More on the weather from a guy who works at the paper

3 comments December 21st, 2008

The responses to the last post on weather scaremongering were fascinating. One of them, I think, must be a weathercaster, oops, meteorologist.

The whizbang, “War of the Worlds”  hype, combined with way too much useless information about the wind chill in Tulsa and the dew point in Nome,  numbs me and most other people I talk to about it. By  the time they get to the weather forecast for Rockford and suburbs, I’m no longer paying attention. When I want the weather, I go to my computer and go to NOAA, which I’m already paying for.

See, when I was a kid, Rollie Spongberg did the weather on Channel 13, and Bob Kevern did the weather on Channel 39 (now 17.) Neither were “chief meteorologists,” or even soldier meteorologists. Why did they need to be? The weather information came from, and still comes from, the government’s scientists. It’s free content for TV, courtesy of the taxpayers.

 The highlight of Rollie’s show was his magic trick, and his tag line on behalf of his sponsor, “Butternut,, the coffee deeeeeeeeelicous.” He also delivered the weather forecast. He didn’t attempt to scare anyone, or tell them what to wear, or otherwise lecture them. Rollie wasn’t your mommie.

Kevern spoke with velvet tones. He wore a high collar shirt and a narrow tie, which was the fashion in the early 1960s. Bob was also  respectful of the intelligence and common sense of his  audience; he reported the weather, and the viewers decided what to wear, or whether to go outside in the elements.

There are times to warn the viewers, such as when a tornado is bearing down on a nearby town.  But they’re issuing so many warnings and watches that turn out to be nothing, that when the real thing comes, we won’t believe it.

 TV weathercasters, both on the Weather Channel and on local TV, are causing retail businesses to lose valuable customers when they urge people to stay inside and watch their channel instead.

And to answer the one responder who said I’m just a writer, not a journalist. Well, of course. I think “journalist” is an uppity word, sort of like “chief meteorologist.” When people ask me what I do for a living, I say the same thing I’ve said for 25 years: “I work at the paper.”