Lisa Sylvester co-anchors the news at 6 and 11 p.m. on WPXI-TV and at 10 p.m. on Fox 53.
Sylvester came to WPXI from CNN, where she had worked since 2004. There, she served as a cut-in news anchor and correspondent for “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer,” as well as a Washington-based correspondent for “Lou Dobbs Tonight.”
Sylvester also spent four years working at ABC, where she served as a Washington, D.C., general correspondent and a correspondent for the network's Weekend News.
Earlier in her career, Sylvester worked as a reporter for KTVI-TV in St. Louis and WMBD-TV in Peoria, Ill. She also served as a reporter for WKRN-TV in Nashville, Tenn., where in 1997 she won an Emmy and an Associated Press award for a report on “Tornado Survival.”
Sylvester has received multiple awards throughout her career, including the 2004 Business Emmy Award for the “Exporting America” series. She also played a key role in the CNN coverage of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which earned the network an Emmy award in 2001 and a Peabody Award in 2002.
Sylvester earned a degree in international economics from Georgetown University and a master's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
The star who would play me in the movie version of my life and why:
Kimberly Elise, I think we physically resemble each other. She portrays strong characters, but she has a sweet demeanor about her. And, as a bonus, she studied mass communications!
Childhood hero and why:
My mother. She was a single parent who raised me and my siblings.
The superpower I wish I had in real life and why:
The ability to instantly fill someone with self-love and love for others
Favorite app:
Google Maps
Favorite season:
Summer! I love warm and hot weather.
Favorite ethnic food:
Indian
I spend the most time on: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Other / None:
www.facebook.com/WPXILisaSylvester
Pick one: “Veep” / “House of Cards” / “Scandal”:
“House of Cards”
Show I have or want to binge watch:
“Downton Abbey”
My favorite cable channel:
Channel 11
What dessert matches your personality?
Cheesecake, I like that it comes in a lot of different flavors.
Which Disney character are you?
Merida from “Brave”
Who's your favorite TV or movie villain?
Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Favorite guilty pleasure:
Reading until 2 a.m. (even when I know I need to wake up early the next day)
Movie I could watch every time it appears on cable:
“Sleepless in Seattle”
The movie that always makes me cry:
“Sleepless in Seattle”
Pick one: Pirates / Penguins / Steelers / Other / I hate sports:
Pirates, Steelers, Penguins — can't choose one
Something I would do over if I could and why:
Spend one more day with my mom, who passed away 16 years ago.
My favorite Pittsburgh athlete:
Really like William Gay and Will Allen — great guys with a great sense of purpose. I also love Cutch!
My favorite sandwich, plus fixings:
Primanti Bros. Pitts-burger!
Favorite lunchtime spot:
Panera Bread
My most embarrassing junk food:
Not really embarrassing, but I do love great French fries.
My favorite Pittsburgh pizza:
That's a tough one. There are a lot of great places. But I like Monte Cello's cheese pizza.
Pick one: Cheetos / Cheez-Its / Cheerios:
Cheez-Its
The most dangerous thing I've ever done:
Paragliding.
Top thing on my “Bucket List” to do before I'm gone:
Write a book
I wish I had more time to:
Sleep
My favorite thing about Pittsburgh is:
The wonderful people
Three people I'd love to have dinner with:
How about two people? The pope and the president
One word my mother would use to describe me:
Bold
If I could go back, I'd tell my teenage self …
Lighten up and have more fun.
My most memorable fashion mistake:
Splitting my pants while out in public (long story)
Favorite Pittsburgh-area landmark:
Mt. Washington. I love the view of the city.
In high school, I was:
Studious
My childhood nickname was:
Bernie (my middle name is Bernadette)
My first job:
Delivering newspapers/mowing lawns
I'm deathly afraid of:
Rats
My most treasured fashion accessories are:
Earrings, small ones. I don't feel “dressed up” unless I have on earrings.
What you'll always find in my glove compartment:
A mess
If I wasn't a news anchor for WPXI-TV, I'd be:
A children's book author
When I was 10, I wanted to be:
An astronaut
The last book I read:
“Me Before You” by JoJo Moyes
My favorite website:
Happiness is …
Snuggling with my 5-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son, watching a movie!
My personal motto is …
Live life fully
People would be surprised to know that I:
Once ran a 50-mile race. It took me all day.
