Extras News
Shepard Smith Reflects on His Time at Ole Miss During Campus Visit
By Ashton Logan
Hottytoddy.com intern
ablogan1@go.olemiss.edu
Even though Shepard Smith spent most of his career in New York City and graced the TV screens of millions of Americans, he said he can’t help but pause and remember where the fire and the passion for telling the truth came from – Ole Miss.
Former Fox News anchor Shepard Smith spoke to School of Journalism and New Media students last Friday about his career and his time spent in Oxford. Photo by Talbert Toole.
Last Friday morning, University of Mississippi School of Journalism alumnus Shepard Smith spoke to students and faculty in Farley Hall about his experiences at the school.
Smith was a student at the University of Mississippi until his junior year in 1987 when he was two credits shy of graduating. He laughed and said everything seemed to work out for him despite not graduating.
According to Smith, the University of Mississippi and its faculty taught him how to tell people stories and gave him the people skills that he has carried throughout his career.
The Holly Springs native and New Yorker of 20-plus years, stepped down from Fox News after 23 years with the network last Friday.
“I left because it was time for a change,” Smith said. “I’ve been scheduling appearances at several universities around the country. Ole Miss was my first stop.”
Students were eager to ask the renowned journalist various questions about his career and his time spent at the university. They also asked where the state of journalism was headed.
According to Smith, he says that one of the most important characteristics that journalists have to have today is to be honest and own up to personal flaws. Smith reminded students of the importance of hard work and perseverance and stated that he values what the university taught him as a rising journalist.
Smith is a devoted Ole Miss fan and was excited to be back in Oxford for the Texas A&M game last Saturday. He ended his time talking to students with a wide smile and a loud “Hotty Toddy.”
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | W, 28-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | 11:00 AM ABC or ESPN |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | 2:30 PM ESPN or ABC |
Loretta
October 22, 2019 at 6:24 pm
Fox News is 100% FOREIGN OWNED!!!!!
Debbie Crenshaw
October 22, 2019 at 8:12 pm
Fox News provides conservatives, some independents and libertarians a voice. It is called a 1st amendment right. In this world of liberal mainstream media, there are other opinions about what is and is not a reliable news source.
Like one journalist stated during the Ole Miss riot in the 1960s, the journalist should present the facts which he or she hears or sees and then let the reader decide what he or she wants to derive from the facts. It is sad to say that journalism has gone off the beaten path of facts and now personal opinion is interjected in some people’s writings.
JOE HAWKINS
October 23, 2019 at 7:57 am
I’m glad he left Fox. He was lambasting Trump everyday. It was not balanced and fair reporting like he likes to say. Lost my respect for Smith. Good Riddance. Now he will travel around campuses and charge for speeches.
Jeffrey Lynn Thomason
October 23, 2019 at 11:41 am
cannot say it better than Joe Hawking; he captured my feelings exactly!
Richard Burns
October 25, 2019 at 12:48 am
If Shepard was not a male unique person he’d draw very little attention. “Uniques” are the fascination with abnormal people nowadays.