Steve Scully
{{Short description|American broadcast journalist}}{{Use American English|date=November 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Steve Scully
| image = Steve Scully (cropped 1).jpg
| caption = Scully in 2012
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|9|17}}
| birth_place = Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| occupation = Broadcast journalist
| television = Washington Journal
| employer = {{ubl|C-SPAN (1990–2021)|SiriusXM (2022–present)}}
| education = American University (BA)
Northwestern University (MS)
| spouse = Katie Scully
| children = 4
}}
Steven L. Scully (born September 17, 1960){{cite web |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/c-spans-scully-hits-milestone_b20704|title=Amazing Feats: C-SPAN's Scully Hits Milestone|last=Rothstein |first=Besty |date=September 17, 2010 |work=Fish Bowl DC |publisher=Web Media Brands Inc. |access-date=December 16, 2011}} 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 Southern California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - Center on Communications Leadership and Policy. In January 2025 he also joined the Former Members of Congress as a Senior Fellow, working to bridge the political divide in Washington within Congress. 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
Scully was born in Erie, Pennsylvania to Hubert L. "Hoot" Scully and Elizabeth Jane North "Betty" Scully.{{cite web |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/erietimesnews/obituary.aspx?n=elizabeth-jane-north-scully-betty&pid=144532160&fhid=8582 |title=Obituary: Elizabeth Jane North 'Betty' Scully |date=August 8, 2010 |work=Erie Times-News |access-date=December 15, 2011}} He was the 14th of 16 children, including five sets of twins.{{cite news |title=C-SPAN's Five Interviewers: Inside TV's Most Famous 'Un-Personalities'|date=April 8, 1993 |work=Roll Call |publisher=CQ-Roll Call, Inc.}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowldc/c-spans-scullys-mother-dies_b20246 |title=C-SPAN's Scully's Mother Dies|last=Rothstein |first=Besty |date=August 12, 2010 |work=Media Biastro: Fish Bowl DC |publisher=Web Media Brands Inc. |access-date=December 15, 2011}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.uvu.edu/chss/adoption/2010/presenters.html |title=Keynote Speaker: Steve Scully |date=November 22, 2010 |work=Adoption Conference 2010 |publisher=Utah Valley University |access-date=December 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920133809/http://www.uvu.edu/chss/adoption/2010/presenters.html |archive-date=September 20, 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.c-span.org/uploadedFiles/Content/spring11syllabus.pdf |title=Political Science 2703: Spring 2011 Syllabus|date=Spring 2011 |publisher=C-SPAN.org |access-date=December 15, 2011}} Scully then earned a Master of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism graduating magna cum laude in 1984.{{cite web |url=http://www.journalismjobs.com/steve_scully.cfm |title=Interview with Steve Scully, C-SPAN |date=December 15, 2011 |work=Journalism Jobs |access-date=December 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507191214/http://www.journalismjobs.com/steve_scully.cfm |archive-date=May 7, 2011 }}{{Cite web|url=https://smpa.gwu.edu/steve-scully|title=Steve Scully: School of Media & Public Affairs|website=smpa.gwu.edu}}
Career
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. 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.{{cite news |title=Long-Distance Learning; C-SPAN, University of Denver Class Join Forces |last=Faiwell |first=Sara |work=Roll Call |date=February 27, 2003}}
=C-SPAN=
Scully joined C-SPAN in 1990 as political editor and White House producer. 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,{{cite web |url=http://press.org/news-multimedia/news/c-span%E2%80%99s-steve-scully-enters-5-k-race-june-11 |title=C-SPAN's Steve Scully enters 5 K race|last=Charbonneau |first=Melissa |date=April 27, 2010 |work=The National Press Club |access-date=December 15, 2011}} 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. 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. 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.
Scully was a backup moderator for all four of the 2016 presidential and vice presidential debates.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/09/commission-sets-dates-formats-moderators-for-presidential-debataes-227679|title=Commission names moderators for presidential debates|date=September 2016|website=Politico.com|access-date=November 2, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2016/10/19/the-life-of-campaign-2016s-substitute-debate-moderator/|title=The life of campaign 2016's substitute debate moderator|date=October 19, 2016|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=November 2, 2017}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a34222595/who-is-steve-scully/|title = Steve Scully is Known as the "Most Patient Man on Television"—and He's Moderating the Next Debate|date = September 30, 2020}}
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{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Tiffany |title=C-SPAN suspended Steve Scully after he admitted to misleading about his Twitter account being hacked. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/15/business/media/steve-scully-cspan-twitter.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410173237/http://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/15/business/media/steve-scully-cspan-twitter.html|archive-date=10 April 2023|url-status=live|access-date=December 12, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=October 15, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Bauder |first1=David |title=C-SPAN suspends Scully after he admits to lie about hack |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/oct/15/c-span-suspends-scully-after-he-admits-to-lie-abou/ |access-date=December 12, 2020 |work=Spokesman Review |agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://perma.cc/V5RF-NGS5|archive-date=December 12, 2020|date=October 15, 2020}} about his Twitter feed being hacked when confronted about an exchange he had with Anthony Scaramucci.{{cite news |author=Staff Writer |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/c-span-suspends-steve-scully-indefinitely-after-he-admitted-to-lying-about-twitter-hack-01602790944 |title=C-SPAN suspends Steve Scully indefinitely after he admitted to lying about Twitter hack |work=MarketWatch |publisher=Associated Press |date=October 15, 2020 |access-date=October 15, 2020}} 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".{{cite news |last1=Niedzwiadek |first1=Nick |title=Trump attacks moderator for second debate over deleted tweet |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/09/trump-attacks-debate-moderator-428332 |access-date=October 15, 2020 |work=Politico |date=October 9, 2020|archive-date=December 20, 2020|archive-url=https://perma.cc/P5Z3-9HU9}} The Daily Beast reported that, in 2012 and 2013, Scully "apologized for tweets about weight loss, among other things, saying, 'Darn those hackers.'"{{cite news |last1=Montgomery |first1=Blake |title=C-SPAN Suspends Editor Steve Scully for Lying About Hacked Twitter |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/c-span-suspends-editor-steve-scully-for-lying-about-hacked-twitter |access-date=October 15, 2020 |work=The Daily Beast |date=October 15, 2020|archive-date=December 20, 2020|archive-url=https://perma.cc/RTX5-J9EF}} In reference to the Scaramucci tweet, Scully apologised to his colleagues stating "I ask for their forgiveness."{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54563992 | title=Top US journalist suspended after false Twitter hacking claims | date=October 15, 2020 | publisher=BBC News | access-date=October 16, 2020}}
Scully returned as a producer for the call-in show Washington Journal, and on-air host of The Weekly, on January 5, 2021.{{Cite web|title=C-SPAN Reinstates Anchor Steve Scully in Offscreen Role {{!}} Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/c-span-reinstates-anchor-steve-scully-in-offscreen-role|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=January 5, 2021}} He returned to host Washington Journal on April 5, 2021.{{cite news|title=Washington Journal April 5, 2021|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?510293-2/washington-journal-news-headlines-viewer-calls&event=510293&playEvent|access-date=April 5, 2021 |work=Washington Journal}}
In July 2021, as part of a company-wide buy-out offer due to cable cord cutting, Scully departed from C-SPAN to take a position as vice president of communications at the Bipartisan Policy Center.{{cite news|title=Steve Scully Leaving C-SPAN For Post At Bipartisan Policy Center|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/steve-scully-c-span-donald-trump-1234779793/|access-date=August 20, 2021 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}
=University lecturer=
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.{{citation |url=http://www.cable360.net/cablefaxmag/programming/people/Q-and-A-With-Brian-Lamb-and-Steve-Scully_18688.html |title=Q&A With Brian Lamb and Steve Scully |date=January 23, 2006 |work=CableFax |publisher=Access Intelligence LLC |access-date=December 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221063931/http://www.cable360.net/cablefaxmag/programming/people/Q-and-A-With-Brian-Lamb-and-Steve-Scully_18688.html |archive-date=February 21, 2013 }} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.c-span.org/uploadedFiles/Content/Distance_Learning/Fall-2011-Syllabus.pdf|title=Road to the White House|date=Fall 2011 |publisher=C-SPAN.org |access-date=December 27, 2011}} He has been a faculty member at the University of California DC Program and George Washington University.{{cite web |title=Lecturers at the Jefferson Educational Society {{!}} Steve Scully |url=https://www.jeserie.org/program-lecturers/steve-scully |website=Jefferson Educational Society |access-date=13 April 2025 |language=en}}
=White House Correspondents' Association=
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. 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.
=SiriusXM=
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.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Ted |title=Steve Scully To Host New Show For SiriusXM's Political Channel POTUS |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/steve-scully-siriusxm-1235039161/ |access-date=June 7, 2022 |work=Deadline |date=June 6, 2022}}
Recognition
In May 2025, Scully received a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honorary) from Gannon University as part of its centennial commencement ceremonies. According to Politico, Scully is known in the media for his "evenhandedness".{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42745_Page2.html| title=Fox primary: complicated, contractual|last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=September 27, 2010|work=Politico |publisher=Capitol News Company|access-date=December 20, 2011}} He was the 2009 recipient of the Fitzwater Center for Communications Award, for exemplary journalism and public service,{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/27/usnews/whispers/main2617700.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028195218/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/27/usnews/whispers/main2617700.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 28, 2010 |title=Amsterdam teachers part of national conference |last=Bedard |first=Paul |date=February 11, 2009 |work=CBS News |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |access-date=December 15, 2011}} and in the same year was recognized by The Washingtonian as one of the capital's "50 Top Journalists".{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtonian.com/print/articles/6/174/12512.html| title=50 Top Journalists 2009 |last=Graff |first=Garret M. |date=June 2009 |work=The Washingtonian |publisher=Washingtonian Magazine, Inc. |access-date=December 15, 2011}} 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.{{cite web|last1=Joyella|first1=Mark|title=C-SPAN Host Steve Scully 'The Most Patient Man on Television'|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/john-oliver-dubs-c-span-host-steve-scully-the-most-patient-man-on-television/263295|website=Adweek|date=May 22, 2015 |access-date=August 24, 2015}} Scully was inducted into the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://pab.org/hall-of-fame-award/|title=Hall of Fame Award of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters - Harrisburg, PA|website=Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters}}
Personal life
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/4/in-faith-newsman-scully-adopts-baby/print/ |title=In faith, newsman Scully adopts baby |date=February 4, 2009 |work=The Washington Times |publisher=The Washington Times LLC |access-date=December 15, 2011}} 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.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{C-SPAN|20742}}
- [https://www.cablecenter.org/programs/the-hauser-oral-history-project/s-listings/steve-scully.html Steve Scully's oral history for The Cable Center's Hauser Oral History Collection, May 26, 2011]
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Category:20th-century American journalists
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