A True Community Shares

Nearly 200 members of the Saint David's community gathered at a midtown venue yesterday evening to hear Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO of FOX News and Chairman of FOX Television Stations, speak about "The News in America Today" for this year's Saint David's School Networking Event.

Known for his candid, direct style; and rarely reticent about expressing his views and opinions, Mr. Ailes spoke of his introduction to the media business working on The Mike Douglas Show in the sixties, where he first encountered Richard Nixon, crediting an exchange the two had over the role television would play in determining election outcomes with truly beginning his career in broadcasting.

From covering man's first steps on the moon in 1969 (he broadcasted the first interplanetary shot in history, which would feature Neil Armstrong's legendary exclamation: "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind."), to his successful embrace of Rupert Murdoch's challenge to build a channel that could beat the competition, he spoke of success resulting from commitment, hard work, and what he termed his greatest talent: "I hire good people; they do a great job."

Mr. Ailes also addressed the seismic shifts in the way news can be delivered as the result of rapidly evolving technological advances and the challenges these present, noting "an atmosphere of radical growth and change," and the continued importance of excellence, integrity, teamwork and positive attitude as essential qualities for success, along with having good mentors.

Following his talk, attendees broke out into networking affinity groups that covered five professions, each led by a Saint David's community member: Hospitality, facilitated by Richard Coraine; Finance, by Martin Vulliez '86, Education, by Arthur Samuels III, '84; Media, by Annika Pergament; and Recruiting, by Carolina Dorson Ponzer. Alumns, current and past parents then "networked".

The annual networking event, an occasion for alumni, current parents and parents of alumni to network together is now in its sixth installment, and growing stronger each year. Last evening, which happened to fall on Founders Day, the date that the school was founded in 1951, marked yet another example of the "true community" that is Saint David's, members coming together to share insights, provide information about various industries and professions, and offer advice and support to each other.

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