Jennifer Hale

Jennifer Hale is a survivor of cardiomyopathy who is enjoying her 9th year working with Fox Sports. As a sideline reporter for the NFL on Fox, she’s teamed with play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton and analyst Mark Schlereth. Hale’s duties at Fox Sports also include covering the New Orleans Pelicans, as well as the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show & Agility Championships.

Jen has now covered the premier players for both the NFL and the NBA during their largest events, including the Super Bowl, the NBA Playoffs and NBA All-Star Weekend. During this time, Jen has worked 120 NFL games as a sideline reporter, tying Erin Andrews and Lisa Salters for 9th most in NFL history.

A VERSATILE JOURNALIST When she’s not covering the sidelines, Jen utilizes her versatile talents to host events such as the Final Four’s Oscar Robertson Trophy Presentation and the New Orleans Bowl Luncheon, as well as to mediate discussions like the Laureus Foundation’s Legend-to-Legend Series. Hale has won multiple Emmy, Edward R. Murrow and Associated Press Awards for both her sports and news coverage.

Jen began her journalism career as a political reporter/anchor after earning a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in Chicago and attending the Fund for American Studies’ Institute on Political Journalism at Georgetown University. Jen completed her undergraduate studies at LSU’s Honors College, where the former high school gymnast captained the university’s cheerleading squad. In 2009, the RIAS Commission named Jen as a RIAS Fellow – enabling her to travel to Germany for a summer to study US-German relations, as well as the evolution of former East German cities since the fall of Communism.

PERSONAL Jen published her first book, “Historic Plantations of Alabama’s Black Belt,” in early 2009. A proud resident of New Orleans’ French Quarter, Jen spends her free time soaking up local music, cooking, cycling, and writing. Jen also launched “Sideline Pass,” four years ago, an organization that focuses on educating and empowering young women in the New Orleans community. In 2014, Jen signed on as the Women’s Health spokesperson for Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. Two years later, doctors diagnosed Jen with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that killed her grandfather, father and uncle - all at age 50 or younger. Initially, doctors told Jen she either had 5 years to live or would need a heart transplant. Today, thanks to prayer, excellent medical care and a detailed personal routine, Jen is leading a happy, full life professionally and personally, using medication. Jen deeply appreciates the second chance that she has been given and loves to encourage others in this quickly-changing medical landscape.