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Ever wondered who brings you the local Birmingham evening news? Meet the team at WVTM 13
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When I was growing up, seeing somebody who worked in local TV news was like seeing a star. While it’s so much easier now to get a sense of the real people behind the on-screen personalities, we thought it would be fun to get to know WVTM 13’s local evening news anchors.
About WVTM 13 🌟
WVTM 13, Birmingham’s local NBC affiliate, has served Birmingham for over 70 years. They’re all about community, with breaking news, traffic reports and those essential weather updates.
Besides keeping us in the know on what’s happening in Bham, WVTM 13 has a rock-star team working on evening news. We interviewed five anchors to find out more about their experience bringing us the news and their lives outside work.
Meet your Birmingham evening news anchors at WVTM 13
Sheri Falk | Evening Anchor
What inspired you to become involved in the local news industry?
Religiously watching local and national evening news (60 Minutes) with my Mom as she would cook dinner.
Who are the mentors (real or fictional) in the news industry that inspire you?
My journalism professor Jim Brosemer, who was also a longtime local news anchor in South Florida.
What’s one of the most fun things you’ve ever done on the job?
I love being a part of anything that has a positive outcome for animals, like our partnership with Greater Birmingham Humane Society to find homes for cats and dogs.
What’s your favorite Birmingham spot?
Oak Mountain State Park, Ruffner Mountain and Smith Lake.
What are you currently binge-watching?
The Crown. I also binge watch most of the reality shows on Bravo.
If you have two hours off, what’s your favorite way to spend your time?
Get in a quick workout, run some errands, or, if it’s a weekday evening, hang out with my hubby.
Do you have a favorite sport (one you do) or sports team?
I am a Miami Dolphins fan! Long before Tua arrived. College football–The Canes (Miami Hurricanes).
What else should I be asking you?
If you could choose any other profession what would it be? First choice: veterinarian. Second choice: dermatologist.
Brittany Decker | Evening Anchor
What inspired you to become involved in the local news industry?
I love people, storytelling, and giving others a platform to share their voice.
Who are the mentors (real or fictional) in the news industry that inspire you?
My college professor and mentor, Brenda Garton. She was an evening news anchor in Massachusetts and she changed my life through her guidance in my career journey.
What’s one of the most fun things you’ve ever done on the job?
I loved going to LA to cover our own Dexter Roberts in the finale of “The Voice.” Broadcasting from the Miss America Pageant was a blast too! Storm coverage is my favorite type of assignment to be on, even if “fun” isn’t the right word to describe it.
What’s your favorite thing to do in Birmingham?
Barons games are fun!
What are you currently binge-watching?
Truthfully, nothing. I don’t watch too much other than the news, sports games and crime TV.
If you have two hours off, what’s your favorite way to spend your time?
Two things I love and spend most of my time out of work doing: running and music. I have run a marathon (26.2 miles) a month for 2 years now! In total I have completed 30 marathons.
Do you have a favorite sport or sports team?
I’ve always been a big Boston fan of pro sports. I especially love the Patriots and Red Sox. Since moving to the South I have grown a whole new love and appreciation for college football!
What else should I be asking you?
In Birmingham I am part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program; my little sister’s name is Asia! I have been in Birmingham almost 5 years and love it. It’s really starting to feel like home!
Jerry Tracey | Chief Meteorologist at WVTM 13
What inspired you to become involved in the local news industry?
I was always fascinated by the weather. Even when I was 4 and 5 years old, I knew I wanted to be a TV Meteorologist and here I am 63 years later, and I am still doing it!
Who are the mentors (real or fictional) in the news industry that inspire you?
Wally Kinnan the Weatherman. Seriously, he was a meteorologist on KYW, channel 3 in Philadelphia, PA when I was growing up. I appreciated his expertise and his folksy style, and when I was 5 or 6 years old, I just decided I wanted to do what he does when I grow up.
What’s one of the most fun things you’ve ever done on the job?
Covering the Olympic Torch Arrival at Linn Park in 1995 ahead of the Summer Olympics in Atlanta in 1996.
What’s your favorite Birmingham spot?
Railroad Park. That’s where we took our Great Dane for training when she was a puppy.
What are you currently binge-watching?
The Crown on Netflix and reruns of The Closer.
If you have two hours off, what’s your favorite way to spend your time?
Visit the 4 grandkids in Alabaster. (Haven’t done much of that lately!)
Do you have a favorite sport or sports team?
College football, and my loyalties are all over the place. I graduated from Penn State and my son and daughter-in-law graduated from Auburn.
Guy Rawlings | Evening Anchor
Who are the mentors (real or fictional) in the news industry that inspire you?
Bryant Gumbel was my TV news inspiration. My parents watched the “Today Show” every morning before going to work, so I would catch a little before school. I liked how he was more of a host and could tackle serious and light-hearted news.
What’s one of the most fun things you’ve ever done on the job?
The most fun event to cover was Michael Jordan’s Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament in the Bahamas. It hosted stars from the sports & entertainment world, and included an overnight stay at Atlantis.
What’s your favorite Birmingham spot?
My favorite Bham spot is Railroad Park. My wife and I like to walk the perimeter for a little exercise, and it’s a fun place to people watch. I’d say it’s Birmingham’s melting pot, since it serves as a central place that everybody can enjoy.
What are you currently binge-watching?
My wife and I are in the middle of the third season of Cobra Kai, and just recently finished Bridgerton, for which I look forward to a second season.
If you have two hours off, what’s your favorite way to spend your time?
One of my favorite things to do (weather permitting) is to sit on my back porch and enjoy a good book and a nice cigar, as a portable speaker plays either jazz, classic hip hop or salsa.
Do you have a favorite sport or sports team?
I’m pretty passionate about college football, particularly my Florida Gators. I’m an alumnus and continue to follow my team win or lose. I do watch a lot of Alabama games, as well.
What else should I be asking you?
I won an Emmy, an AP award, in Miami I was voted “Local Anchor I Want to Have a Beer with,” and in Dallas I was voted 1 of D Magazine’s “10 Most Eligible Men.”
Ian Reitz | Evening Anchor
What inspired you to become involved in the local news industry?
As a kid I loved learning about something new in school, and coming home to tell my parents about it at the end of the day. I found a career where I can learn something new each day, and share that at night with you.
Who are the mentors (real or fictional) in the news industry that inspire you?
In high school I had a chance to job shadow a journalist at a TV station in Seattle, near where I grew up. One of his best pieces of advice was to learn the intricacies of how our government and the economy work. It inspired me to think beyond learning about journalism in college, but to also pursue a degree in political science.
What’s one of the most fun things you’ve ever done on the job?
Flying with the Blue Angels is one of the greatest assignments I’ve had in my career. My dad was a career Navy officer so I grew up in awe of the Blue Angels. Getting to fly with them was a dream come true.
What’s your favorite Birmingham spot?
We love hiking, so Oak Mountain and Moss Rock are two of our favorite spots. We’re so blessed to have these great hiking spots so close to the city.
What are you currently binge-watching?
I have a 3 and a 6 year old, so Paw Patrol, Wild Kratts and Fireman Sam are among our current favorites. But if my wife and I can wrestle the remote away, we love HGTV, especially Beachfront Bargain Hunt when they visit Gulf Shores.
If you have two hours off, what’s your favorite way to spend your time?
Hiking or fishing with my boys.
Do you have a favorite sport or sports team?
Is this a trick question in Central Alabama? Alabama, Auburn, UAB…where do I start?
Learn more about WVTM 13’s evening news anchors by checking out their website and following them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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