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Weekend Meteorologist WDAF-TV4 (FOX 4)

JOE LAURIA. Weekend Meteorologist WDAF-TV4 (FOX 4). An Average Day. FOX 4 Has 8 Hours Of News/Weekday… 4.5 Hours/Weekend Day Each :30 Minute segment has 1 long wxcast of 2:30-3:30+ and 1-2 shorter hits :30 secs+ Bane of my existence…teases Roughly 4-5 minutes of weather/30 minutes.

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Weekend Meteorologist WDAF-TV4 (FOX 4)

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  1. JOE LAURIA Weekend Meteorologist WDAF-TV4 (FOX 4)

  2. An Average Day • FOX 4 Has 8 Hours Of News/Weekday… • 4.5 Hours/Weekend Day • Each :30 Minute segment has 1 long wxcast of 2:30-3:30+ and 1-2 shorter hits :30 secs+ • Bane of my existence…teases • Roughly 4-5 minutes of weather/30 minutes

  3. Rundown • Have an idea of what’s going on before you arrive at the station • Forecast Prep: :15 min-:60 min…longer when active • Hit the graphics…how do you present your thoughts…for me it takes the most time by far • Some are automatic (computer prepared) Radar/satellite/autoplots/almanac pages

  4. Rundown • Phone calls (dozens/no wx center voicemail) • Emails (personal & team) 15-50/day requesting specific forecasts/information/wx watchers • Internet forecasts • Internet video forecasts • Blogs(!) • 24/7 weather channel cut-ins

  5. My Biggest Issues • Losing track of time…research of data takes time away from other things…then creating the graphics to support something different • Teases(!)-I hate them…viewers hate them (biggest complaint)…management hopes that it keeps viewers watching an extra 5-10 minutes.

  6. Severe Weather Day • Requires even more forecast preparation and then nowcasting • Phone calls and emails multiply • More interaction with the newsroom • On Air-longer wxcasts and more wx inserts • Can’t trim from graphics because of event timing issues or possible busts

  7. During an actual event • Magnitude dictates staffing • More warnings expected=more meteorologists • If tornadic=all hands on deck

  8. Severe Logistics • Everybody wants to know where to go • We work with about 12+ chasers…are they active via email/phone call? What’s the target? Do we nowcast for them or are they doing it • Our own reporters/photogs turn to spotters/chasers. They need directions to be ahead of the storms and damage reports to get video back to the station.

  9. Severe Logistics • SKYFOX Routing. We advise them on storms of interest and best route back to airport • Monitor NWS chats/info/mesoscale & nowcast discussions/MERS • Phones don’t stop ringing(!) • Calling various communities for reports

  10. One more thing… • YOU’RE ON THE AIR AT THE SAME TIME

  11. Live TV • EVERYTHING is spontaneous and live! • Jumping from one meteorologist to another that has additional information • Phoners with EM’s/city officials/visuals/live pics/SKYPE video/and about 5 other things that I can’t think of. • Chaotic at best. Planning helps. Rogue Tornado makes my job the most stressful

  12. WHY? • SAVE LIVES • Give Viewers credible, concise and timely information!

  13. Pressures We Face • Balancing coverage and programming… • Advance the story. Is the event still unfolding…have the storms weakened. Am I saying the same thing over and over • Is it better to block out the program entirely or constantly interrupt it? • Each event is different • Most immediate viewer response is negative

  14. Pressures We Face • We’re not making money • No local commercials in continuous coverage • Initial reaction: Why do I care about a tornado in X when I live in Y? Can you please put COPS on again! • My favorite: “You interrupted my show X and ruined my night. I’ll never watch you, your program, or your station again. I hate you!

  15. Management • Weather drives the local news. • Our management is hands off. We do what we need to do…when we need to do it. • Be reasonable…consider the viewers and the situation…think about the show that’s on. Is it “American Dad” or “American Idol” with local David Cook • Are we perfect? NO!

  16. Goals Of The Seminar • Improve the conduit of weather information especially severe weather information. • Learn about the pressures you are under so that when we wonder why does this happen…we have a better understanding. • Establish new relationships with you. TV is still for the masses.

  17. Any Questions • Joe Lauria • (816) 932-9186 (direct into the wx center) • Joe.lauria@wdaftv4.com • Myfoxkc.com (soon to change) • fox4kc.com

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