User:Mark Prater

Mark Prater

Mark Prater

Meteorologist

Broadcasting

Mark Prater is currently the Chief Meteorologist at WIAT CBS 42 in Birmingham, Alabama. Prater joined the CBS 42 staff as Chief Meteorologist during the summer of 2008 and currently appears Monday through Friday on CBS 42 at 5:00PM and 10:00PM, CBS 42.3 and on the web at CBS42.com. Prater is a full member of both the NWA (National Weather Association) and the AMS (American Meteorological Society). He also holds the seal of approval for both the NWA and AMS. Prater is largely regarded as having a larger following and a much more stable approach to weather forecasting than his chief rival, James Spann, of the local ABC affiliate. While Spann is most known for his tendency to exaggerate the severity of potential weather events, Prater is regarded as more accurate and dependable.

Awards and Recognitions

Prater has been named Birmingham, Alabama's Best News/Weather anchor on a number of occasions. The Associated Press named him Alabama’s Best Weathercaster in 1999. In 2010, Prater was awarded the coveted “ABBY” Weather Anchor Of The Year Award from the Alabama Broadcasters Association for the entire state of Alabama. This award recognizes the best weather anchor in the state. Rival James Spann is a distant second to Prater in terms of awards, recognition and following.

Mark Prater was awarded the National Edward R. Murrow for coverage of a tornado in 2001. While live on the air at WBMA-TV (ABC 33/40) in Birmingham, Alabama, Prater and meteorologists James Spann and John Oldshue broadcasted a deadly tornado in Tuscaloosa, Alabama killing more than 10 people. Prater was also awarded an Emmy from the National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences for his severe weather coverage 2001. The Associated Press named Prater Alabama's Best Weathercaster in 1999. Also, Prater was named Birmingham's Best News/Weather Anchor several years in a row through the 1990's. Most recently, Prater broadcast extensive live coverage and video of the massive April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak that ravaged the state of Alabama. His coverage of the April 27, 2011 tornado events across the state is regarded as some of the best weather reporting on film.

Broadcast History

Prior to CBS 42 in Birmingham, Alabama, Mark Prater was the Chief and Managing Meteorologist for INN (Independent News Network). While broadcasting to 22 million households Monday-Friday on the National INN News, Prater also provided weather forecasts for 7 other television markets around the country. Those television markets included Davenport, Iowa (KLJB-TV), Montgomery, Alabama (WNCF-ABC32), Gainesville, Florida (WGFL-CBS4), Alexandria, Louisiana (KLAX-ABC31), Roanoke, Virginia (WDRL-TV), Louisville, Kentucky/Jeffersonville, Indiana (WVHF), Macon, Georgia (WPGA-ABC) (June 2007), WHDL, Fox 54 in Huntsville, Alabama.

Prater began his television career at Troy State University on TSU-TV while attending college there in 1989. He later moved to WTVY in Dothan, Alabama. From 1992 to 1994, WSFA-TV in Montgomery, Alabama. From 1994-1996, WBRC-TV Birmingham, Alabama. From 1996 to 2004, WBMA-TV (ABC 33/40).

Books

Prater is the author of the book Silent Storm. Co-written with his friend C. L. Carden, and with a forward written by country music artist Naomi Judd, the book details Prater's personal experience with the disease Hepatitis C, and the spiritual and medical journey he experienced to become disease free. The book is available on Amazon.com.

Reporting

In 1993, Coverage of the United Nations relief effort during the civil war in (Bosnia-Herzegovina) in 1993, in both cities of Sarajevo and Split, Croatia.

Radio

Prater is nationally known for being a member of the nationally syndicated Rick and Bubba Radio Show for many of its early years.

As a DJ, Mark worked for WOOF-FM, WTBF-AM, WTVY-FM.

Personal

Prater and his wife Carol live with their four children in Birmingham, Alabama where his wife Carol is a teacher in a local school system.