Name: The Real Reason Why Shepard Smith Is Leaving Fox News
Uploaded: 2019-11-16T20:05:19.000Z
Duration: 7 min 35 s
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Veteran broadcast journalist Shepard "Shep" Smith sent shockwaves throughout newsrooms

across America when he announced his departure from Fox News in an on-air goodbye message

Thank you for watching today and over the decades."

After 23 years with the network, this is the real reason why Shepard Smith is leaving Fox

Before you get the idea that Fox News wanted Shepard Smith out for his unbiased reporting

and occasional criticism of other network figures, think again.

Journalist Brian Stelter reported for CNN:

"Executives at the network leaned on him to stay, but to no avail.

He announced his departure on the air, then exited the building immediately, clearly emotional

about saying goodbye to his television home of twenty years."

Smith's own take echoed this reporting, with the journalist noting how Fox News was eager

"Recently, I asked the company to allow me to leave Fox News, and after requesting that

Although we can't imagine it was always smooth sailing between these parties, it's reasonable

to assume Fox News was sad to see one of their most reputable reporters sign off.

Fox News executives reportedly didn't work overtime to keep Smith, because his ratings

were supposedly lower than some of his colleagues, such as political commentators Sean Hannity

Despite Fox News' efforts to keep Smith on board, they ultimately felt it wasn't worth

their time to go above and beyond to do so.

"A source close to Fox News management said the thinking among network brass was that

the lucrative evening ratings outweighed the need to keep Smith happy while paying him

$15 million a year for his daytime role that did not bring in as many viewers."

Still, this doesn't mean his bosses didn't admire him.

Jay Wallace, the president and executive editor of Fox News Media, released a statement that

"Shep is one of the premier newscasters of his generation and his extraordinary body

of work is among the finest journalism in the industry.

While this day is especially difficult as his former producer, we respect his decision

and are deeply grateful for his immense contributions to the entire network."

Smith's ratings were good overall, despite not matching those of the primetime opinion

"Fox News is the most-watched cable news network, and Smith beat out his 3 PM time slot competitors

on other networks, including CNN and MSNBC, by double-digit Nielsen Media Research ratings."

Still, this truth didn't stop President Donald Trump from bashing Smith for his so-called

The Hill reported that Trump told reporters:

If he's leaving, I assume he's leaving because he had bad ratings.

Trump eventually added that he wished Smith well.

It's safe to say that Shepard Smith wasn't necessarily happy with Fox News' primetime

We work for different reporting chains, we have different rules.

They don't really have rules on the opinion side.

I don't really watch a lot of opinion programming.

The news anchor also said he would "never" work for the opinion division, adding,

"I get it that some of our opinion programming is there strictly to be entertaining.

I don't want to sit around and yell at each other and talk about your philosophy and my

It's reasonable to theorize that Smith was tired of working at a network where some colleagues

didn't have to play by the same rules as the news division.

The feeling is mutual with at least some of the Fox News opinion hosts.

In 2017, Sean Hannity slammed Smith, stating on his radio show:

In response to Hannity's jab, Smith released a statement to Mediaite:

Journalists report them without fear or favor."

The ongoing feud between Smith and Tucker Carlson reached a breaking point in September

Carlson's guest, lawyer Joe diGenova, slammed one of Smith's guests, Judge Andrew Napolitano,

for calling President Donald Trump's phone call with the President of Ukraine "criminal."

DiGenova referred to Judge Napolitano as a "fool," a jab Carlson didn't challenge.

"Attacking our colleague, who is here to offer legal assessments, on our air, in our work

"Unlike maybe some dayside hosts, I'm not very partisan, and it was a sincere question."

Network execs reportedly didn't like Smith's takedown.

Vanity Fair reported in late September 2019 that Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott and President

Jay Wallace supposedly told Smith to, quote, "stop attacking Carlson," with a source claiming,