FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott inducted into Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame
FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott was inducted into the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame on Tuesday at the famed Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City, joining innovators, visionaries and leaders who have shaped the media landscape.
The annual Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame honors behind-the-scenes heavyweights and media stars who have made an unforgettable impact on the industry. Scott, who joined Fox News in its inaugural year of 1996, has risen through the ranks with success at every turn, holding several production and creative positions before taking over as CEO in 2018.
Fox News host Bill Hemmer was one of the evening’s emcees, along with ABC’s Will Reeve and CBS’s Vlad Duthiers. Hemmer took the stage to introduce his longtime boss and friend.
"Suzanne is the chief executive officer of Fox News Media, which encompasses the Fox News Channel, the Fox Business Network, Fox News Digital, Fox News Audio and Podcasts. And I'm not done, she runs Fox News Books, Fox Nation, Fox Weather and Fox News International. That's a lot of platforms and all of them are a success," Hemmer said.
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A video tribute to Scott was played, featuring Executive Chair and CEO of Fox Corporation Lachlan Murdoch saying she was the "clear choice" to lead the company and "The Five" co-host Dana Perino saying the decision broke a barrier for women in media.
"Suzanne fundamentally understands that we need to be in front of our consumers, she’s done a tremendous job extending our brand to FOX Weather, FOX Nation, our audio business, podcasting as well," Murdoch said.
"She doesn’t chase the limelight, she’s not about awards, she’s not about putting herself forward as a celebrity chief executive," Murdoch added. "She keeps her focus on the business and producing the best news and opinion in the entire country, if not in the entire world."
Perino added, "I cannot think of anybody in the industry who has loved this business as much as she has. To be No. 1 for 25 years in a row, she makes it look easy."
Murdoch and Perino then congratulated Scott, and the FOX News Media CEO took the stage.
"I’m so honored to be here. I’m deeply grateful for this honor, the real recognition belongs to my entire Fox News family," Scott told the crowd.
"Next month, we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary," she continued. "A very big heartfelt thank you to Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, two champions of free speech."
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Under Scott’s leadership, Fox News Channel has dominated cable ratings and regularly beats broadcast networks. Throughout her tenure, all of FOX News Media’s business units have either broken company or industry records while delivering sustained growth.
"We have a strong commitment to great storytelling, driving creativity in all of our live broadcasts and adapting all of our businesses as audience consumption happens," Scott said before individually thanking members of the company’s corporate leadership team.
"While the talent gets all the attention, equally important is the team behind the camera that no one sees. This recognition tonight belongs to all of them," Scott said.
She told FOX News Media President Jay Wallace that the company wouldn’t be where it is without his leadership, told Sean Hannity she was thankful for his loyal friendship and said Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst represents the network’s dedication to news.
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"Our goal at Fox News is to meet our audiences where they are," Scott said. "So, we transform the distribution of our content on the traditional and new platforms the audience is engaging with."
Scott told the midtown Manhattan crowd that she is a "proud Jersey girl," who comes from a large, diverse family.
"I love the Garden State. I actually watched very little TV growing up, and I've been blessed with a loyal, loving, and sometimes really, really loud family debating the issues of the day," Scott said.
The FOX News Media CEO ended her speech with a touching moment by thanking her husband, Preston, and daughter Margaux.
Fox News personalities Lawrence Jones, Harris Faulkner, Ainsley Earhardt, Trey Yingst, Jessica Tarlov, and Emily Compagno were also among the guests in attendance as Scott was inducted alongside Hemmer, Perino, Hannity, Wallace and other corporate leaders.
Fox News Digital caught up with some of the attendees on the red carpet prior to the event, asking what Scott receiving such an honor means to the network.
"She's our leader. When we're looking for direction, or guidance, on what we're doing for that day, or what we do in the future, we look to her, and she's done a terrific job just blazing the trail for all of us," Hemmer said.
"She has done a really fantastic job looking toward the future and trying to understand where we’re going," he added. "I applaud her for that."
Faulkner said, "It means that someone who is a visionary, who has dreamed for others and for herself, is at the top and leading, right where she should be. I started out in the business when there weren't a lot of women in high places. And I feel like sometimes there are more of us, but she stands alone."
Jones said that Scott has been instrumental in his career, saying she has helped him grow over the past decade.
"She's the most powerful woman in media, and that comes with trials of its own. She's just now finally getting that acknowledgment from the outside world. Our audience appreciated, our talent appreciated, our chairmen, our ownership appreciated, and now the outside media are starting to give her the flowers that she deserves," Jones told Fox News Digital.
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Scott has created three new streaming offerings, the subscription-based FOX Nation in 2018 and FOX News International in 2020, and FOX Weather in 2021. As part of Scott’s ongoing efforts to expand across platforms, Scott launched FOX News Books in 2020 and also spearheaded the brand refresh of FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio and FOX Business.
Bravo’s Andy Cohen, CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Food Network host Bobby Flay were among the other 2026 inductees. Previous honorees include Oprah Winfrey, Bob Iger, Michael J. Fox, Walter Cronkite, Lucille Ball, Ted Turner, Bob Hope and Edward R. Murrow.