FOX News Channel (FNC) will debut a new Saturday prime-time line-up beginning Jan. 29 with a program hosted by Lawrence Jones. Suzanne Scott, CEO of FOX News Media. announced that Jones will host a new one-hour show entitled Lawrence Jones Cross Country airing at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
The promotion renders Jones, 29, the youngest Black solo host of a program in cable news. In addition to this new role, he will continue as the enterprise reporter for the FOX & Friends franchise. Lawrence Jones Cross Country will focus on newsmakers from across the political and cultural spectrum, spotlighting the leading concerns facing Americans nationwide. Jones will frequently travel across the country to showcase a multitude of key topical stories from the issues at the border and crime in cities to the impact of Covid policies, providing an in-depth look at underserved communities.
In making the announcement, Scott said, “Lawrence has been an impact player since joining the network in 2018 and we are thrilled to add his critical insights to our weekend lineup. Whether reporting from the border or diners across America to hosting prime-time specials, his perspective has added depth to our programming while resonating with the audience.”
Jones added, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that Suzanne has provided me over the last four years, encouraging me to travel the country and seek out the stories of everyday Americans, many of whom have been overlooked by the rest of the media. I look forward to delivering insightful, thought-provoking coverage on the key issues that really matter to the heartland of the nation.”
Since joining the network in 2018, Jones has become known for his signature storytelling and “man-on-the-street” segments focusing on the impact of various issues on local communities, most often in prime-time on Sean Hannity’s program. He was later named enterprise reporter for the FOX & Friends franchise in May 2021 and has filled in as guest-host for the top-rated cable news morning show on both the weekday and weekend editions. Throughout 2021, Jones also served as a regular host for the nightly FOX News Primetime at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
In the summer of 2020, Jones hosted a one-hour prime-time weekend special entitled One Nation which examined the state of race relations from the perspectives of civil rights activists, law enforcement officials and religious leaders. Notably, he conducted an emotional interview with the family of Davell Gardner, Jr., the 1-year-old child who was shot and killed by a stray bullet while asleep in his stroller at a cookout in Brooklyn, New York. He also reported extensively from Chicago on the city’s spike in gun violence, interviewing the family of Natalia Wallace, a 7-year-old girl who was killed in a drive-by shooting on the Fourth of July. Later that year he also conducted a wide-ranging interview for FOX Nation with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace from his home in North Carolina which spanned the start of his career in racing to his activism in the Black Lives Matter movement. A native of Garland, Jones attended the University of North Texas where he studied Criminal Justice.
FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The No. 1 network in basic cable, FNC has been the most watched television news channel for nearly 20 consecutive years. According to Nielsen Media Research, FNC currently attracts more than 50% of the cable news viewing audience. Notably, a 2021 Nielsen/MRI Fusion report showed the network garners the largest independent audience in cable news, while FNC’s prime-time hours deliver the second largest liberal audience in cable news. Additionally, a 2021 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report stated FOX News leads the news industry in both brand loyalty, engagement and expectations. Owned by FOX Corp, FNC is available in 80 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top 10 programs in the genre.