Jump to content

Shepard Smith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Aliencode (talk | contribs) at 11:14, 9 November 2006. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Shepard Smith
BornJanuary 14, 1964
Holly Springs, Mississippi
Occupation(s)Host of Studio B, The Fox Report (Fox News Channel)
WebsiteBiography on FoxNews.com

Shepard Smith (born David Shepard Smith, Jr. on January 14, 1964 in Holly Springs, Mississippi) is an American TV news anchor. He is host of The Fox Report with Shepard Smith and Studio B weekdays on the Fox News Channel. In addition, he anchors the 7 PM ET weekday newscast on Fox News Radio, also titled The Fox Report.

Education

Smith attended the University of Mississippi. He majored in journalism and left a few credits shy of graduation requirements. He frequently returns to the university during football season.

Smith attended Marshall Academy, a private K-12 school in Holly Springs, Mississippi.

Career

Smith signed his first television contract with WJHG-TV in Panama City Beach, Florida. He worked as a reporter at WCJB-TV in Gainesville, Florida (1985), reporter/anchor in Miami with WSVN-TV and as a reporter at WCPX-TV (now WKMG-TV) in Orlando. In Los Angeles, he was a correspondent for A Current Affair. He joined Fox News at its inception in 1996.

In 2001, Smith was one of the media witnesses to the execution of Timothy McVeigh in Terre Haute, Indiana. He reported on the death and funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. In late August 2005, Smith went to New Orleans, Louisiana to report on Hurricane Katrina for the Fox News Channel. He spent a little over a week in the French Quarter area of the city and faced the wrath of the storm for several hours during its worst moments in the city on August 29. At first, the broadcasts from the New Orleans's streets were choppy since they only had a video phone, but later improved a little with the arrival of a rain-soaked video camera. Smith was seen wearing casual clothing, such as a backwards baseball cap and heavy rain gear, which contrasts his regular suit and tie look. During the aftermath of storm and its flooding, Smith reported about the grim state of the city on Interstate 10. He did his best to bring awareness to the fact that people were out on the highway for several days without food nor water. His most memorable appearance during this period was an energetic exchange with Sean Hannity during Hannity & Colmes. Smith, broadcasting from New Orleans, had just explained to the hosts the dire predicament of residents, some trapped on Interstate 10, while Geraldo Rivera reported on tragic conditions in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

In late September 2005, he headed to Port Arthur, Texas to do another report on Hurricane Rita. During coverage of Rita in Texas, Shepard Smith was seen wearing—and losing—several different baseball caps and being tossed down by the extreme winds.

The Fox Report with Shepard Smith remains as the top-rated newscast in cable news, for fifty-nine months and counting as of September 2006 [citation needed], and is ranked third in the top programs in cable news. [1] Smith is currently the longest-running news anchor for an evening broadcast of this format and style on both cable and 'the big three' network news. Shepard Smith was voted the second most trusted news anchor on both network and cable news by the readers of TV Guide.

Roger Ailes denies rumors that Fox News channel may introduce an evening newscast anchored by Smith to compete with ABC, NBC and CBS evening news shows.[2]. There has also been suggestion that The Fox Report with Shepard Smith could move to Fox network affiliates in January 2007.

On Monday, September 5, 2005, Smith appeared on the The Late Show with David Letterman to discuss the devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Smith has also been a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Smith appeared as himself in the film Volcano. Video of Smith anchoring on Fox News Channel during the opening moments of the March 2003, U.S. led, Iraq invasion was used in the documentary film Fahrenheit 9/11.

Controversies

Battery

The St Petersburg Times reported that Smith was arrested in Florida on November 17, 2000 for aggravated battery with a motor vehicle.[1] The alleged victim was Maureen Walsh, another reporter. Both were in Florida covering the Florida election crisis during the 2000 United States presidential election. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, on July 20, 2001, the charge was reduced to misdemeanor battery and dismissed after both sides agreed to a confidential payoff.[2]

Verbal slip

In 2002, Smith accidentally used the slang sex term blow job during a broadcast of his nightly Fox Report, causing himself considerable embarrassment. He'd reportedly meant to refer to pop star Jennifer Lopez's neighbors as "more likely to give her a curb job than a block party," but misspoke, saying, "...give her a curb job than a blow job." Smith immediately apologized to his viewers, and Fox executives indicated their belief that it was an innocent mistake.

The video of the verbal slip was shown when Smith was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 13 May, 2003. Smith appeared bemused to have gained notoriety for such a mistake.

Sexuality

Kevin Naff of the Washington Blade claimed in an article from October 2005, that Smith is gay.[3] Smith was married from 1987 until he sought a divorce in 1994, in the state of Florida.

For his part, Smith refuses to comment on his personal life. In an article from TV Guide, the author wrote "Smith, who claims that even his girlfriend doesn't know his views, chafes at critics who lump him in with Fox News' partisan personalities."[4] Smith acknowledges being extremely private about his life away from work. When asked in the June 2006 issue of Playboy, "Do you have a girlfriend?", Smith replied, "I don't talk about those things. I won't tell you what church I go to or whether I go."[5]

References

  1. ^ Oppel, Shelby (2000-11-18). "National TV anchor is accused of battery". St. Petersburg Times Online. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 2006-10-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Charge against news anchor dismissed". Tallahassee Democrat. 2001-08-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Out, out damn celebs!". Washington Blade. 2005-10-21. Retrieved 2006-09-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Battaglio, Steven. "The World According to Shep". TV Guide (31 July to 6 August, 2005): 35. Col 2.
  5. ^ "Playboy Interview: Shepard Smith". Playboy: 154. 2006. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help) Col 3.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shepard_Smith&oldid=86692660"