Bill Hemmer will reportedly take over for Shepard Smith, who abruptly resigned from his show Shepard Smith Reporting in October. Hemmer will take over the 3 p.m. time slot, which was first reported by Mediaite.
Hemmer, one of the current hosts of America’s Newsroom on Fox News, said in a Fox News press release, “As a journalist, l am extremely grateful for this opportunity. 2020 will undoubtedly be a year of great significance. Leading our breaking news division with a signature hour has enormous value to me, personally, and to our audience. We’ve got a fantastic team here and I am excited to get to work.”
Hemmer has hosted America’s Newsroom since its inception and has previously co-hosted the show with Megyn Kelly, Martha MacCallum, and Shannon Bream, all of whom ended up having their own shows later on.
Jay Wallace, president and executive editor of FOX News Media, said in the statement, “Bill is an incredible newsman and his ability to cut to the heart of the story while humanizing major events has made him a standout talent in news. As we start gearing up for the 2020 election, we are thrilled to have him lead our news division through what will sure to be an eventful year.”
Smith announced his resignation from the network on Oct. 11 at the end of his show. He had been at the network since its inception in 1996.
“A personal moment now. Gathering and reporting the news has been my life’s work. Thirty-three years, the past 23 right here, since the day we launched Fox News Channel in 1996. The opportunities afforded this guy from small-town Mississippi have been a many. Fox News has allowed me to travel the world gathering the facts of the day for you,” Smith stated at the time.
