Suzanne Scott, CEO of FOX News Media, was the guest speaker for the 2025 Baldwin Lecture. FOX & Friends co-host Lawrence Jones joined Scott as the moderator for the discussion. The lecture was held in the Karen J. Williams Courtroom in the Joseph F. Rice School of Law on Nov. 14, 2025.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Suzanne Scott speak to our students, alumni and VIP guests,” said School of Journalism and Mass Communications Director Damion Waymer. “It’s a rare opportunity for them to hear directly from one of the most influential people in broadcasting.”
In 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, Forbes named Scott one of the world’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Media and Entertainment.
Scott oversees eight linear, streaming, digital, audio and publishing platforms, which collectively reach nearly 200 million people each month. Throughout her tenure, all of FOX News Media’s business units have broken company records while also delivering sustained growth. The company’s flagship FOX News Channel has been the most watched news network for more than 23 years and is the number one network in primetime in all of linear television.
When asked how FOX News Media has been able to sustain this level of success, Scott highlighted “the four ‘C’ words” that she and her team evaluate on an ongoing basis: culture, creativity, change and collaboration.
Scott emphasized that investing in young talent is one of the pillars of long-term success for FOX News Media. Lawrence Jones’ progression through the organization is a prime example. The two have shared a mutually beneficial mentorship since Jones started with the company.
“One thing I am good at is spotting talented people both on and off the air. Because we're not just a network of great on-air people,” Scott said. “Then we figure out how to find opportunities to put them in places of success.”
Scott offered a suggestion for the ongoing success of the university.
“AI tools shouldn’t be feared; they should be embraced. The young generation should be excited and start learning as much as they can about it,” said Scott.
“My advice to the University of South Carolina is to get as many AI classes as you can in every department.” Read more of Scott's comments and advice »
Since Scott took over as CEO, she has created three new streaming offerings — the subscription-based FOX Nation in 2018 and FOX News International in 2020, and the FAST channel FOX Weather in 2021. As part of this signature multiplatform brand extension strategy, she also launched FOX News Books in 2020, a new publishing imprint that has sold more than three million books. Additionally, she oversaw the brand refresh of FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio and FOX Business Network. Most recently, Scott announced a new media expansion that encompasses licensing deals which leverage the creator economy via podcasting.
The Baldwin Business and Financial Journalism Lecture Series
Begun in 2015, the lecture series brings accomplished business and financial journalists to the university to share their expertise. Previous speakers include ESPN’s Dwayne Bray, journalist Charles Lewis and media executive Pattie Sellers.
Baldwin Business and Financial Journalism Endowment Fund
Established in 2009, the Baldwin Business and Financial Journalism Endowment Fund supports student and faculty initiatives that include research, symposia, lecturers, visiting professors, student assistantships and related programs.