Shelley Ross

Ross began her career in network TV as segment producer for NBC's The Tomorrow Show in 1981. Three weeks into her first job, she booked and produced the first-ever interview with convicted mass cult murderer Charles Manson.{{Cite web|last=Ariens|first=Chris|date=2007-07-30|title=Snyder: "Original, Provocative, Innovative"

|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/snyder-original-provocative-innovative//|access-date=2024-10-10|website=Adweek|language=en-US}} It was a ratings success, attracting 22.2 million viewers instead of its usual 6.9.{{Cite web|last=Ross|first=Shelley|date=2016-08-08|title=Snyder: Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Me. I Thought I Was The First

|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/08/roger-ailes-sexually-harassed-me-i-thought-i-was-the-first-and-last//|access-date=2024-10-10|website=Daily Beast|language=en-US}}

Following her stint at NBC, Ross became a producer at ABC News, working primarily on PrimeTime Live.{{Cite news|last=Mullin|first=Benjamin|date=2021-09-24|title=CNN's Chris Cuomo Accused of Sexually Harassing a Former ABC News Producer|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cnns-chris-cuomo-accused-of-sexually-harassing-a-former-abc-news-producer-11632491392|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0099-9660}} In 1990, she produced the Emmy Award-winning documentary "Murder in Beverly Hills" about the Menendez murders, hosted by Diane Sawyer. While she and Sawyer worked for over two decades, Ross also produced stories for Sam Donaldson, exposing Hollywood's manipulation of blockbuster profits and sexual harassment in the military. Their groundbreaking report on the Navy Tailhook convention revealed years of harassment and led to President George H. W. Bush demanding the Secretary of the Navy's resignation and new policies.{{cite web|title=2005 Winners|url=http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x8826.xml|archive-url=https://www.thecurealliance.org/board-members/|archive-date=October 13, 2024|website=The Cure Alliance|via=Internet Archive|accessdate=October 13, 2024}}

In 1994, Ross also produced the first TV interview with Paula Jones, the first woman to sue former President Bill Clinton for sexual harassment. ABC bosses challenged the newsworthiness of letting “just anyone” who wants to accuse the president of wrongdoing to go on camera. Ross’ booking letter was their best argument: “Dear Paula, If you want to be believed, don’t sit down with Katie, Connie, Leslie, Diane or Barbara. Sit in the hot seat across from the toughest interviewer in Washington, D.C., Sam Donaldson, and show you’re not afraid to answer any questions.”{{Cite web|last=Dana|first=Rebecca|date=2006-12-11|title=Good Night, ABC! TV Tabloid Empress Packs Up and Leaves

|url=https://observer.com/2006/12/good-night-abc-tv-tabloid-empress-packs-up-and-leaves/|access-date=2024-10-13|website=Observer|language=en-US}}

In 1998, Good Morning America was experiencing a significant ratings decline, trailing behind The Today Show, which was drawing over 5 million viewers compared to GMA's 3 million.{{Cite web|last=Dana|first=Rebecca|date=1998-09-21|title=A Hit From the 70's Is Fading in the 90's; ABC's 'Good Morning America' Has Seen Better Days |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/21/business/hit-70-s-fading-90-s-abc-s-good-morning-america-has-seen-better-days.html|page=C1|access-date=2024-10-13|website=The New York Times|language=en-US}} To reverse this trend, ABC appointed Ross as the executive producer by the end of the year.{{Cite web|last=Miffin|first=Lawrie|date=1999-01-13|title=Old Anchors Seek to Rescue ABC Mornings |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/01/05/business/the-media-business-old-anchors-seek-to-rescue-abc-mornings.html|access-date=2024-10-13|website=The New York Times|page=C1|language=en-US}}

In January 1999, a revamped Good Morning America debuted under Ross' leadership. Her first major move was to pair Charles Gibson with Diane Sawyer, along with making changes to the show's content and pacing. The adjustments quickly paid off, with ratings surging 34% compared to the previous year's fourth-quarter averages.{{Cite web|last=Starr|first=Michael|date=1999-01-20|title=Diane's Debut on 'GMA' Wakes Up Ratings 34% |url=https://nypost.com/1999/01/20/dianes-debut-on-gma-wakes-up-ratings-34/ |access-date=2024-10-13|website=The New York Post|language=en-US}}{{better reference needed|date=October 2024}}

In 2005, she won a shared Gerald Loeb Award for Television Deadline.{{cite web|title=2005 Winners|url=http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x8826.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051216115915/http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x8826.xml|archive-date=December 16, 2005|website=UCLA Anderson School of Management|via=Internet Archive|accessdate=May 22, 2010}} Ross was a producer of The Early Show.{{Cite news|last=Carter|first=Bill|date=2008-03-01|title=Producer May Leave 'Early Show'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/01/arts/television/01cbs.html|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|date=March 6, 2008|title=In Defense of 'Early Show' Producer Shelley Ross|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2008/03/in_defense_of_early_show_produ.html|access-date=2021-09-24|website=Intelligencer|language=en-us}}

In 2016, she accused her boss on the show, Roger Ailes, of sexual harassment shortly after she was hired in 1981; he allegedly insisted on having a "sexual alliance."{{Cite web|last=Khatchatourian|first=Maane|date=2016-08-08|title=Veteran TV Producer Shelley Ross Accuses Roger Ailes of Sexual Harassment|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/roger-ailes-sexual-harassment-shelley-ross-1201832680/|access-date=2021-09-24|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

In September 2021, she accused her previous employee, Chris Cuomo, of sexually harassing her in 2005 during an employee's farewell party at a bar in Manhattan.{{Cite magazine|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=2021-09-24|title=TV Producer Says Chris Cuomo Sexually Harassed Her, Apologized to Her Husband First|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/chris-cuomo-sexual-harassment-shelley-ross-1231805/|access-date=2021-09-24|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1=Ross |first1=Shelley |title=Opinion: Chris Cuomo Sexually Harassed Me. I Hope He'll Use His Power to Make Change. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/24/opinion/chris-cuomo-cnn.html |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=24 September 2021}}{{cite web |title=Shelley Ross |url=https://www.huffpost.com/author/shelley-ross |website=HuffPost |access-date=27 September 2021 |language=en}} Stopping short of asking him to be fired from CNN, she said she would "like to see him journalistically repent." Cuomo admitted to the incident and apologized in a statement: "As Shelley acknowledges, our interaction was not sexual in nature. It happened 16 years ago in a public setting when she was a top executive at ABC. I apologized to her then, and I meant it."{{Cite web|date=2021-09-24|title=Chris Cuomo's Former Boss Accuses Him of Grabbing Her Butt, Offering Bizarre Email Apology Afterwards|url=https://www.mediaite.com/news/chris-cuomos-former-boss-accuses-him-of-grabbing-her-butt-offering-bizarre-email-apology-afterwards/|access-date=2021-09-24|website=Mediaite|language=en}}

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• [https://motherhoodlater.com/meet-later-mom-shelley-ross/ Shelley Ross] - MotherhoodLater

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Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:American television news producers

Category:Television producers from New York City

Category:American women television producers

Category:ABC News people

Category:Gerald Loeb Award winners for Television

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