In the world of 24/7 news, network personalities are everything. And Sandra Smith is rising
to the top of the ranks. So how did she land at Fox News — and where is she headed next?
From LSU to career-driven mom of two, here's what you don't know.
This future face of broadcast journalism was born in Illinois. And back in her teens, when
it came to choosing a college, Smith told New Orleans Living Magazine that she knew
she wanted to pursue a degree in business. At the same time, she was also feeling drawn
to the French language — something that she had enjoyed studying in high school. She
said,
"I discovered there was a French-speaking area in the United States, so I thought, 'That's
it — I'm going down to Baton Rouge, Louisiana!'"
Smith had originally attended Illinois State University, and later took a few classes at
Louisiana State. Immediately, Smith was hooked. She remembered,
"After a semester, I called my parents and said, 'There's no way I'm leaving this place!'
That summer I went back home and just knew in my heart that I belonged in Louisiana,
so I transferred to LSU."
"LSU was just amazingly supportive, both of my academics and my athletics."
Smith looks back at college life fondly, saying her experience at LSU truly shaped her into
the person she is today.
By this point, we all know that most network news outlets employ their political perspectives
as part of their brands. For example, MSNBC is known to be on the left of the spectrum,
where Fox News is further to the right. So it might be hard to picture the same journalists
working at different news outlets, given network affiliations and reputations. Even so, Smith
is an example of that reach across the journalistic aisle.
As noted by Adweek, Smith started her TV news career with Bloomberg Television — Bloomberg,
of course, referring to Mike Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City who became a
mogul of the media world. Smith shared that Bloomberg Television called her with an enticing
offer. She then left her career path and made the jump to TV news. She was at Bloomberg
Television for less than a year, but the company clearly made an impact on her career trajectory.
She said,
"It was a very difficult decision, but that was my big break."
Every journalist has a story that defines their career. And for Smith, this came in
the form of the financial crisis, which was lined up perfectly with when she started working
for Fox News. She told Adweek that she had left her job at Bloomberg Television just
as the bull market was peaking — an experience that she described as, quote, "nuts."
From there, Smith went on to cover Bernie Madoff — the fraudulent former chairman
of the NASDAQ stock exchange. Smith explained that she followed Madoff's every move, she
stood outside his apartment, and she waited all hours of the day just to get a glimpse
of him. She recalled to Adweek,
"[I was] on that story more than anyone. I chased this guy everywhere. He got in a car,
and we would get in a car and chase him down to his jail cell. That was just a huge story
for me."
Smith has been on the ground reporting on some of the biggest events of the last decade.
She co-anchored Fox News' coverage of the memorial service for Representative John Lewis
— a civil rights hero who was honored in a ceremony in Selma, Alabama. Smith also was
responsible for covering the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and was
on-site in London for the occasion.
But Smith had to work her way up the ladder to get where she is now. She told New Orleans
Living Magazine that she received a call from Fox in October of 2007, informing her that
the channel was launching Fox Business Network. This set off a chain of events that would
lead her to different on-air shows. After initially joining Fox, Smith made appearances
on both Fox News and Fox Business, and two years later, she became a regular fixture
on "Imus in the Morning." Smith also worked as a guest commentator on "Red Eye," "Fox
Business Happy Hour" and "Hannity."
By 2014, Fox News premiered "Outnumbered," and tapped Smith as co-anchor. She was joined
by Harris Faulkner, and the show has since featured a number of panelists and guest commentators.
By all accounts, Smith is a trailblazer. Not only is she the co-anchor of a prominent network
news show, but she made history during the 2016 election cycle in a unique way. Smith
was joined by Trish Regan from Fox Business, to become the first female duo in history
to serve as moderators for the fourth debate among then-hopeful GOP candidates.
"I'm Trish Regan along with my co-moderator Sandra Smith."
When asked whether her gender might play into the questioning, Smith affirmed to People,
"We don't have to press the gender issue. It naturally comes through in our conversations
that we are women, and women naturally bring a different perspective. It's an organic thing."
Smith went on to say that she and Regan brought varying skills and viewpoints to the table,
making the debate that much more dynamic.
This Illinois native ultimately settled in New York City for work. But while she has
clearly been crushing it ever since, she still found the time to invest in her personal life.
As noted by New Orleans Living Magazine, Smith now lives in Westchester County — just 35
miles outside of New York City — with her husband and two children.
Smith met her future husband — business commentator John Conolly — while she was
working at Terra Nova in Chicago. She revealed that the top brass at the company requested
that she represent them on the trading floor and give commentary to news networks, including
CNBC and Bloomberg. It was there that she met Conolly. The two got hitched in 2010,
and have two children, John and Cora, as well as a dog named Whiskey.
As far as maintaining a happy life at work and at home, it sounds like Smith has that
delicate balance down pat. She explained the work side of things, telling New Orleans Living
Magazine,
"You can read some unfortunate things about Fox, but I can sincerely say it's really a
supportive work environment."
Even if you don't know that much about the journalism industry, chances are that you're
aware that an anchor's day starts early and ends late — because, of course, the news
never sleeps. And as it turns out, Smith's schedule is no exception to the rule. She
told Louisiana State University about her morning routine, revealing that her days start
long before the crack of dawn. She typically gets up around 4 a.m., and is usually out
the door 40 minutes later. She heads straight to work and likes to "hit the ground running."
"I need to help our audience understand. I need to know more, they need to know more."
So what exactly does that morning hustle look like? Well, a lot goes down even before she
hits the air. Smith reads three different newspapers, and does a social media and Twitter
scroll to see what politicians and public figures have been talking about. As she put
it, she has a whole lot of "homework" to do as soon as she gets to the office. Smith also
makes it a point to set intentions for her day. She shared,
"I set out with a goal every day to deliver real, honest news to our viewers."
An admirable goal for sure. We're just wondering when she squeezes in a cup of coffee.
Being a face of the news industry is a full time job and then some, but Smith still tries
to make time for one of her favorite hobbies: running. She told Runner's World that she
competed for Louisiana State University, and since her days as a college co-ed, the sport
has remained an important part of her life. Smith's goal, she revealed, is to run every
single day. Ambitious? Yes, but it also sounds like Smith is pretty easy-going about her
hobby. She told the outlet,
"Some weeks I run seven days. Some weeks I run zero."
Smith pointed to her long days at work, explaining that a long run is an almost therapeutic way
for her to let things go and enjoy some alone time. She shared,
"I love running — it's my escape, it's when I think best. With so much going on, running
is no longer a chore or a stress to me. It's a getaway."
Of course, Smith added that health benefits are another attractive component of her outdoor
workouts — and as fans know, she likes to stay fit.
One of the great aspects of building a career in journalism is an ever-growing fan base,
notoriety, and the high-profile interviews that come with it. Some journalists keep their
focus within the realm of entertainment, and sit down with celebrities and other popular
figures. Still others venture into the political arena, and go face-to-face with politicians
and lawmakers. For much of her career, Smith has fallen into the latter category. And she
shared with Adweek in 2016 about what kinds of meeting-of-the-minds she would love to
participate in throughout her career.
After expressing her desire to interview the then-president of the United States, which
seems like a no-brainer for political reporters, Smith shared that she has the goal of sitting
down with major world leaders, particularly with those who govern the Middle East. She
revealed,
"I would love to get inside their mind. Meeting with the heads of Middle Eastern countries
while covering the commodities markets, oil markets and the Saudi government. There are
just immense things happening in the Middle East right now."
With aspirations like these and a career trajectory like hers, it's safe to say that Smith is
on track to meet any goal she dreams up.
True journalists cover the news around the world, all while doing their best to keep
their personal points of view out of their coverage. As part of an unbiased take for
the viewer — unless an article or a segment is specifically labeled as an opinion or critique
— personal opinion should remain on the sideline.
This is a memo that Smith has clearly gotten. And she spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about
her perspective when it comes to opinion. She told the outlet that she doesn't infuse
"personal politics" in her work; and when asked how she could accomplish such a thing
when her show, "Outnumbered," is an opinion-based show, Smith said that she considers her role
to be that of a moderator. She explained,
"We are the journalists. We carry the breaking news for the show. My job is to bring out
the best in everybody that is sitting on that couch. Even if my personal belief is in line
with the discussion, you'll see me play devil's advocate just to make sure the other side
is represented."
When asked if Fox News might be more opinionated than other networks, Smith affirmed that the
network's news-based programming and opinion-based shows are distinct from one another.
Just because Fox News network is known for its political leanings, that doesn't mean
that Smith lets anyone off easy. In August of 2020, Smith got the chance to question
former Trump administration press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who at the time was on the
show to discuss the fringe group QAnon.
When Smith asked McEnany if then president Donald Trump was, quote, "supporting this
conspiracy theory," McEnany quickly pivoted and said that she had never heard Trump even
mention the fringe group, but Smith deftly pushed back. She said,
"Just to be clear, Kayleigh, he was asked about it yesterday. He's said that he's heard
about the online conspiracy theorists and that they are people that love our country."
"It was puzzling to many people."
Smith's drive for the truth in whatever story she's covering only proves to her fans — and
her adversaries — that she got where she is by never holding back. As she once told
The Advocate,
"No one ever asked me about my politics when I interviewed at FOX News Channel, nor has
it ever been discussed during my time at the network. I am a broadcast journalist. […] I
report facts, and I report them fairly. It is the viewers' job to decide."
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