranian-American background and global outlook.
Personal Life and Heritage
While Lily Jamali has kept her private life away from the public eye, it is widely recognised that she is of Iranian-American heritage and was raised in the United States. She has not publicly discussed her parents, family, or marital status, reflecting her commitment to professional privacy.
Based on her educational timeline, Lily Jamali is likely in her mid-40s. Her cultural fluency and international experiences give her journalism a uniquely global character, bridging Western and Middle Eastern perspectives.
FAQs
1. Who is Lily Jamali?
Lily Jamali is an American-Iranian journalist and the North America Technology Correspondent at BBC News. Based in San Francisco, she reports on innovation, artificial intelligence, and the impact of technology on business and society.
2. How old is Lily Jamali?
Lily Jamali has not publicly shared her exact age, but based on her education timeline, she is estimated to be in her mid-40s as of 2025.
3. Is Lily Jamali married or does she have a husband?
Lily Jamali keeps her personal life private. She has not disclosed any information about her husband or marital status in public or media interviews.
4. Does Lily Jamali have a Wikipedia page?
As of now, Lily Jamali does not have an official Wikipedia page, but her professional background is well-documented through BBC News, Marketplace, Bloomberg, and Reuters archives.
5. What is Lily Jamali’s role at the BBC?
Lily Jamali serves as the BBC’s North America Technology Correspondent, covering Silicon Valley, tech policy, digital innovation, and the business dynamics shaping the global technology landscape.
Conclusion
Lily Jamali’s career is a testament to the power of journalism that informs, analyses, and connects. From covering Wall Street to wildfires, and from Davos to Silicon Valley, she continues to demonstrate intellectual depth and narrative empathy. As the BBC’s North America Technology Correspondent, she stands among the most credible and cosmopolitan voices in modern media.
Her dedication to factual integrity, economic literacy, and public interest journalism ensures that Lily Jamali remains a trusted figure for audiences worldwide.
