Brittny McGraw
News Center 7 Weekend Anchor
Posted: 10:01 am EDT August 21, 2007Updated: 2:08 pm EST November 11, 2009
My parents say I’ve always had a “nose for news” so I’m delighted to continue doing what I love here at WHIO-TV. I joined the News Center Seven team in August 2007 as a general assignment reporter.
My journey to the Miami Valley started down south. I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC and I later attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. What an experience that was! UNC has a nationally-renowned School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and it was there that I learned the fundamentals of engaging and balanced reporting that have served me well since.
My first on-air television job was at WCTI-TV in New Bern, NC. I spent three and a half years along the coast, covering everything from hurricanes to high school sports. In that time I worked my way up from one-man-band reporter to weekend anchor.
In my free time, I love checking out all of the outdoor wonders the Miami Valley has to offer with my two lab mixes, Madison and Toby. I’m an avid sports fan so nothing beats following the athletic ups-and-downs of teams in the area and my favorite teams, which include the Carolina Panthers, New York Yankees and, of course, the Tar Heels.
I’m a proud member of the Dayton chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the Greater Dayton Association of Black Journalists.
Where were you born?
Charlotte, NC
Where did you grow up?
Charlotte, NC
What was your favorite TV show then?
'The Cosby Show," "A Different World," the comedy sketch show "In Living Color," and then as I got older 'Sex and the City"
What was the first thing you ever wanted to be?
Mom says I’ve been doing the news since elementary school where I did the school announcements. I guess I knew at an early age I wanted to be a TV journalist!
How might someone have described you in high school?
According to my best friend, "The epitome of the perfect high school student: intelligent, involved, athletic and outgoing."
What was your first job?
I was the best baby-sitter and pet-sitter in my neighborhood
What was your first job in television?
I worked as an archivist and writer at NBC News Channel in Charlotte, NC
What do you like about your job?
News changes so rapidly so you never know what you’re going to get each day. In any given day you could meet a presidential candidate, cover severe weather or talk with everyday people fighting injustice in their neighborhood. Plus, you’re always on the forefront of what’s happening in your community.
What do you not like about your job?
The news we cover isn't always upbeat, and it can be tough to cover tragedies in the communities where we live.
What might people be surprised to know about you?
I went skydiving to help celebrate my best friend's birthday back in 2005.
What is the hardest thing you ever did?
At age 25, I motivated myself to finally finish learning how to ride a bike. It was a 15 year process, but well worth it in the end!
What would be a perfect day for you?
My perfect day would involve lounging around at home with my two dogs with my favorite snacks nearby watching the opening rounds of the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments from sun-up to sundown. All of my favorite teams would win…but all of the games would have fantastic finishes!
What advice would you have for someone wanting to go into the business?
If you really have a passion for this line of work, DON'T GIVE UP! Your first TV job may not be on-air, but if you work hard and stick with it, someone will recognize your talents.
If you could only keep one 5-minute tape from your career what would be on it?
It would be snippets of my work that included my first on-air report in New Bern, NC…my coverage of the 2007 ACC Tournament in Tampa, Fl…and hurricane coverage I did along the NC coast.
Favorite Book: The Bible.
Favorite CBS show: CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: New York
Favorite dream car: I'm not really into cars…so what I have now suits me!
Favorite food:Pizza and anything sweet
Favorite hobby:Watching sports on TV and attending games in person (especially my UNC Tar Heels)
Favorite Miami Valley place: Where I live! It's my little sanctuary!
Favorite movie: The Color Purple, The Usual Suspects
Favorite music: I'm a big fan of neo-soul artists such as Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton and Alicia Keys.
Favorite travel destination: Tampa, Fl, Atlanta, GA and New York City
Copyright 2009 by WHIOTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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