Do you think a writer or an author needs to be a reader first before they can become an author? Do you think that helps someone be a better author if they're already a reader? Why or why not?
Not necessarily, there are many writers who are very good and have never read a single book, obviously they must know the basics of knowing how to read no matter what, otherwise they would not be able to learn to write, and knowing how to write goes hand in hand with knowing how to read, but regarding what you are referring to, the answer is not necessarily.