The Ailes Apprentice Program: Talent Diversity & Mentor Program by Roger Ailes

Fox News is committed to supporting and promoting diversity in broadcast & cable journalism.  As part of our ongoing efforts, we have pioneered programs that have enriched careers and have helped to build the next generation of media programming and technical executives as well as anchors and reporters. We believe that to be truly effective, a diversity program must be committed to providing opportunity and access for those who exhibit the talent and desire to succeed.

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• Program Features

Submit Your Name for Consideration:

Crystal Berger

Apprentice

Crystal I. Berger graduated from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore with a degree in English, and a double minor in Education/Communications. During her years in college, she was editor for The Hawks’ Message newspaper, where she explored her love for writing, lifestyle and entertainment. Upon graduation, Crystal diverted from her communication passion to teach underprivileged children in the District of Columbia. Crystal has since worked as a production intern at CBS Affiliate, WJZ Channel 13 in Baltimore and as a freelance correspondent covering celebrity and lifestyle events focusing on philanthropy. Crystal is currently the affiliate coordinator for Fox News Radio in New York and the co-founder of Sisters Empowerment Foundation, a Baltimore-based nonprofit organization.

Queenette Karikari

Apprentice

Queenette Karikari graduated from Tufts University in 2010 with a degree in American Studies and Economics. A New York City native, she has held internships at several finance, fashion and entertainment companies including Citigroup and LVMH.  After graduation, she began her career at 20th Century Fox TV in sales and advertising and is currently employed as a production and programming assistant at the Fox Business Network. Queenette Karikari continues to progress her interests in cultural texts, political economies and her enthusiasm for the world of social networking.

Carolina Sanchez

Apprentice

Carolina Sanchez graduated from New York University in 2010, where she majored in Journalism and Sociology.  In addition to working at the college TV station, she interned at “Good Morning America” and “CBS Sunday Morning.”  She also studied abroad in the Czech Republic, where she developed her skills in travel and international reporting.  After graduation, she began working at Fox News Edge as a production assistant.

Mildress Santana

Apprentice

Mildress Santana attended Monroe College and graduated in 2002 with a degree in Hospitality Management. She started working at Fox in 2003 as an overnight receptionist with an outsourcing company. A year later, she moved to the Facilities department and in 2006, was promoted to facilities coordinator.  Although she does not have a formal television background, working at Fox has given her vast exposure and sparked her interest in the media industry. She is looking forward to developing the skills necessary to build her career in the fast-paced media industry.

Mitch Davis

Mentor

Mitch Davis is vice president of Fox News Radio. As the first head of the network’s radio news operation, he helped found the operation that today provides hourly news reports to almost a thousand stations across the country.  He first joined Fox News in January of 1997, as a producer for Fox News Channel’s very first network TV Pool assignment, covering President Bill Clinton’s second inauguration.

Davis is a broadcast journalism veteran with more than 40 years of experience. With previous experiences as a network TV news producer and writer for ABC News, Mitch has traveled the world to cover special events and breaking news.

Sharri Berg

Mentor

Sharri Berg is the senior vice president of news operations and services, with responsibilities for both Fox News Channel and the Fox Television Stations. Sharri was a member of the Fox News Channel launch team, where she started in 1996 as the manager of satellite operations.

Brian Jones

Mentor

Brian Jones first joined Fox News in 1995 as vice president-news. In the subsequent years, he served in a variety of senior management positions at News Corporation and Fox. He is currently senior vice president- programming and operations of the Fox Business Network (FBN).

From 2003 to early 2007, he was vice president of new product and business development focusing on interactivity, content integration and the launch of FBN.

Jones has also served as the director of communications for the McGraw-Hill Companies, Information and Media Services. Prior to that, he was vice president of SkyGlobal Networks (News Corporation), where he was part of the acquisition and integration team when News Corporation acquired DirecTV.

Ronna Butters

Mentor

Ronna Butters got her start at Fox News Channel in June 2005 as a fact writer.  In late 2008, she joined Fox’s affiliate news service, Fox News Edge, where she worked her way up the ranks from writer to producer.  As a producer, Ronna keeps her finger on the pulse of the day’s top stories, delivering news of local, national and international interest to Fox affiliates.  Prior to joining FNC, Ronna worked at Dow Jones as an interactive news indexer.

About Roger Ailes:

Roger Ailes serves as the Chairman and CEO of Fox News as well as the Chairman of Fox Television Stations, overseeing all national operations for Fox News, Fox’s 27 broadcast television stations, and Twentieth’s Television’s syndication group. Joining Fox News in 1996, Roger Ailes played a major role in creating major channels such as Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network. Under his leadership, FNC passed CNN in ratings in all day parts in January 2002, becoming the number one news channel in America.

Coming from humble beginnings as a prop boy, Roger Ailes is proud to present the Ailes Apprentice Program, providing talented individuals of diverse backgrounds the resources needed to reach full potential and succeed in broadcast and cable journalism.