Shauna Corr: ‘It’s an absolute honour working to keep you in the know.’

Best story you’ve come across in journalism (yours or someone else’s)

I’ve not read them all, so it’s hard to pick one! Carole Callwallader’s work on the seedy goings on behind Brexit, the US election and the impact of social media on democracy was brilliant as was the Boston Globe probe into child sex abuse in the Catholic Church. 

But despite being the story of just one East Belfast man, Geordie Walker will always have a place in my heart, from our appeal to find his relations as he died alone in the Royal facing a paupers grave, to seeing him rest in peace beside his mother and sister. He was a private man but it hurts my heart to think anyone would have no one looking out for them as their candle burns out and could be buried without a soul in the world mourning their loss. This story, however, had a somewhat happy ending.

What is the worst job you’ve done? 

Outgoing call centre while at uni. Soul destroying stuff - I would have enjoyed the hornets of Hades descending upon me more.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? 

An artist, then a doctor, an actress or singer and then an FBI agent because I had a huge crush on David Duchovny in the X-Files. Needless to say none of those things came to be, although I still paint and prance around the house pretending I’m on stage.

Social media platform of choice? 

Instagram, I love seeing other people’s views of our beautiful world.

Fave memory of 2020 (if there is one!)

Kayaking and cliff jumping with my sister before everything went mad altogether.

Most overused word or phrase?

‘It is what it is’, invokes a sense of hopelessness don’t you think?

Hidden talent? 

Has to be art.

What is your guiltiest pleasure? 

Ice cream. Honestly couldn’t be without it so thank god for the leaps and bounds in vegan kinds!

How do you switch off from work?

Back in the day I would have escaped to far flung places, these days it’s all bike rides, yoga, visiting my bubble buddies, roller skating and trying new things like cold water swimming - oh, and box sets and reading and the odd glass of wine (bottle!)😝

Name the film you’d watch again tonight? 

Harry Potter ‘til the cows come home.

Biggest life lesson to date? 

Be true to yourself, you won’t feel good about life otherwise.

If you could go back in time, where would you go? 

Tough one that. I’d love to see the world before humans claimed it as all theirs and started taking far more than we needed to. 

What is top of your bucket list? 

A skydive which has had to be rescheduled a few times, the latest being because of the pandemic. When I can, I will be jumping out of that plane for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Describe your 2020 using emoji only: 🙄

To the audience: It’s an absolute honour working to keep you in the know.