Carley Shimkus has always had a strong connection with Fox News since her childhood days. Growing up, the network was a constant presence in her household, and she made watching Fox & Friends a staple part of her morning routine before heading to school. Now, she works as an anchor on Fox & Friends First.
Her loyalty to the network has remained steadfast, and she joined Fox News during her senior year of college. Initially, Shimkus started her broadcasting career as an intern on the Imus in the Morning radio show, working for Don Imus.
Carley Shimkus credits her determination for landing a job at Fox News. She recalls applying for a position as a greenroom greeter and having the opportunity to meet some of the talent that visited the network, including those from Fox Business Network. In 2009, she began working at Fox News as a production assistant on the Fox Business Network (FBN). With time, her hard work and talent helped her advance, and she was soon promoted to associate producer.
During our conversation, Carley Shimkus shared her opinion on one of the hot-button issues that have been at the forefront of journalism debates – naming the individuals behind tragic mass shootings. She understands the struggle between the public’s right to know and the danger of inadvertently making these perpetrators infamous.
Interestingly, at Fox News, they don’t have a one-size-fits-all approach. It seems that they trust their reporters to make the call on a case-by-case basis. It’s like walking a tightrope in the world of journalism.
She’s quick to emphasize Fox News’ commitment to staying on the straight and narrow path of unbiased reporting. It’s about giving viewers the real scoop, straight up, no chaser, during election nights. We’re talking about cold pizza and high-octane energy with their seasoned team, such as Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino, who practically have the whole nation’s electoral map memorized.
Speaking of mentors and guiding lights, Carley Shimkus has some heavy hitters in her corner. She leans on the sage advice of Dana Perino, a walking encyclopedia of wisdom, and Ainsley Earhardt, who she paints as a guardian angel in human form. It’s like having the dream team of advisors.
What’s cool is that Carley Shimkus sees Fox News as more of a family than a cutthroat competition. She appreciates the unique qualities that each of her female colleagues brings, making it a supportive and diverse environment.
But rewind a bit, and you’ll find Carley Shimkus at the beginning of her journey as a greenroom greeter at Fox Business. She humbly attributes her success to her unwavering determination and a pinch of assertiveness. She knew what she wanted, and she wasn’t afraid to make it known.
Ryan Hedrick: Tell us about how Fox & Friends First covered the Maine shooter story last week. How did Fox News’ coverage differ from other networks?
(Different networks reported different information. Carley’s answer was based on my statement to her about that)
Carley Shimkus: The producers told us to be vague about how many people were dead or injured because, at the time of our show, it was still overnight. A Maine government official came out, and he said he wasn’t going to talk about how many people died because the number was up and down. The best way to handle that is to be honest, but in terms of numbers on our screen, we kept it extremely vague at the time because we didn’t know.
RH: What are your thoughts about naming people suspected of mass shootings on the air? Does Fox News have mandates about that kind of stuff?
CS: I don’t think there is a network mandate. It’s one of those things where you see both sides, right? There is value to naming him. People need to know who he is, especially if he is still alive and still armed and dangerous. That’s a public service.
But then, sometimes, somebody horrific commits an act of violence and wants to be glorified over it. If there’s any sign of that, you can pivot to say the shooter because you don’t want to give him what he wants. There have been instances of that, and it’s so sad that we live in a world where that’s the reality of the situation, but I can see both sides of that news debate.
RH: With the public’s increasing lack of trust in the media, election coverage holds significant importance. What measures is Fox News taking to cover the election?
CS: There may be the same candidates. This is an easy answer: you have to cover the election fairly and honestly.
RH: What is election night like on Fox News behind the scenes?
CS: There’s a lot of pizza because people are working overtime (laughs). It’s high energy, and it feels momentous. There’s just a different feeling leading up to it. How good are the people that do the election coverage? Bill Hemmer knows every single county in every small town in America, and I don’t think he has to study for it.
That’s where people shine and when I am the most proud of where I work. Also, Dana Perino has excellent insight, and it’s because of her experience.
RH: Who do you turn to for personal advice?
CS: Dana Perino for career and personal advice. She’s amazing and will even send me things sometimes that I don’t ask for, like websites, nuggets, and podcasts. I can’t say enough about her. For personal and career advice, Ainsley Earhardt is an angel in human form, I turn to her as well.
RH: How does it feel to be a part of the network, considering the significant presence of strong, independent women working at Fox News?
CS: It’s never a competition; it’s always been a family. Everybody brings a little something different. If you think about everybody’s personality, Martha [MacCallum] is just a rock-solid anchor but has this soft, tender side as well. She’s also a rock-solid interviewer but then equally covers humaninterest stories well. She’s got great hair and great clothes, and you love watching her do it.
Harris [Faulkner] brings something else. She’s amazing at breaking news.
Emily Compagno. Kayleigh McEnany has amazing experience and expertise. If I even have a small, little corner of that incredible Mount Rushmore of women, I count myself lucky.
RH: Did you ever think you’d make it on network TV while working for Don Imus?
CS: My family watched Fox News while I was growing up. When I was in high school, I would watch Fox & Friends when I was eating breakfast, and Fox News would be on when I came home from school, and it would be on during dinner. A lot of families across the country can relate to that. My mom told me that she always knew that I wanted to be on TV.
Interestingly, parents pick up on things before their kids know. I always wanted to work for Fox News, so I wanted to intern there. I was super determined.
When I started, it was the squeaky wheel, but there’s a fine line that you have to walk there, too. You don’t want to be annoying, but you want to be assertive and tell people what you want. You get one shot at it; you have to let people know.
(Carley Shimkus began her career at Fox Business as a greenroom greeter. This response was provided when asked about the moment she knew she would join Fox News.)
It was an HR email saying ‘We have a position as a greenroom greeter. Would you like it? A greenroom greeter job is great. You get to meet so many people. This was for Fox Business. Your job is to coordinate with the producers and bring the guests from when they first come into the lobby to different greenrooms and let the producers know that they’re there. It’s an entry-level position, but a very good job’. I loved it, and I loved being a part of it.
RH: You’ve experienced a lot of professional growth since you became a mom. How did the birth of your son change your perspective?
CS: I look at the news in a different light. Things mean more to me now. There’s also a little more fear of safety and the safety of the world. As a parent, you have so much to live for, you create this beautiful baby, and you want them to be safe and happy and loved their whole life, and things can affect that. I have more skin in the game now.
RH: What story do you find yourself paying more attention to as a parent?
CS: The story that has to do with the parents say in schools. When Terry McAuliffe (former VA Governor) said the parents shouldn’t get involved in their child’s education, that was absurd. For people that even remotely think that that’s an okay position. Teachers have a great interest at heart, but parents deserve a say. So that story became something that went from a backburner like I could understand why parents are upset. Also, general safety, like crime rates and all those types, became more real to me as well.
RH: We are excited to announce that you have a new book called Cooking with Friends. Tell us about it.
Carley Shimkus: It’s out, so you can order on FoxNewsBooks.com or Amazon. I’m presenting it, but it is a network cookbook. It’s our cookbook on Fox News because it’s our recipes from so many different people on Fox News that everybody loves to watch on TV.
So, like the comfort food meal or the favorite holiday meal that brings them joy. It’s a great gift for someone in your life or somebody in your life who is a Fox News viewer. I can see it underneath someone’s tree.
The pictures are beautiful, and it turned out great. I loved working on it, and it was such an honor to be part of the project.
