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Allen Media Group is a scourge on the weather community

It honestly took our group by surprise too. We was talking to Matt about a few things ealier in the week that we had planned to work together on. Thursday morning he texted myself and the other board members wanting to talk about a few things. Didn't though much about anything that day until we found out what was happening before he had a chance to tell us personally.
 
Dr. Mike Brown, who is the Mississippi state climatologist as well as a professor at Mississippi State University’s meteorology program (one of my favorites along with Dr. Charlie Wax) posted this earlier. I agree with his sentiments…

“
I have been asked my thoughts on the removal of the meteorology staff at WTVA and several other TV stations (approx. 20 stations) across the country in the coming months. First let say how sorry I am to the meteorologists from these stations, many of which are graduates from our MSU meteorology program. These are hard working dedicated individuals. Very soon they will no longer have an income and likely be forced to uproot their families to work the job they love.

From what I have read, this is/was a business decision to “centralize” weather coverage from Atlanta. I believe businesses have every right to make what they believe are money saving decisions related to their organization. However, there may be some serious consequences for smaller television markets such as the Columbus-Tupelo-West Point-Starkville market. With only two local weather teams covering this area (WTVA and WCBI), the removal of one of those teams will provide an opportunity yet require considerable adjustment from the other. TV markets with 3-4 stations may be able to make these adjustments a bit easier, and with fewer impacts to the viewers.

I have seen many folks post about the trust they have in the meteorologists from WTVA. The trust that is earned by the local meteorologist has a lot to do with the fact that they live in the community they are forecasting for. When inclement weather strikes, they are not just warning their community, they are warning their family as well. These meteorologists have a local geographical knowledge that is critically important when delivering high impact weather information. Knowing businesses, neighborhoods, and roads, by name gives credibility to the information they are delivering. These meteorologists feel accountable when they have to look the members of their community in the eyes when visiting the grocery store, worshiping at their church, or visiting a local school. These interactions make them a better meteorologist, by being reminded that their work impacts others in a very real manner. Some will say that the meteorologist in Atlanta will have those same feelings. I would strongly disagree. As an example, when we in North MS see the devastating fires in California, we certainly feel empathy, we may send money, we talk about how terrible and scary it must be, and we may pray. However, our minds will always (and likely quickly) turn back to our own lives and our community. Most here in MS don’t have a relationship with those so dramatically impacted in California. Those in Atlanta won’t have community relationships in north MS.

I certainly don’t know how this will all play out. Without a local weather team, it is likely that many will turn their viewership to WCBI. I have read that advertisers have begun to scale back or pull out of WTVA which will further weaken that station. I suspect that out of fear or anger, several of the anchors, reporters, producers, directors, technicians, etc… will either retire or be actively pursuing other employment in the coming months.

For the personnel directly impacted and for the loyal viewers of these stations, I am very sorry. My concern also extends to our current MSU broadcast meteorology students. With nearly 100 seasoned meteorologists across the country now without employment, new graduates may find it a bit more difficult to quickly secure a job for which they are being educated and trained. Don’t be surprised, if this “centralization” is a monetary success, other owner groups will follow this model.”
 
kcyalater said:
this.

it just means broadcast meteorology will end up direct to consumer. ryan hall has pioneered this delivery method and sees tens of thousands of viewers during weather events.

much like everything else, we’ve got to adapt to 2025 and beyond.
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Ryan went into broadcast with his weather operations just shy of a year after we began broadcasting in the Tennessee Valley on more of a local scale beginning in April 2020, but with the same tech as you'd see at a local TV station (we have an x-band live dual-pol Doppler radar, Baron Lynx and FasTrac, our own skycam network, etc). And before us, "Nor'easter Nick" in south Jersey was already running a similar operation to what ours has become as of 2019. Ryan has pioneered the way for people to get large scale breaking information across the country, while digital outlets like ours and the other affiliates of the newly announced and growing National Weather Network are setting the example for how to do a locally-based, digitally driven broadcast operation with hometown meteorologists that can still do school visits, civic group talks, weather awareness campaigns, etc., in person out in the local community... just like meteorologists at traditional TV stations have done for decades. Between these two methods for doing the digital broadcasting thing, you will likely see more and more of your longtime favorite TV meteorologists venturing out into doing this over the next few years.

Absolutely horrible, short-sighted, careless, callous, and completely asinine what Allen Media has decided to do to their local affiliates and meteorologists. You can tell this decision was made by a group of people that not only do not understand about the life-threatening consequences that various weather threats bring across the country, but they don't give the slightest bit of a d@mn. It's an even bigger slap in the face that they announced this just after the fires in their region showed even their area firsthand just how critical live breaking LOCAL weather and news coverage is during dangerous situations.
 
TornadoFan17 said:
Allen realized the backlash from this decision hurt their pockets a lot more than just paying the (already underpaid) meteorologists at their stations.
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This exactly, but is this a true change of heart? I can understand businesses wanting profits but I'm with the FCC in viewing broadcasters more as a public service who have community obligations instead of being maximum-profit businesses.

I just hope all this doesn't mean Allen will simply try a different path to the same goal. I hope everyone takes some time to thank Allen for the change which might reinforce a change of heart.
 
Anti Marine Layer said:
They are not as bad as the Southern California Weather Force and Kevin Martin
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Is he still a thing? Last thing I heard was him and Spann got into a spat on FB or something and then Kevin was being investigated by the local FBI. This was like 6 or 7 years ago now
 
JPWX said:
Is he still a thing? Last thing I heard was him and Spann got into a spat on FB or something and then Kevin was being investigated by the local FBI. This was like 6 or 7 years ago now
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Yep, he's still got his website

www.southerncaliforniaweatherforce.com

Current News Home - Southern California Weather Force

Isolated Thunderstorms Likely Across Portions of Southern CA Mountains; August 11, 2024 Brief Outlook: Isolated thunderstorms are expected across parts of southern California, particularly in San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino County mountains drifting... Read More Thunderstorm Outlook For...
www.southerncaliforniaweatherforce.com www.southerncaliforniaweatherforce.com
 
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