Fox News Chief Political Anchor Bret Baier '92 Signs New Contract

July 15, 2015

Bret Baier, Fox News Channel's chief political anchor and 1992 graduate of DePauw University, "has signed a new multiyear deal to keep him on past the upcoming campaign cycle," notes the Hollywood Reporter.

Baier, who anchors Special Report, joined Fox in 1998. He's previously served as the network's national security correspondent and chief White House correspondent.

"As one of the most trusted anchors in the industry, Bret’s work ethic and style have played an integral role in the leadership of our Washington bureau and the success of the network," says Roger Ailes, chairman and CEO of the network. "We are proud that his strong journalistic instincts and political expertise will be a part of Fox News throughout our 2016 election coverage and for many years to come."

"It is a real privilege and honor to continue at Fox News, where I have worked for almost two decades," said Baier. "During that time, I have been given many amazing opportunities and am incredibly grateful that Roger Ailes has put his trust in me again."

Michael O'Connell writes, "Baier is getting one of the first marquee events of the presidential election, moderating the first GOP debate with colleague Megyn Kelly on Aug. 6 ... Special Report airs weeknights at 6 p.m. Despite the fact that the telecast is outside of primetime, it regularly ranks as the No. 5 show across all of cable news."

Access the story at the publication's website.

An English (composition) and political science double major at DePauw, Baier captained the Tiger golf team and was among the first students to work in the then-new Center for Contemporary Media. While a DePauw student, he interned with Bernard Shaw at CNN and landed his first professional job at WJWJ-TV (PBS) in Beaufort, South Carolina. He also worked at WREX (NBC) in Rockford, Illinois, and WRAL (CBS) in Raleigh, North Carolina, before joining Fox. Baier authored Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage, and Love.

Bret Baier returned to DePauw for Old Gold Weekend on October 12, 2013. He spoke as part of the Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture Series and received the University's Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. "DePauw is a big part of who I am, it's a big part of who I became, and I really like coming back here," he told the homecoming audience.

The talk is summarized here; a video montage is embedded below.