Watch Fox’s Shep Smith Deliver Powerful Speech on Journalism: ‘We Must Never Knowingly Deceive’
Fox News anchor Shepard Smith made a plea for upholding journalistic integrity while accepting a reward for his work on Thursday, according to CNN’s Brian Stelter, who attended the ceremony and called the speech “powerful.”
Smith, a hard news anchor for Fox who helms the network’s 3 p.m. slot, accepted the First Amendment Award from RTDNF on Thursday evening and doled out some advice for journos.
“Being accurate and honest and thorough and fair is our primary mission. It’s our professional calling. And everyone on my team takes it extremely seriously,” he said, per CNN.
Smith, according to Stelter, emphasized the importance of truth: “I personally believe this is the duty not only of journalists but of every person who has the honor of a platform of influence,” he said. “We must never manipulate or invent. We must never knowingly deceive. Because to do so is a disservice to our audience and potentially injurious to our society.”
Smith added that “history will poorly reflect” upon those who deliberately misinform.
Stelter wrote that when Smith made that comment, he began to think the anchor may be sniping at his colleagues on the opinion side of Fox News.
Smith continued: “The times ahead will test all of us as finders and disseminators of accurate information. My team and I, like you and yours, will strive to remain on task, trying our very best to ignore the Twitter trolls and others who relentlessly pursue us, daily, and to get the facts to the people. ALL of the people. In every place, in every corner where information is taken in. The First Amendment that this award honors gives us the protection to do what is right. To do what’s right, no matter what. To the founding fathers, we’re grateful and mindful of our responsibility; of our purpose; and of our duty.”
Stelter remarked: “The divide between the Shep Smith side of Fox News and the Sean Hannity side of Fox was especially stark on Wednesday. Smith was in DC, accepting a First Amendment Award from RTDNF, while Hannity was on the air running defense for the president.”
