Susanne Brunner is a News Reporter/Multi-Skilled Journalist on Daybreak at WFAA in Dallas, TX.
1) Who are you?
Mom, Wife, Regional Emmy Award-winning News Journalist, Author— titles I’m proud and blessed to hold. I grew up in a gold rush town in the Sierra Nevada foothills of beautiful Northern California and spent some time living on an Air Force base in the Philippines as a child. My dad served in the Air Force, as well as my brother, and I was close to following their footsteps, but decided to pursue TV broadcasting. I’m a proud graduate of Yuba College and San Francisco State University where I earned degrees in Mass Communications and Radio and Television.
My career has taken me to Kennewick, Washington and Monterey, California where I was an Anchor and Reporter. Before joining the WFAA news team in the summer of 2021, I spent 8 years in Little Rock, Arkansas where I served as the Morning Anchor for the FOX and NBC affiliates. During my time in the Natural State, I launched a reading initiative where I visited elementary schools for story time and to educate children about the importance of reading in hopes of boosting the state’s reading scores. In 7 months, more than 4,200 children took a pledge to read 10 books in 10 weeks for my Book-A-Thon. I also hosted 5 community job fairs that featured more than 100 employers and attracted hundreds of job seekers. One was a Second Chance Re-Entry Job and Resource Fair that helped people with a criminal background transition into society. State and local leaders recognized my efforts in helping unemployed Arkansans get back into the workforce.
I met my husband in the Natural State and we adore our 2-year-old son who is full of personality!
2) What are your interests?
I love to travel. I’ve been to 10 countries, some more than once. A trip on my bucket list is a tour of Switzerland, Austria, and Germany because I have family roots there, plus the scenery looks breathtaking. I also enjoy making charcuterie boards. It’s my new hobby from the pandemic. There is something therapeutic about putting these together and I find myself inspired to create the next one instantly. Working the early morning shift, one of my favorite things to do weekend mornings is cook breakfast for my family and spend quality time together. Whether it’s getting outdoors to explore new places and experience new things, to trying out new restaurants, and watching movies, shows, and sports.
3) What do you like about working at WFAA?
WFAA is a legacy station. To be a part of a news organization that values journalistic integrity, ethics and upholds standards is important to me and just as important to the communities we serve. I couldn’t be more excited, and proud to work with a great team.
4) What's one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a children’s book Author! I published my first book “Busker the Tusker” in 2019. It started as a storyboard for a class assignment in college. I remember looking at it and thinking to myself this would make a great children’s book one day. When I was a child, my mother told us a bedtime story her mom shared with her. I always thought it would be special to share a story of my own to tell my children one day. I never thought it would be reality and I have my husband to thank for being so supportive and encouraging throughout the process. My son, who was born a year later, now loves books and Busker!
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