Understanding Violent Weather Dana Rosengard, Ph'D'

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Understanding Violent Weather
Dana Rosengard, Ph.D. National Press
Foundation
Gaylord / OU
Dana Rosengard, Ph.D. McMahon Centennial
Professor Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass
Communication University of Oklahoma
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Understanding Violent Weather
Dana Rosengard, Ph.D. National Press
Foundation
Gaylord / OU

• news directors now make weather ever-more
  present in newscasts
• weather is now expanding beyond (just)
  newscasts
• now we dissect storms with
  technology

Michelle Muscatello WPRI-TV/Providence
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Understanding Violent Weather
Dana Rosengard, Ph.D. National Press
Foundation
Gaylord / OU

• we lead with weather whenever we can
• meteorologists toss to reports (ala anchors)
• all on staff have meteorology degrees and AMS
  seals
• weather updates during storms
• stations has invested in computers
• meteorologists attend news meetings

WPTZ-TV, Plattsburgh, NY / Burlington, VT
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Understanding Violent Weather
Dana Rosengard, Ph.D. National Press
Foundation
Gaylord / OU

• most days weather is not news
• meteorologists have to tell the
  weather story every day
• weather is like an accordion
• meteorologists need to communicate with
  newsroom personnel
• meteorologists need to make viewers comfortable
• Weather is the number one reason people watch
  the news.

Cindy Fitzgibbon FOX 25 TV / Boston
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Understanding Violent Weather
Dana Rosengard, Ph.D. National Press
Foundation
Gaylord / OU

• proximity
• prominence
• conflict
• consequence
• timeliness
• - audio / visual potential
• - human interest

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Understanding Violent Weather
Dana Rosengard, Ph.D. National Press
Foundation
Gaylord / OU
Because we cant control it !!!
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Vince
Irene
Franklin
Emily
Ophelia
Katrina
Harvey
Cindy
Arlene
Philippe
Rita
Tammy
Lee
Wilma
Maria
Dennis
Nate
Jose
Gert
Stan
Bret