Thanks to Jason Boggs for posting the following video at Storm Track. Rather than start a shitstorm over there about this, I figured I’d just do it here:
I have been unimpressed with OKC TV weather in comparison to Tulsa. Last time I was exposed to OKC media was when I was in college and that was pre – May 3, 1999. After college I lived in the Tulsa market where I was exposed to Jim Giles (Former KOTV Chief) and Travis Meyer (Former KTUL, now KOTV Chief); both class acts.
Since moving to the OKC area about 10 months ago I have done nothing but complain about the media here and their coverage of severe weather. They use scare tactics prior to and during events. Now, if this works to save lives, more power to them. It doesn’t though; it improves their cherished ratings.
Let’s break this down:
Mike Morgan (KFOR) has what I consider a “Morgasm” during severe weather events. This is in addition to chasers calling RFD an EF1 tornado (see above). Since when do WE classify tornadoes?
Everybody’s favorite, Gary England (KWTV) strokes out while he’s on the air. He’ll be talking about something and just stop - - for about 5 seconds - - and start talking about something else. During severe wx I can understand the pause but he reboots during his newscasts too! He’s lost, you can tell.
Then there’s Rick Mitchell (KOCO). This guy is probably the hardest working met in OKC TV but he doesn’t have a helicopter so no one watches.
It’s about time for one of those things to get slapped out of the sky by storm-related winds anyhow… I guess that will help boost their ratings.
Back home on Dodge
2 hours ago
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3 comments:
For a David Payne report, that was almost boring. I clicked the link after Boggs posted it on ST and was pretty much not impressed. I guess I've been here too long, but I saw nothing over the top in that live snip. If anything, it sounded heavily-orchestrated, more like a sports announcer or salesman than an over-excited weather reporter.
FWIW, the 'rfd' was a tornado.
Solid job. That should be a template for all media chasers.
I'm surprised I didn't get another fucking infraction for commenting on this at stormtrack.
We actually do have a helicopter, we just got it, will be a permanent fixture at channel 5, and according to Neilson research for the night that David Payne had his clear air fictionary Piotrowski nado we were number two, and Mike and Pals held the number 3 spot.
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