Matthew Smith
Matthew Smith co-anchors FOX 13 News weeknights at 4 and 5 p.m. alongside Hana Kim. He also co-anchors FOX 13 News at 9 p.m. weeknights on FOX 13+ with Sabirah Rayford. Matthew is a veteran anchor and reporter who joined FOX 13 Seattle in late 2021.
Born in Michigan, Matt caught the journalism bug at a young age – he was interning at a TV station by 17-years-old and filed his first on-air report at the age of 18.
He proceeded to move around the country with stops in West Virginia, Texas, Nebraska and Michigan before finding his way to Seattle with his wife.
While Matt grew up in Michigan, he likes to call Washington his "chosen" home. Matt got married to his wife Jen in 2020 in Anacortes. Since then the family has grown with the addition of a foster son. The three live with two cats, Moo and Paws, who are always visible on Matt’s social media.
If he is not at work, you can find Matt with his family exploring Washington. Matt and his wife have fallen in love with the Cascades – they enjoy hiking and kayaking, while their son seems to want to be outdoors 24/7.
Matt also loves books, movies and craft beer – though, he gives many of his hobbies up while training for a marathon. He has run several to date and is always trying to improve his time. Matt has also competed in a number of eating competitions – once dubbed the burrito king of West Virginia; he insists that he has hung up his competitive eating bib.
At work, Matt has earned numerous awards for his work on-camera and behind it. He was awarded back-to-back Emmys as Michigan’s top reporter, and a third for his work on the anchor desk as the first COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the state of Washington.
A self-professed nerd, Matt loves talking about climate and the environment. In 2021, he was named a Metcalf Fellow through the University of Rhode Island. His work has focused on the Flint water crisis, the increase in PFAS/PFOA contaminations, air quality concerns in Washington and salmon recovery.
Matt has appeared on national news programs to report on hurricanes and wildfires but says his favorite stories are the ones he finds in his own community.
Feel free to reach out to Matt via e-mail, Facebook or Twitter -- or the grocery store, Matt is always looking to connect with viewers!
The latest from Matthew Smith
Yakima Co. Sheriff's Office defends controversial decision to kill roosters amid outcry
Late Wednesday, the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office tried to reason with the public about the overall decision to shoot and kill more than 60 roosters, despite rehoming efforts in place.
The shocking underbelly of cockfighting in Washington state
Despite being outlawed in all 50 states, underground cockfighting has continued throughout the U.S. and in WA for years.
Roosters set for Pierce County sanctuary shot, killed by Yakima County agents
"They all had homes, they had placement, they would have had wonderful lives if it wasn’t for this unnecessary event."
Rising car insurance rates explained: How to lower your bill
With many Americans now paying higher rates for car insurance, there's questions of when they will go back down and how to reduce those costs.
JBLM doctor faces judge in one of the largest sexual assault cases in Army history
A local military doctor was back inside a military courtroom on Thursday, where he faces dozens of sexual assault charges after several male soldiers came forward.
'It hurts, it's wrong': Tacoma PD charges wrong man following woman's attack
A Buckley man received a court summons from the Tacoma City Attorney’s Office for a crime he did not commit, all because of Tacoma police department software.
Green Hill School security guard caught laughing after detectives say she facilitated attack on teen
According to newly obtained investigatory documents, Michelle Goodman, was captured on camera laughing with inmates as they mimicked the punches thrown at a teenage inmate inside the Green Hill School – a youth detention facility that is meant to rehabilitate young adults who committed crimes as children.
Salmon are struggling, as former foes turned allies call for action
Running out of time: A coalition hoping to save salmon from extinction in our region are launching a new campaign to draw attention, before time slips away.
Gov. Inslee reacts to ongoing issues at juvenile detention center
Gov. Inslee reacted to new reports of inmates overdosing on drugs and employees accused of breaking the law, inside a state-run youth detention facility.
Chehalis youth detention center employee arrested for conspiring to commit a prison riot
An employee at the Green Hill School, a youth detention facility run by the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), has been arrested for allegedly conspiring to commit a prison riot.