UNITED STATES—After 23 years at Fox News, Shepard Smith announced on Friday, October 11, that he was leaving the network. Smith has worked for Fox News since its inception in 1996. He has worked as a journalist for 33 years and did not disclose a reason for his departure from the network, where he earned more than $10 million per year as a head anchor at the network.

On Friday, Smith addressed the public in an on-air statemen, where he thanked Fox News for the opportunity to report at such a high-level, as well as gave some information on the terms of his departure from the network.

“Under our agreement, I won’t be reporting elsewhere, at least in the near future,” said Smith.

In his closing remarks, Smith mentioned the importance of facts and acknowledged the current challenges in modernity in the news arena.

“Even in our currently polarized nation, it is my hope that the facts will win the day, that the truth will always matter, that journalism and journalists will thrive,” said Smith to the public.