© 2024
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

WAMC's Brian Shields Retiring After 30 Years

shieldshighlights2019.MP3
An audio celebration of Brian Shields' career, including on-air highlights and well wishes from colleagues.

WAMC will be losing a key member of its staff at the end of the year. Senior News Anchor Brian Shields is about to wrap up a 30-year career in the newsroom. The voice of Midday Magazine and Northeast Report, Shields is retiring at the end of December, leaving a big hole on our staff and for our listeners.

A plaque for Brian Shields
Credit A plaque for Brian Shields

“The house is paid off, I’m 62, I’ve been here 30 years, and it was just time. I think I’ve done everything I wanted to do, and it’s time to spend some time at home,” Shields says. “Everything is going to go great. I’m going to miss everybody, I’m going to miss the listeners, I’m going to miss the news. It’s time to move on, but I’m leaving everyone in great hands.”

Shields, a Capital Region native who lives in the Albany area, is a graduate of Syracuse University. He worked at several area radio stations before joining the WAMC staff in 1989. Except for a brief break in 2001, Shields has worked at WAMC ever since in a variety of on-air roles.

WAMC's Alan Chartock presents Brian Shields with a plaque honoring his career.
WAMC's Alan Chartock presents Brian Shields with a plaque honoring his career.

A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, Ian joined WAMC in late 2008 and became news director in 2013. He began working on Morning Edition and has produced The Capitol Connection, Congressional Corner, and several other WAMC programs. Ian can also be heard as the host of the WAMC News Podcast and on The Roundtable and various newscasts. Ian holds a BA in English and journalism and an MA in English, both from the University at Albany, where he has taught journalism since 2013.