Weekend MeteorologistWeekend Meteorologist

WDAF-TV4 (FOX 4)WDAF-TV4 (FOX 4)

JOE LAURIA

An Average DayAn Average Day

FOX 4 Has 8 Hours Of FOX 4 Has 8 Hours Of News/Weekday…News/Weekday…

4.5 Hours/Weekend Day4.5 Hours/Weekend Day Each :30 Minute segment has 1 long Each :30 Minute segment has 1 long

wxcast of 2:30-3:30+ and 1-2 shorter wxcast of 2:30-3:30+ and 1-2 shorter hits :30 secs+hits :30 secs+

Bane of my existence…teasesBane of my existence…teases Roughly 4-5 minutes of weather/30 Roughly 4-5 minutes of weather/30

minutesminutes

RundownRundown

Have an idea of what’s going on before Have an idea of what’s going on before you arrive at the stationyou arrive at the station

Forecast Prep: :15 min-:60 min…longer Forecast Prep: :15 min-:60 min…longer when activewhen active

Hit the graphics…how do you present Hit the graphics…how do you present your thoughts…for me it takes the most your thoughts…for me it takes the most time by fartime by far

Some are automatic (computer prepared) Some are automatic (computer prepared) Radar/satellite/autoplots/almanac pagesRadar/satellite/autoplots/almanac pages

RundownRundown

Phone calls (dozens/no wx center Phone calls (dozens/no wx center voicemail)voicemail)

Emails (personal & team) 15-50/day Emails (personal & team) 15-50/day requesting specific requesting specific forecasts/information/wx watchersforecasts/information/wx watchers

Internet forecastsInternet forecasts Internet video forecastsInternet video forecasts Blogs(!) Blogs(!) 24/7 weather channel cut-ins24/7 weather channel cut-ins

My Biggest IssuesMy Biggest Issues

Losing track of time…research of Losing track of time…research of data takes time away from other data takes time away from other things…then creating the graphics things…then creating the graphics to support something differentto support something different

Teases(!)-I hate them…viewers hate Teases(!)-I hate them…viewers hate them (biggest complaint)…them (biggest complaint)…management hopes that it keeps management hopes that it keeps viewers watching an extra 5-10 viewers watching an extra 5-10 minutes.minutes.

Severe Weather DaySevere Weather Day

Requires even more forecast Requires even more forecast preparation and then nowcasting preparation and then nowcasting

Phone calls and emails multiplyPhone calls and emails multiply More interaction with the newsroomMore interaction with the newsroom On Air-longer wxcasts and more wx On Air-longer wxcasts and more wx

insertsinserts Can’t trim from graphics because of Can’t trim from graphics because of

event timing issues or possible bustsevent timing issues or possible busts

During an actual eventDuring an actual event

Magnitude dictates staffingMagnitude dictates staffing More warnings expected=more More warnings expected=more

meteorologistsmeteorologists If tornadic=all hands on deckIf tornadic=all hands on deck

Severe LogisticsSevere Logistics

Everybody wants to know where to goEverybody wants to know where to go We work with about 12+ chasers…are We work with about 12+ chasers…are

they active via email/phone call? they active via email/phone call? What’s the target? Do we nowcast for What’s the target? Do we nowcast for them or are they doing itthem or are they doing it

Our own reporters/photogs turn to Our own reporters/photogs turn to spotters/chasers. They need directions spotters/chasers. They need directions to be ahead of the storms and damage to be ahead of the storms and damage reports to get video back to the station.reports to get video back to the station.

Severe LogisticsSevere Logistics

SKYFOX Routing. We advise them on SKYFOX Routing. We advise them on storms of interest and best route storms of interest and best route back to airportback to airport

Monitor NWS chats/info/mesoscale Monitor NWS chats/info/mesoscale & nowcast discussions/MERS& nowcast discussions/MERS

Phones don’t stop ringing(!)Phones don’t stop ringing(!) Calling various communities for Calling various communities for

reportsreports

One more thing…One more thing…

YOU’RE ON THE AIRYOU’RE ON THE AIR

AT THE SAME TIMEAT THE SAME TIME

Live TVLive TV

EVERYTHING is spontaneous and live!EVERYTHING is spontaneous and live! Jumping from one meteorologist to Jumping from one meteorologist to

another that has additional informationanother that has additional information Phoners with EM’s/city Phoners with EM’s/city

officials/visuals/live pics/SKYPE officials/visuals/live pics/SKYPE video/and about 5 other things that I video/and about 5 other things that I can’t think of.can’t think of.

Chaotic at best. Planning helps. Rogue Chaotic at best. Planning helps. Rogue Tornado makes my job the most stressfulTornado makes my job the most stressful

WHY?WHY?

SAVE LIVESSAVE LIVES Give Viewers credible, concise and Give Viewers credible, concise and

timely information!timely information!

Pressures We FacePressures We Face

Balancing coverage and programming…Balancing coverage and programming… Advance the story. Is the event still Advance the story. Is the event still

unfolding…have the storms weakened. unfolding…have the storms weakened. Am I saying the same thing over and overAm I saying the same thing over and over

Is it better to block out the program Is it better to block out the program entirely or constantly interrupt it?entirely or constantly interrupt it?

Each event is differentEach event is different Most immediate viewer response is Most immediate viewer response is

negativenegative

Pressures We FacePressures We Face

We’re not making moneyWe’re not making money No local commercials in continuous No local commercials in continuous

coveragecoverage Initial reaction:Initial reaction: Why do I care about a Why do I care about a

tornado in X when I live in Y? Can you tornado in X when I live in Y? Can you please put COPS on again!please put COPS on again!

My favorite:My favorite: “You interrupted my show “You interrupted my show X X and ruined my night. I’ll never watch you, and ruined my night. I’ll never watch you, your program, or your station again. I your program, or your station again. I hate you!hate you!

ManagementManagement

Weather drives the local news.Weather drives the local news. Our management is hands off. We do Our management is hands off. We do

what we need to do…when we need to what we need to do…when we need to do it. do it.

Be reasonable…consider the viewers Be reasonable…consider the viewers and the situation…think about the and the situation…think about the show that’s on. Is it “American Dad” or show that’s on. Is it “American Dad” or “American Idol” with local David Cook“American Idol” with local David Cook

Are we perfect? NO!Are we perfect? NO!

Goals Of The SeminarGoals Of The Seminar

Improve the conduit of weather Improve the conduit of weather information especially severe information especially severe weather information. weather information.

Learn about the pressures you are Learn about the pressures you are under so that when we wonder why under so that when we wonder why does this happen…we have a better does this happen…we have a better understanding.understanding.

Establish new relationships with Establish new relationships with you. TV is still for the masses. you. TV is still for the masses.

Any QuestionsAny Questions

Joe LauriaJoe Lauria (816) 932-9186 (direct into the wx (816) 932-9186 (direct into the wx

center)center) Joe.lauria@wdaftv4.comJoe.lauria@wdaftv4.com

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