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-TV) 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'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 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 but was often on the verge of hysteria in his reporting. His most memorable appearance during this period was an 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. After the uniquely anguished reportage, host Hannity called for a little perspective to which Smith snapped, "This is perspective!" Smith won kudos for his response, and the clip was widely circulated on the internet.

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 3:00 p.m. EST hosting Studio B, and 7:00 p.m. EST hosting the Fox Report. The Fox Report is currently the top-rated newscast in cable news, ranking third in the top programs in cable news.[1]

Shepard Smith appeared as himself in the film Volcano.
[edit]

Education

Smith attended the University of Mississippi and was in their department of journalism. He also was a candidate in Sigma Nu fraternity but was never initiated. Smith left Ole Miss a few credits shy of graduation requirements after he signed his first television contract with WJHG-TV in Panama City Beach, Florida. He frequently returns to the university during football season and occasionally concludes his broadcast with a "Hotty Toddy," the school's unofficial cheer.

He attended school at Marshall Academy, a private K-12 school in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
[edit]

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, saying, "...give her a curb job than a blowjob." Smith immediately apologized to his viewers, and Fox executives indicated their belief that it was an innocent mistake.

Another controversy happened during Smith's coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina while interviewing a local resident. When Smith asked the resident why he was still in New Orleans, he replied, "That's none of your fucking business." Smith and other Fox News anchors immediately apologized for the profanity.

Kevin Naff of the Washington Blade claimed in an article from October 2005, that Smith is gay.[2] For his part, Smith refuses to comment on his personal life other than referring to his girlfriend in an article from TV Guide, dated 31 July to 6 August 2005.