By Javacia Harris Bowser | For the Birmingham Times
For Women’s History Month, The Birmingham Times highlights some of the most watched Black women anchors in our area. These women have dedicated their life’s work to sharing other people’s stories. Now, it’s time to share their stories.
When she has a brief break between broadcasts, Sarah Verser loves to gaze out the window of the WBRC headquarters. Verser’s station, located atop Red Mountain, offers a captivating view of Birmingham — the city she’s called home for more than 30 years.
“I basically grew up in television here,” the Buffalo, New York, native said of the Magic City. “I started in general assignment [in 1989], and I’ve probably worked every newscast except overnights.”
Career Path: Verser began her career reporting for WKBW-TV in Buffalo in the mid-1980s. When she got hired at WBRC about three years later, a mentor in Buffalo urged her to nail down a niche once she arrived.
“He said, ‘People often look for the perfect shop [television station], and you’re not going to find a perfect shop. Just find one thing where you can make a difference,’” she recalled. “One of the things I’ve always been passionate about is education.”
From that passion came her “What’s Right with Our Schools” and “At Your School” segments, which began in 1999 and have earned her honors, including the Alabama Broadcasters Association Best in Broadcasting and the Associated Press Best Specialized Reporter awards.
Through her “What’s Right with Our Schools” series, Verser highlighted the often-overlooked accomplishments of Birmingham area students and teachers.
The long-time anchor is currently on the early evening newscasts each weekday at WBRC. Before moving to those time slots, she was part of the “Good Day Alabama” team for 16 years.
As Verser was preparing to travel to Birmingham to interview for the job with WBRC in 1989, her parents were nervous. In their minds were images from 1963 of children protesting during the Civil Rights Movement and being attacked with water hoses and dogs.
“When I came and I saw how lush and green it was, met the people, and got a chance to see it for myself, I saw hope, I saw promise, I saw progress,” she said.
While many broadcast journalists move from station to station, Verser has stayed in Birmingham for more than three decades, building a lasting legacy along the way.
Asked what she loves the most about Birmingham, her answer is simple: “The people.”
Those people include the community she’s built at her church, Faith Chapel in Birmingham, and connections she’s made by being part of organizations such as the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists and Leadership Birmingham. Some of those people also include her colleagues.
Career Highlights: “I work with an amazing group of people,” Verser said. “Two women lead our newsroom — Shannon Maze is news director and Krystal Swann is assistant news director. Our general manager, Jason Mathews, leads by example, motivating all of us to be better and keep learning. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without their support. We have a great team of anchors, reporters, producers, and managers here, too. I am very proud to be part of this legacy that is WBRC.”
Verser has especially treasured the opportunity to interview legends of the Civil Rights Era, including iconic minister and activist the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth; celebrated clergy Bishop Calvin Woods and the Rev. Abraham Woods Jr.; trailblazing radio personality Shelley Stewart; and renowned Birmingham businessman A.G. Gaston.
“It has been the biggest joy to rub shoulders with actual people who were there,” she said. “It brings tears to my eyes.”
Most Challenging Parts of Her Career: Covering stories that take an emotional toll, such as the tornadoes of April 27, 2011, and the kidnapping and murder of 3-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney in 2019, Verser said.
“You maintain your composure, but on the inside …,” she said, pausing to take a deep breath.
“I mean, when you think about what was done to her …,” she trailed off, shaking her head.
On Changes in the Media: “Change is inevitable,” Verser said. “You either embrace change or you get left behind. It is an important thing to remember that we’re always learning, and if you’re not learning, what are you doing?”
That said, Verser is leery of some of the ways social media and the Internet have had an impact on journalism.
“Just because you’ve got a camera, a light, and a tripod, and you’re on social media, you’re not a journalist,” she said. “Journalists have to verify their information.”
On Being a Black Woman in Broadcasting: “Anytime you see a woman and a woman of color, there are challenges,” Verser said. “I think it’s how you see those challenges. I’m a person that doesn’t take ‘no’ very easily. So, I’m going to keep asking. I’m going to keep going. I don’t give up easily.”
On Representation: Verser takes the WBRC slogan “On Your Side” seriously.
“People trust local journalists because we’re in the community,” she said. “We live here, we go to church here, we shop here. It’s our community, too. To be a trusted voice is something that we don’t take for granted.”
And when she’s on set, she feels she represents the Birmingham community.
“I want to make sure I’m giving the best information,” Verser said. “I’m the best part of me when I’m on the set. That’s my neighbor, that’s my family. It’s important that we are that trusted voice and that the people who look to us know we’re not going to lead them in the wrong direction.”
Sarah Verser can be seen on WBRC Fox 6 anchoring the early evening newscasts on weekdays at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m.
