As outlets obsess over Elon Musk’s apparent (and unlikely intentional) Nazi salute, the industry just got a whole lot smaller. Local TV meteorologists at stations run by Allen Media Group are now saying goodbye to their viewers in a move that makes absolutely no sense for any self-respecting news outlet.
I hate covering weather. Standing outside in Central Park saying “It’s cold… in the middle of January…in New York,” doesn’t make much sense (to me). Yet, this past Monday and Tuesday, almost all the New York local stations sent reporters out to cover the atmospheric conditions. Well duh, it’s cold! It’s not exclusive to the New York market — outlets across the country report on climatic happenings regularly.
It’s hot in July, hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th, and if a big storm is coming, get ready for full team coverage no matter the season. Weather is my least favorite (and last resort) type of news coverage. Yet, it is essential.
For most local outlets, some of the biggest ratings stem from climatic aberrations, because it is the ultimate equalizer. No matter the market, you will be affected by the temperature outside. Which is why if any department in a newsroom should survive it would (and should) be weather. Full. Stop.
You could cancel all the gloom-and-doom news shows, litter your network with feature shows, and still do break-ins of local weather alerts. News 12 did this for years, and it worked well. Today, it’s evolved into News 12+ — traffic and weather with some top headlines sprinkled in.
The almost two dozen stations affected by the Allen Media Group layoffs won’t be without weather entirely. They will instead have a taped hit from The Weather Channel’s ‘weather hub,’ an outlet that the media group purchased in 2018.
The Weather Channel had their own layoffs in October and there is no indication of how the national station will handle the extra workload. Unfortunately, this seems to be the status quo for the media industry as a whole. Cut jobs, add workload for those who weren’t cut, and then the burnout sets in.
There is something so essential and sacred when it comes to a local TV meteorologist on your screen. Sure, Ettabetta Smith (not a real person) in Atlanta might be able to record hits for 12 stations across the country but she wont be able to do stuff with people locally.
Which brings us to the biggest thing local TV can and should learn from radio: do stuff with your audience. There is life outside of your newsroom and its time to seize the day or get lost in the shuffle. Green screens are now portable, Dejeros/LiveU makes it easy (and cheaper) to go live from cellphone signals instead of satellite.
Good radio stations (and hosts) find ways to get out with their people and interact. iHeartMedia is extremely at this. From the Jingle Ball to its various different festivals and award shows, its listeners are constantly invited to interact with its radio hosts and celebrities. Even syndicated talk stars like Clay Travis and Buck Sexton travel the country and interact with their listeners.
It’s time TV does the same and some stations are already setting a good example. In New York, CBS2 does a good job with this ‘do stuff with viewers’ mentality. Segments like ‘Class Act with Chris Wragge’ and Mary Calvi’s book club #ClubCalvi. Both are great ways to connect with your viewers (or listeners).
The perfect meteorologist example is WABC7 NY’s Raegan Medgie. She makes snowmen during live shots, and when they don’t have her at the green screen, she is out in the field reporting — meaning she gets to connect with viewers.
For the longest time, local TV has lived in a box full of untouchable glamour. Non-media people in awe of reporters because they are on TV. This ideal is now the undoing of local news resulting in what may be Allen Media Group’s biggest mistake. Cutting loose people who have the greatest potential to take your broadcast to the next level… if only you think outside the green-screened box.
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Krystina Alarcon Carroll is a news media columnist and features writer for Barrett Media. She has experience in almost every facet of the industry including: digital and print news; live, streamed, and syndicated TV; documentary and film productions. Her prior employers have included NY1 and Fox News Digital and the Law & Crime Network. You can find Krystina on X (formerly twitter) @KrystinaAlaCarr.
