A veteran news anchor who reported on major events, including presidential elections and natural disasters, known for his objective and unbiased reporting style.
Shepard Smith, a renowned American broadcast journalist, is best known for his 23-year career at the Fox News Channel, where he served as chief anchor and managing editor of the breaking news division. His unbiased reporting style and ability to separate fact from opinion have earned him a reputation as one of the most trusted voices in journalism.
Smith was born on January 14, 1964, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, to Dora Ellen Anderson, an English teacher, and David Shepard Smith Sr., a cotton merchant. He attended Marshall Academy in Holly Springs and later moved to Florida with his mother after his parents separated. Smith studied journalism at the University of Mississippi, where he left two credits shy of a degree to take a reporter job in Panama City, Florida.
Smith began his career in television with WCJB-TV in Gainesville, Florida, and then with WJHG-TV in Panama City Beach, Florida. After reporting jobs at WBBH-TV in Fort Myers, WSVN in Miami, and WCPX-TV (now WKMG-TV) in Orlando, Smith became a correspondent for A Current Affair.
Smith joined Fox News Channel at its inception in 1996 and reported on some of the most significant events of the past two decades, including the death of Princess Diana in 1997, President Bill Clinton's 1998 impeachment trial, the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, the 2001 execution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the death of Michael Jackson in 2009.
During his time at Fox, Smith hosted several programs, including Fox Report, Studio B, and Shepard Smith Reporting. His program, The Fox Report with Shepard Smith, was ranked third among the top five U.S. cable news programs in 2003.
Smith's unbiased reporting style often put him at odds with his conservative colleagues at Fox News, leading to rumors of tension behind the scenes. However, Smith never publicly acknowledged any tension and continued to report the news without bias.
Smith has received several awards for his journalism, including an Emmy Award and an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award. He was also inducted into the University of Mississippi's School of Journalism Hall of Fame in 2015.
In 2020, Smith left Fox News and joined CNBC, where he hosted The News with Shepard Smith, a daily evening newscast. Although the program was canceled in November 2022, Smith's legacy as a champion of unbiased journalism continues to inspire a new generation of journalists.
Smith's commitment to factual reporting and his refusal to sensationalize the news have made him a role model for journalists around the world. His dedication to the principles of journalism is a testament to the power of a free press in a democratic society.
Shepard Smith's legacy as a champion of unbiased journalism continues to inspire and educate a new generation of journalists and news consumers alike.
