Shepard Smith

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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" on FOX News, first joining FOX News in 1996.

Smith previously 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) in Orlando.

In 2001, Smith was one of the media witnesses to the execution of Timothy McVeigh in Terre Haute, Indiana. In late August, 2005, Smith went down 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' 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 often 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 or water.

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 losing and wearing several different baseball caps.

Following his work in New Orleans and upon returning to New York on Monday, September 5, 2005, Smith appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Smith currently appears weekdays at 3pm EST hosting Studio B, and 7pm EST hosting the FOX Report. The FOX Report is currently the top rated newscast. It ranks third in the top programs in cable news.[1]

Shepard Smith appeared as himself in the film "Volcano."

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Education

Smith attended the University of Mississippi and was in their School of Journalism when he left with few credits needed for graduation after signing his first television contract with WJHG-TV in Panama City Beach, FL.

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Controversies

Smith was arrested in Florida in November 2000 for aggravated battery with a motor vehicle. The apparent victim was another reporter. Both Smith and the other reporter were in Florida covering the Florida election crisis during the 2000 United States presidential election.

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 during the last part. Smith immediately apologized to his viewers, and FOX executives indicated their belief that it was an innocent mistake.

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