Weekend Meteorologist WDAF-TV4 (FOX 4) JOE LAURIA

An Average Day FOX 4 Has 8 Hours Of News/Weekday… FOX 4 Has 8 Hours Of News/Weekday… 4.5 Hours/Weekend Day 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+ 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 Bane of my existence…teases Roughly 4-5 minutes of weather/30 minutes Roughly 4-5 minutes of weather/30 minutes

Rundown Have an idea of what’s going on before you arrive at the station Have an idea of what’s going on before you arrive at the station Forecast Prep: :15 min-:60 min…longer when active 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 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 Some are automatic (computer prepared) Radar/satellite/autoplots/almanac pages

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

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

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

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

Severe Logistics Everybody wants to know where to go Everybody wants to know where to go We work with about 12+ chasers…are they active via /phone call? What’s the target? Do we nowcast for them or are they doing it We work with about 12+ chasers…are they active via /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. 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.

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

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

Live TV EVERYTHING is spontaneous and live! EVERYTHING is spontaneous and live! Jumping from one meteorologist to another that has additional information 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. 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 Chaotic at best. Planning helps. Rogue Tornado makes my job the most stressful

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

Pressures We Face Balancing coverage and programming… 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 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? Is it better to block out the program entirely or constantly interrupt it? Each event is different Each event is different Most immediate viewer response is negative Most immediate viewer response is negative

Pressures We Face We’re not making money We’re not making money No local commercials in continuous coverage 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! 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! 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!

Management Weather drives the local news. Weather drives the local news. Our management is hands off. We do what we need to do…when we need to do it. 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 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! Are we perfect? NO!

Goals Of The Seminar Improve the conduit of weather information especially severe weather information. 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. 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. Establish new relationships with you. TV is still for the masses.

Any Questions Joe Lauria Joe Lauria (816) (direct into the wx center) (816) (direct into the wx center) Myfoxkc.com (soon to change) Myfoxkc.com (soon to change) fox4kc.com fox4kc.com