[billethkid]

has it become a problem for the media to fill a half hour news show or what?

They present weather we had as a matter of course....and oh by the way we found out about it when it started looking outside and when it started snowing.

Now it is dangerous, threatening, going to shut down millions, etc, etc,etc.

Really breaking news the plows are out? Buffalo used record salt?
6 to 12 inches of snow?

How did we ever make it without the 24/7 sensationalism and hand holding the networks would like to hook us on?

We are a lot hardier and smarter then the media plays us.

btk

[Roaddog53]

Originally Posted by billethkid

has it become a problem for the media to fill a half hour news show or what?

They present weather we had as a matter of course....and oh by the way we found out about it when it started looking outside and when it started snowing.

Now it is dangerous, threatening, going to shut down millions, etc, etc,etc.

Really breaking news the plows are out? Buffalo used record salt?
6 to 12 inches of snow?

How did we ever make it without the 24/7 sensationalism and hand holding the networks would like to hook us on?

We are a lot hardier and smarter then the media plays us.

btk

Very true. Any of us could recall many snowstorms in the earlier days and it was a matter of just handling it. No big deal. Unless it was a blizzard or foot of snow, we would just take is as winter. Now the media sensationalized EVERYTHING. A 4" snow gets national news and warnings. in some parts south a 2" snow gets news since they cant handle it. That's why I refuse to watch any network news broadcasts. Even the weather channel and their "naming" winter storms now is hilarious.

[Cisco Kid]

And as always it's the storm of the century
Worst ever

[graciegirl]

And MANY times it is a non event. You are right BTK.

And we walked to school in a LOT of snow.

No groaning please. I am tired of it from the younger bunch.

[kbace6]

Originally Posted by billethkid

has it become a problem for the media to fill a half hour news show or what?

They present weather we had as a matter of course....and oh by the way we found out about it when it started looking outside and when it started snowing.

Now it is dangerous, threatening, going to shut down millions, etc, etc,etc.

Really breaking news the plows are out? Buffalo used record salt?
6 to 12 inches of snow?

How did we ever make it without the 24/7 sensationalism and hand holding the networks would like to hook us on?

We are a lot hardier and smarter then the media plays us.

btk

Even here in New England it seems like we have become "Weather Wimps!".

It just drives me crazy.

[2BNTV]

I have gotten use to the media hype, as it all about the ratings for the weather person. I marvel at how they can make a rainstorm into something that is to be feared, by being overblown in their coverage.

I do think the last two big storms in the northeast were something to be concerned about. Hurricane Sandy and the last snowfall which turned out to be a major blizzard of 30 inches to 40 inches. Hurricane Sandy costs were astronomical. Many people without power, homes destroyed and 250,000 cars were damaged not to mention the loss of life. The snowstorm in CT where the roads were closed for a couple of days due to the plowing needed. Even then, a lot of roads were barely passable.

It seems that we are having snow in states that don't usually don't get snow and I am sure that many people who have not seen snow, don't know how to drive in it. Some state don't even have enough plowing equipment and it saddens me that several people are always killed during these times.

For the most part, I agree they sensatioize the weather reports but there is a small segment of the population that does't listen and then wind up in a lot of trouble.

[buggyone]

I grew up in Minneapolis and there was always a lot of snow in winter. In grade school, I walked to school in the snow - uphill - both ways - and fought off Indians and packs of wolves.

Remember, the storms now do affect lots more people. There is a lot more interstate travel. The airlines can be shut down by their hubs being snowed in. The packs of wolves have decreased, though.

[Virtual Geezer]

The one that really gets me is the warnings that are put out for the possibility of a major weather event days if not a week in advance that turn out to be non major events or don't happen at all. Heck some times they can't come within 10 degrees of the actual temperatures. Must have been a bad through at the dart board.

"There is a low pressure system starting to take shape in the South China Sea that has the potential of putting down heavy amounts of rain / freezing rain and heavy snow over the Ohio Valley in the coming days. Now is the time to start making preparations for this major storm. Remember to stock up on non perishable foods, water, flashlights and batteries." The next commercial break is for the local supermarket chain. Hummmm.

One other thing is if you watch the weather on the different stations you will get a wide range differences in the forecast. One station takes the low road while the other takes the high. Overall the temperature can be within a 15 degree range at times depending on the station. I guess the old saying being close only counts in hand grenades and atomic war also holds true for weather forecasting.

VG

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by buggyone

I grew up in Minneapolis and there was always a lot of snow in winter. In grade school, I walked to school in the snow - uphill - both ways - and fought off Indians and packs of wolves.

Remember, the storms now do affect lots more people. There is a lot more interstate travel. The airlines can be shut down by their hubs being snowed in. The packs of wolves have decreased, though.

Probably due to the vampire and zombie predations.

[billethkid]

and do you not wonder sometimes how the real weather matches up to the graphics used to present the weather?

My favorite is when they show the blue ones for frost and freeze. It is actually amazing to see how the weather contion conforms exactly to the different county borders. Absolutely amazing....eh!!

btk

[senior citizen]

...........

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

Probably due to the vampire and zombie predations.

Danged straight.

[kbace6]

For the most part, I agree they sensatioize the weather reports but there is a small segment of the population that does't listen and then wind up in a lot of trouble.

Let's just call this last line of your post "Natural Slection".

[Mack184]

I see this as 3 major problems.

1) Filling up a half hour news program is no problem. There's only about 20 minutes of actual content. What is the problem is that we now have many 24 hour news/weather channels. They run continually without changes in programming 24/7. THAT'S a LOT of time to fill up. Many things that used to get no attention at all are now given major attention just because the news operations need to fill up space. I've done a few local radio talk shows over the years. If your show is not guest or monologue driven and is reliant on callers..2 minutes without a call is an eternity. 24 hours to fill with news is unfathomable.

2) The majority of the national news staffs & editors have no judgement because they lack basic experience. Having spent nearly 40 years in broadcasting I can personally attest to this. There used to be a pecking order and "farm system" in the news business. New grads went to work for small town news papers & radio stations and spent their time learning a community and reporting on exciting things like school board meetings, Rotary Club gatherings & town board meetings. They got lots of butt-kicking by grizzled old editors & news directors who MADE them get their facts straight and their writing correct. They moved from larger town to larger town to move up the ladder. Today you have green grads being hired right out of school to work on national-level networks with virtually no real reporting experience. Unfortunately these people are working for editors who've only been around for a little longer than they have. There are few people around with many years of hard experience. So virtually everything that comes along is treated with great urgency, where 20 years ago it wouldn't have been even considered, or an experienced editor would have spiked the story or demanded a re-write.

3) Unfortunately there are TONS of desperately stupid people out there today who now need step-by-step insturctions on how to come in from out of the rain. One of my instructors at broadcast school used to tell us to stay away from "mother-in-law" broadcasting. What he meant was to stifle the urge to tell people common-sense things like reminding people to "drive safely" during a howling blizzard. Treat your listeners with respect and not as dummies. What's truly unfortunate is that far, far, far too many people these days are just dumb as rocks. and need to be told to drive safely or to stay home during a blizzard or flood.

I agree with the poster who said that when you cry wolf so often & so loudly the time will come when nobody will pay any attention and when a TRULY bad storm or situation comes along nobody will believe it.

It's February..It's snowing hard in Minnesota, Massachusetts, North Dakota, upstate NY, or Michigan. This is news????

[travelguy]

Ah, the snowstorms of our youth. They did seem bigger, but then we were smaller versions of what we are today....and we disappeared into deep snowdrifts when we ventured out. One vivid memory was sometime in the late 1950's; deep snow (lots of drifting and those were the days when 'snowfences' were erected on major highways to slow down the blowing snow and cause it to pile up before it closed a road.) This storm was immediately followed by freezing rain, which coated the snow on the electric wires and cable snapped and no one had any electricity or heat. Luckily we had a huge fireplace which kept the living room mostly warm so we all got to camp out in front of it, and also had to cook in the fireplace. The roads were closed and nothing got through; got milk and eggs from the farmer across the street. He had to dump huge quantities of milk as no trucks could come to pick it up. (cows keep on producing). We were stuck in the house for an entire week......and we were located about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia, which today is the suburbs but then it was the sticks.
It was a really fun adventure!