FOX 17 in Michigan Announces Addition of Two New Anchors - Barrett News Media (2024)

CNN Digital Senior Vice President of Global News Rachel Smolkin has announced she’s departing the organization to become the CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

After joining the network more than a decade ago, Smolkin ascended to the role of Executive Editor of CNN Politics before becoming Vice President of News for CNN Digital in 2021. She eventually took on the title of Senior Vice President in 2022.

“I am honored to lead OPB in its next chapter serving Oregon and the Pacific Northwest,” said Smolkin. “I am energized by the commitment the board has shown for building news and public affairs programming for all Oregonians and Southwest Washingtonians, for leading conversations about solving our most urgent challenges, and for innovating new ways to connect with communities.”

Before joining CNN, Smolkin worked at USA Today, and the American Journalism Review, among other reporter positions.

“As we celebrated our first 100 years, we were looking for a dynamic leader to chart the way forward during this time of transformational change in media,” said Oregon Public Broadcasting Chair Rukaiyah Adams. “Rachel will advance our work with deep experience in journalism, wide professional networks, and adaptive leadership skills.”

FOX Nation has unveiled plans to debut a documentary series hosted by Peter Doocy on the 2017 Congressional Baseball Shooting as it approaches its seventh anniversary.

Strike Zone: The Congressional Baseball Shooting will debut in its entirety on Tuesday, June 11th on the streaming platform.

It will chronicle the June 14, 2017 event when more than 70 rounds were fired at Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and other Capitol Hill staffers during a practice in preparation for the annual Congressional baseball game.

The three-part FOX Nation series will be hosted by Doocy, who covered the events as they transpired in 2017.

“I covered this shooting at the time, and have kept up with the headlines in the years since. Standing at second base next to Majority Leader Scalise and hearing his firsthand re-telling of the story that changed his life forever, was one of the most moving experiences of my career,” Doocy remarked. “There were many heroes on June 14, 2017, and I am honored to be able to help share their stories.”

Fox News has announced Mary Katharine Ham has joined the network as a contributor, making her first appearance on America’s Newsroom Wednesday morning.

She previously served in a similar role with the network from 2007-2015. She later worked at CNN, where she claimed she was suspended for speaking about the infamous Jeffrey Toobin incident in a public capacity. She shared that a “secret ban” was imposed upon her by Jeff Zucker, which was revealed to her by Chris Licht.

In addition to her contributor role with Fox News, she’ll continue to write a column for OutKick. She will also continue to host her Getting Hammered podcast with Vic Matus.

“I am indeed back on the team! It’s gonna be so fun to be back with so many longtime Fox friends on-air and behind the scenes,” Ham wrote in a post to X. “Media can be a crazy business, but there are moments it makes bonds that matter. I truly got the best end of that deal when the viewers watched me grow up on-air, get married, have kids, go through some of the worst life can dish out, and then so many supported and prayed for my family and me all these years. I hear from them often and I’m excited to see more of them in my new gig! Truly too many to name, but grateful for y’all.”

An established author, Ham wrote a 2015 book with Fox News Radio host Guy Benson called “End of Discussion: How the Left’s Outrage Industry Shuts Down Debate, Manipulates Voters, and Makers America Less Free (and Fun).” She also has bylines in publications like the New York Post, USA Today, and The Atlantic, among others.