Shepard Smith attended the University of Mississippi and studied journalism. He began his professional career in Panama City, Florida. He spent much of the early part of his career in Florida. In addition to his job in Panama City, he also worked for NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliates in Fort Myers, Orlando, and Miami. Before becoming a FOX News host, Smith was a FOX News correspondent based in Los Angeles, who reported on stories such as the Oklahoma City bombing and the crash of TWA Flight 800.
Shepard Smith's shows bring significant advertising dollars to FOX News thanks to their popularity. "The FOX Report with Shepard Smith," which airs weeknights at 7:00 p.m., has been the number one show in its time slot for more than 5 years. Smith's other show, "Studio B With Shepard Smith," airs earlier in the day. Its ratings often double the ratings of rivals "CNN Newsroom" and "MSNBC Live."
In addition to being a host, Smith has also worked as a general assignment reporter and a senior correspondent for Fox News. He has covered some of the most significant situations of the past few years including 9/11, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Columbine shootings and President Bill Clinton's impeachment. Shepard Smith was also one of only two television correspondents who were allowed to witness the execution of Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh in 2001.
In addition to reporting the news, Smith once became part of the news when he was arrested while covering the 2000 elections in Florida. Smith was arrested after another reporter told police that Smith hit her with his car as she stood in a parking spot that she was saving for a co-worker. The woman suffered minor injuries and Smith posted $10,000 bail to be released from prison. The charges were later dropped.
Shepard Smith was born in 1964, and became an anchor at FOX News by the time he was 40 years old. In 2003, at the age of 39, Shepard Smith was ranked in a TV Guide poll as the second-most trusted anchor in either broadcast or cable news. He tied for second with Dan Rather and Peter Jennings.