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Steve Scully

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Steve Scully
Scully in 2012
Born (1960-09-17) September 17, 1960 (age 64)
Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationAmerican University (BA)
Northwestern University (MS)
OccupationBroadcast journalist
Employers
TelevisionWashington Journal
SpouseKatie Scully
Children4

Steven L. Scully (born September 17, 1960)[1] is an American broadcast journalist. He is the host of "The Briefing with Steve Scully" on SiriusXM POTUS 124 and contributor to Hill.com & Senior Vice President at the Bipartisan Policy Center. In July 2024 he was named a Senior Fellow at the University of California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - Center on Communications Leadership and Policy. He is the former C-SPAN Political Editor, as well as former host and producer for its morning call-in show Washington Journal, "Washington Today" on C-SPAN Radio and The Weekly, C-SPAN's podcast. Scully served on the board of the White House Correspondents Association for nine years, including as president from 2006 to 2007.

Early life and education

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Scully was born in Erie, Pennsylvania to Hubert L. "Hoot" Scully and Elizabeth Jane North "Betty" Scully.[2] He was the 14th of 16 children, including five sets of twins.[3][4]

Scully received a 1982 undergraduate degree with honors in communication and political science from American University in Washington, D.C. during which he completed a 1980–81 study abroad program at the University of Copenhagen. He served as an intern for Sen. Joe Biden from September to October 1978 and in Sen. Ted Kennedy's media affairs office in early 1979 earning college credits.[5][6][7] Scully then earned a Master of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism graduating magna cum laude in 1984.[6][8][5]

Career

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Scully began his journalism career in 1981-82 as a weekend newscaster on WAMU, the American University-based radio station. Following his undergraduate degree, he worked as a reporter and anchor for Erie's WSEE-TV in 1982 and 1983. He returned to WSEE after completing his graduate studies in 1984.[3] After a stint as a Washington, D.C.-based correspondent for WHBF-TV in Rock Island, Illinois, he joined WHEC-TV in Rochester, New York, in 1986 as a correspondent covering business, politics and local government. He also taught courses on media and politics as an adjunct faculty member at Nazareth College and St. John Fisher College.[8][9]

C-SPAN

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Scully joined C-SPAN in 1990 as political editor and White House producer.[3] Over his tenure at the network, he was responsible for coordinating campaign programming for C-SPAN, C-SPAN.org and C-SPAN Radio. As senior producer for the network's White House coverage,[10] Scully managed a team of field producers responsible for coverage of the White House, politics and special projects. He served as a regular Sunday host of Washington Journal, a live three-hour news and public affairs program.[6] He was a host and moderator for a number of other C-SPAN programs, including Newsmakers, Road to the White House and In Depth on Book TV.[10] In addition to his television work, he regularly appeared on C-SPAN Radio's Washington Today, a live two-hour afternoon drive time program broadcast nationwide on Sirius XM Radio.[8]

Scully was a backup moderator for all four of the 2016 presidential and vice presidential debates.[11][12] He was supposed to moderate the second 2020 presidential debate, but it was cancelled when Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, refused to agree to a virtual debate after his COVID-19 diagnosis.[13]

On October 15, 2020, the date that the second 2020 presidential debate was supposed to be held, C-SPAN placed Scully on temporary paid leave after he admitted to misleading[14][15][16] about his Twitter feed being hacked when confronted about an exchange he had with Anthony Scaramucci.[16] According to Politico, it was not the first time Scully "used the [hacking] excuse to disavow posts in his name, having done so at least twice in the past".[17] The Daily Beast reported that, in 2012 and 2013, Scully "apologized for tweets about weight loss, among other things, saying, 'Darn those hackers.'"[18] In reference to the Scaramucci tweet, Scully apologised to his colleagues stating "I ask for their forgiveness."[19]

Scully returned as a producer for the call-in show Washington Journal, and on-air host of The Weekly, on January 5, 2021.[20] He returned to host Washington Journal on April 5, 2021.[21]

In July 2021, Scully departed from C-SPAN to take a position as vice president of communications at the Bipartisan Policy Center.[22]

University lecturer

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In January 2003, Scully assumed the Amos P. Hostetter Chair at the University of Denver and Cable Center, teaching a distance learning course on media, politics and public policy issues via a cable television connection between Washington, D.C., University of Denver, Pace University, and George Mason University. The class aired on C-SPAN and C-SPAN3, and was streamed via the C-SPAN website.[23] He taught the course at the University of Denver until 2011. He has also taught at George Mason University in conjunction with Purdue University and The Washington Center.[7][24] He has been a faculty member at the University of California DC Program and George Washington University.[citation needed]

White House Correspondents' Association

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Scully served nine years on the Executive Board of the White House Correspondents' Association, and was elected by his peers to serve as president from 2006 to 2007.[6][10] Until her death, Scully's mother accompanied him to most WHCA dinners throughout the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.[4]

SiriusXM

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In December 2021, he began guest-hosting the mid-day show following the departure of Chris Cuomo. On June 6, 2022, Scully launched a new show, The Briefing with Steve Scully, on SiriusXM satellite radio, airing weekday afternoons.[25]

Recognition

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According to Politico, Scully is known in the media for his "evenhandedness".[26] He was the 2009 recipient of the Fitzwater Center for Communications Award, for exemplary journalism and public service,[27] and in the same year was recognized by The Washingtonian as one of the capital's "50 Top Journalists".[28] John Oliver has repeatedly referred to Scully as "The Most Patient Man on Television" in recurring segments of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, mainly for hosting calls from audibly erratic/conspiracy theory-believing callers.[29] Scully was inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2019.[30]

Personal life

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Scully and his wife, Kathryn R. "Katie" Scully, reside in Fairfax Station, Virginia. They have four children, one of which they adopted in 2008. Two others died in childhood, Carolyn in 1994 of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and Jack in 1996.[31] Scully serves on the board of both the CJ Foundation for SIDS which raises money for sudden infant death syndrome research, St. Jude's Children Hospital and First Candle which aims to increases public awareness of SIDS.[6][31]

References

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  1. ^ Rothstein, Besty (September 17, 2010). "Amazing Feats: C-SPAN's Scully Hits Milestone". Fish Bowl DC. Web Media Brands Inc. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  2. ^ "Obituary: Elizabeth Jane North 'Betty' Scully". Erie Times-News. August 8, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "C-SPAN's Five Interviewers: Inside TV's Most Famous 'Un-Personalities'". Roll Call. CQ-Roll Call, Inc. April 8, 1993.
  4. ^ a b Rothstein, Besty (August 12, 2010). "C-SPAN's Scully's Mother Dies". Media Biastro: Fish Bowl DC. Web Media Brands Inc. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Steve Scully: School of Media & Public Affairs". smpa.gwu.edu.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Keynote Speaker: Steve Scully". Adoption Conference 2010. Utah Valley University. November 22, 2010. Archived from the original on September 20, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Political Science 2703: Spring 2011 Syllabus" (PDF). C-SPAN.org. Spring 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c "Interview with Steve Scully, C-SPAN". Journalism Jobs. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  9. ^ Faiwell, Sara (February 27, 2003). "Long-Distance Learning; C-SPAN, University of Denver Class Join Forces". Roll Call.
  10. ^ a b c Charbonneau, Melissa (April 27, 2010). "C-SPAN's Steve Scully enters 5 K race". The National Press Club. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  11. ^ "Commission names moderators for presidential debates". Politico.com. September 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  12. ^ "The life of campaign 2016's substitute debate moderator". Washington Post. October 19, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  13. ^ "Steve Scully is Known as the "Most Patient Man on Television"—and He's Moderating the Next Debate". September 30, 2020.
  14. ^ Hsu, Tiffany (October 15, 2020). "C-SPAN suspended Steve Scully after he admitted to misleading about his Twitter account being hacked". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  15. ^ Bauder, David (October 15, 2020). "C-SPAN suspends Scully after he admits to lie about hack". Spokesman Review. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Staff Writer (October 15, 2020). "C-SPAN suspends Steve Scully indefinitely after he admitted to lying about Twitter hack". MarketWatch. Associated Press. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  17. ^ Niedzwiadek, Nick (October 9, 2020). "Trump attacks moderator for second debate over deleted tweet". Politico. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  18. ^ Montgomery, Blake (October 15, 2020). "C-SPAN Suspends Editor Steve Scully for Lying About Hacked Twitter". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "Top US journalist suspended after false Twitter hacking claims". BBC News. October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  20. ^ "C-SPAN Reinstates Anchor Steve Scully in Offscreen Role | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  21. ^ "Washington Journal April 5, 2021". Washington Journal. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  22. ^ "Steve Scully Leaving C-SPAN For Post At Bipartisan Policy Center". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "Q&A With Brian Lamb and Steve Scully", CableFax, Access Intelligence LLC, January 23, 2006, archived from the original on February 21, 2013, retrieved December 15, 2011
  24. ^ "Road to the White House" (PDF). C-SPAN.org. Fall 2011. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  25. ^ Johnson, Ted (June 6, 2022). "Steve Scully To Host New Show For SiriusXM's Political Channel POTUS". Deadline. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  26. ^ Martin, Jonathan (September 27, 2010). "Fox primary: complicated, contractual". Politico. Capitol News Company. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  27. ^ Bedard, Paul (February 11, 2009). "Amsterdam teachers part of national conference". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  28. ^ Graff, Garret M. (June 2009). "50 Top Journalists 2009". The Washingtonian. Washingtonian Magazine, Inc. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  29. ^ Joyella, Mark (May 22, 2015). "C-SPAN Host Steve Scully 'The Most Patient Man on Television'". Adweek. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  30. ^ "Hall of Fame Award of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters - Harrisburg, PA". Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters.
  31. ^ a b "In faith, newsman Scully adopts baby". The Washington Times. The Washington Times LLC. February 4, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
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