Brian Shrader

WRAL.com Reporter

Professional Experience:
2006 to present: WRAL.com reporter, WRAL-TV; 2005 to 2006: Web producer, WTVD-TV, Durham, N.C.; 2003 to 2005: producer, News 14 Carolina, Raleigh, N.C.; 2001 to 2003: reporter/anchor, WPTF-AM, Raleigh, N.C.; 1996 to 2001: Web editor/assignment editor, WRAL-TV

News Philosophy:
Journalists play a vital role in our republic. This is a grave responsibility. Think critically and report honestly, fairly and accurately.

Education:
Mass Communication, Campbell University, Buies Creek, N.C.

Birthplace:
Raleigh

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement:
Playing piano and (attempting) song writing; travel

Family & Pets:
A lost rooster wandered into our neighborhood in January 2008 and took up residence in my back yard. No one has reported a rooster missing, so I try to take care of him. He crows intermittently from about 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. I bought some chicken scratch for him. I hope the neighbors don't mind.

Favorite Books & Movies:
I love non-fiction, especially politics. I enjoy reading campaign histories and presidential biographies. I'm a sponge of useless knowledge, and I'm at home with any reference book. I pore over "The World Almanac." I enjoy great essayists: Florence King, Peggy Noonan and Garrison Keillor, just to name a few. I struggle through fiction.

My Netflix queue is full of old movies. Those are my favorites. "Gone with the Wind," "All About Eve," "Sunset Boulevard," any Orson Welles film – things of that sort. I also have a deep affection (affliction?) for "Star Trek II." I love a good documentary, too.

Favorite Web Sites:
Drudge Report; Real Clear Politics, airfarewatchdog.com

Likes Best About North Carolina:
The real question is: What do I not like about North Carolina? Even if I could think of something, do you think I'd put it here?

This state is a perfect mix of the pastoral and the cosmopolitan. It's changing, but the best qualities remain. "Viva Mayberry," I say.

Most Memorable Assignments:
I'm a little forgetful. Let's see – being a serious aviation geek, I've always enjoyed any chance to fly in Sky 5. It's the only way to travel.

Covering the Michael Peterson murder trial for WPTF Radio was my first real assignment as a reporter. It was fascinating. Radio reporting is a blast. I enjoyed playing with sound and using it to tell stories.

Once upon a time, I also did some off-air reporting for television – going out and shooting a story, writing it, letting an anchor record their voice on it, then editing it. It really helped me appreciate the work a photographer does in our business. There's nothing like lugging a big camera, lights and a tripod for a mile in Harnett County in mid-July. I hold news photographers in the highest esteem.

More About Brian:
I grew up in Fuquay, watching "Action News 5" with Charlie Gaddy, Adele Arakawa, Bob DeBardelaben and Tom Suiter. From the time I could comprehend having a job, I always wanted to work at WRAL-TV.

Here I am, and I'm having the time of my life.

I really want to thank our viewers for their remarkable kindness since I started. Becoming part of their day is a real privilege, and I appreciate it.