Archive: Media
Record Cold Exposes Climate Misconceptions
* Highs in the 40s? Our Full Forecast | October is Great (Usually) * If record summertime heat waves mean that climate change may already be affecting us, does an early-fall cold snap mean the opposite? An early surge of...
By Andrew Freedman | October 14, 2009; 10:40 AM ET | Comments (40)
Anchor to Weatherman: Keep Plucking That Chicken
* Our Full Forecast | Poll: A Cup of Climate With Your Weather? * Actually, that's not what FOX-5 (New York City) news anchor Ernie Anastos said to meteorologist Nick Gregory at the end of his weathercast last night. Replace...
By Capital Weather Gang | September 17, 2009; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (5)
Poll: A Cup of Climate With Your Weather?
* Full Forecast Through Weekend | Summer or Fall: Which Is It? * If you think the health care debate is heated -- just wait. Climate change looms as the next hot topic in this nation's political discourse, especially as...
By Dan Stillman | September 17, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (7)
Yet Another Sign TWC Has Jumped the Shark
* Full Holiday Forecast | Beach Forecast | Outside Now? Weather Wall * * Obama Should Give Climate Speech | Response to Rebuttal * Weather Channel Launches New Site: TheWeatherChannelMusic.com ... song collections include "PM Edition Country Classics" and "PM...
By Dan Stillman | September 3, 2009; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (6)
Studies Rekindle Hurricane-Climate Change Debate
* Another Hot One, P.M. Storms? Full Forecast | NatCast * * Hurricane Camille 40 Years Later | Hurricane Tracking Station * Satellite image of Hurricane Bill last night. Courtesy NOAA. Here we go again. Another hurricane season has swung...
By Andrew Freedman | August 18, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (6)
BOOM! Weather Channel, Madden NFL 10 Hook Up
* Summer in Cruise Control: Full Forecast | Blue-Hour Photography * Lost amongst the news that Michael Vick signed with the Eagles and that the Redskins laid an egg in in their first preseason game was the revelation that EA...
By Jason Samenow | August 14, 2009; 01:30 PM ET | Comments (1)
Weather Channel Launches New Morning Show
The Weather Channel's Stephanie Abrams, co-host of the new program "Wake Up with Al" with the Today Show's Al Roker. * Some Hot Days Ahead: Full Forecast * The Weather Channel debuts its newest show a week from today, "Wake...
By Andrew Freedman | July 13, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (2)
Around the World of Big Weather Media
*Two days of beautiful sunshine: Full Forecast * AccuWeather and The Weather Channel (TWC), two of the heavyweights in the weather reporting business, are bringing aboard new talent and management. And what would personnel changes in the media be without...
By Jason Samenow | May 12, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (4)
National Weather Service Media Day
* Full Forecast: 80s on the Way | Climate Change Chat * Group photo from media day at the National Weather Service's Sterling forecast office, April 21, 2009. In attendance were on-air meteorologists from D.C., Baltimore, Charlottesville and Winchester. Also...
By Kevin Ambrose | April 23, 2009; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (1)
Social Science Uncovering New Climate Angles
* Rainy Start to Week: Full Forecast * Every time I am asked if I "believe in global warming," I am reminded of the communications challenge that faces us when confronted with complex issues such as climate change. As detailed...
By Andrew Freedman | April 20, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (18)
Climate Extreme Reporting Presents Challenges
Linking global warming and weather a sticky issue * Increasing Clouds, Rain Tonight: Full Forecast | NatCast * Two recent extreme events - record flooding in Fargo, North Dakota, and deadly drought-related wildfires in southern Australia - have again highlighted...
By Andrew Freedman | April 13, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (33)
Will Misleads Readers on Climate Science - Again
* Early March-like Chill: Full Forecast | Solar Storms * Global climate change has long been a difficult subject for journalists to cover, given its fusion of complex earth science concepts with heated partisan politics. There are numerous pitfalls one...
By Andrew Freedman | April 7, 2009; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (107)
NY Times Climate Story Stirs Controversy
NASA's Hansen clashes with famous physicist on climate * Dry Start to Work Week: Full Forecast | Later: Blossom Photos * Sunday's New York Times Magazine cover story, "The Civil Heretic," on prominent physicist Freeman Dyson's stance on climate change...
By Andrew Freedman | March 30, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (36)
Newspapers Dying; Weather Page Already Dead?
* Showery Saturday? Full Forecast | Superstorm of 1993 * In case you haven't heard, newspapers are dying a slow death. Actually, in some cases not so slow. As reported this week by TIME, the Rocky Mountain News has closed...
By Dan Stillman | March 13, 2009; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
Bob Ryan Weighs in on Climate Change
* Big Warm-Up: Full Forecast | Best of Snowstorm Comments * Beneath WRC-TV (NBC4) chief meteorologist Bob Ryan's sandy blond, made-for-television facade, lie some serious scientific chops. He holds a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's in atmospheric science,...
By Andrew Freedman | March 5, 2009; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (10)
Weather Channel Founder Talks Climate 'Scam'
* Wind-Chilled Friday, Weekend Flakes? Our Full Forecast * GOOD Magazine has an illuminating interview with San Diego TV weatherman and Weather Channel founder John Coleman, who is an outspoken critic of mainstream climate science. Coleman doubts that humans are...
By Andrew Freedman | February 20, 2009; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (71)
Ex-Bush Official Lautenbacher Joins AccuWeather
* Full Forecast | Weekend Winter Weather Cancel? * Former NOAA Administrator Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher Jr. The Bush administration's longtime point person on weather and ocean issues, Conrad C. Lautenbacher Jr., has joined the board of directors at AccuWeather...
By Andrew Freedman | December 18, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (13)
Weather Channel Cuts Earn Mixed Reviews
Word that NBC had fired a handful of on camera meteorologists at The Weather Channel and canceled the network's only climate change news program struck a nerve with many Capital Weather Gang readers, who commented in droves during the weekend...
By Andrew Freedman | November 24, 2008; 10:00 AM ET | Comments (24)
NBC Fires Weather Channel Environmental Unit
Some on-camera meteorologists also let go * New (11/24) commentary: Weather Channel Cuts Earn Mixed Reviews * NBC Universal made the first of potentially several rounds of staffing cuts at The Weather Channel (TWC) on Wednesday, axing the entire staff...
By Andrew Freedman | November 21, 2008; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (303)
PM Update Off; Storm Watch Tour with Doug Hill
In honor of Veteran's Day, PM update is off. See Matt's full forecast for the weather details through the weekend. Is your evening free? Consider attending the 2008 Storm Watch Tour featuring Doug Hill and the ABC 7 Weather Team...
By Jason Samenow | November 11, 2008; 03:30 PM ET | Comments (3)
Weatherman Unfazed by Falling Piece of Map
You know when someone is counting or calculating something, and you start shouting out numbers to confuse and annoy them. Seems like this guy -- Francis Wilson, called the "coolest man in the world" by singer Rod Stewart -- wouldn't...
By Capital Weather Gang | November 9, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (3)
Freedman: TV Weather Attack Ads?
As the two-year national 'stressathon' known as the presidential election comes to a close today, many of us face a daunting question: what will we do with ourselves tomorrow, when we don't have the suspense of an election to obsess...
By Andrew Freedman | November 4, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (2)
NBC Subtracts Weather Plus
NBC will reportedly phase out Weather Plus, its 4-year-old digital cable network that features local and national weather 24/7. The service airs on digital cable systems nationwide and on the digital channels of some NBC affiliates, including Washington's NBC4 (WRC-TV)....
By Capital Weather Gang | October 8, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (5)
Freedman: Weather Almanacs Grapple with Warming
As the field of meteorology becomes more sophisticated, with technologies like phased-array radar and petascale computers, there are still some stalwarts who prefer to rely instead on offbeat techniques to predict the weather far in advance. Although most scientists deride...
By Andrew Freedman | September 15, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (12)
Freedman: Hot Summers in our Future
A new study shows that in future summers, many parts of the world may experience unusually hot weather that more closely resembles conditions found today in places like Death Valley, California and the Sahara Desert in Africa. The study, published...
By Andrew Freedman | August 18, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (28)
Is That a Snake in Your Pocket? Or...?
A python gets frisky with a Des Moines, Iowa, meteorologist making an appearance at a state fair. (Hey, what can I tell ya? This is what you get on a slow weather day.)...
By Dan Stillman | August 13, 2008; 01:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
Freedman: In-flight Magazines and Polar Bears
Ah yes, the dog days of summer, when even the CNN news crawl seems to slow to an actual crawl. This is the time of year when it's fun to pick out a few stories that might otherwise sail past...
By Andrew Freedman | August 11, 2008; 10:39 AM ET | Comments (7)
Conan O'Brien on NBC Buying Weather Channel
Very funny....
By Jason Samenow | July 20, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Is Your Kid the Next Jim Cantore or Bob Ryan?
If your child is a budding TV weathercaster, get out your camcorder and starting filming. The Weather Channel (TWC) is seeking video weather forecasts from kids under the age of 18 and has $100 gift prize packages for the best...
By Jason Samenow | July 11, 2008; 01:15 PM ET | Comments (1)
Head-Turning Climate Change Headline
Screenshot of CNN.com on Monday July 7, 2008. Headlines are a funny thing. In a way, they are the most important part of a story, because they frame and set the tone for the story before the reader has even...
By Dan Stillman | July 11, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (8)
It's Official: Weather Channel to NBC
The Associated Press reports NBC Universal and two partners will acquire The Weather Channel for $3.5 billion in cash. In addition to the cable T.V. network, the deal includes weather.com and Weather Services International (WSI). WSI operates the Web site...
By Jason Samenow | July 6, 2008; 08:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
The Weather Channel's Changing Face
A video tribute to the changing look and slogans of the Weather Channel, from its debut in 1982 to the HD days of 2008....
By Dan Stillman | June 25, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (5)
Time Warner Out in Bidding for Weather Channel
Reuters is reporting Time Warner has withdrawn its bid for The Weather Channel, leaving a group lead by NBC Universal as the lone bidder. See also the New York Times TV Decoder blog....
By Jason Samenow | June 13, 2008; 06:30 PM ET | Comments (0)
FOX Weather: Fair and Balanced?
FOX has a new weather Web site with an interactive weather map and pretty sweet radar. Not surprisingly, though, most storms are shown moving to the right....
By Dan Stillman | June 12, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (20)
NBC and Time Warner Battle for Weather Channel
Just over a week ago, we wrote about rumors that NBC Universal and a group of investors had won the bidding competition for The Weather Channel. A more recent news report from Reuters suggest it's not over and that Time...
By Jason Samenow | June 8, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Planet Green: On the Air and at Nationals Park
Planet Green will be coming to a boob tube near you starting at 6 p.m. this evening, and to tonight's Washington Nationals game (weather permitting). The new cable network, which replaces Discovery Home, dubs itself "the first and only 24-hour...
By Dan Stillman | June 4, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Comments (0)
Weather Channel to NBC Universal?
The TV gossip site NewsBlues reports NBC and an investment consortium has acquired The Weather Channel (TWC). DCRTV suggested as much last Friday. This news has not been confirmed by a major news outlet or an official source, but the...
By Jason Samenow | June 2, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Weatherman Van de Graaf Plays Manilow
ABC-7 Forecaster Brian van de Graaf impersonates Barry Manilow last week... [Courtesy DCRTV.]...
By Jason Samenow | May 28, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Meteorologist: 'Monkey Wanna Nanner?'
Kansas City TV weathercaster monkeys around with flying monkey. Oh yeah -- presents weather forecast, too....
By Dan Stillman | May 20, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Weather Channel Price Drop
Buying the Weather Channel may not demand $5 billion, but a mere $3.5-4 according to Saturday's Virginia Pilot. Second-round bids for the network are due tomorrow, and NBC and CBS will likely make offers according to Reuters. In completely unrelated...
By Jason Samenow | May 7, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
In Defense of Meteorologists
Calling all victims of 'collateral misinformation' By Steve Tracton Q: D.C. weather tomorrow? A: Chicago weather today This, essentially, is the concluding take-home message of an article on the supposed sorry state of weather forecasting that was posted recently on...
By Steve Tracton | May 2, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
City Paper Names Best Local TV Forecast
After a 21-year hiatus, Washington City Paper has put together a "Best of DC" issue. But this isn't your father's best of edition but rather an irreverent and edgy assessment of some of DC's finest people, places and things. In...
By Jason Samenow | April 19, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (3)
Freedman: Sale May Improve The Weather Channel
In this era of media company layoffs and mergers, perhaps it was only a matter of time before The Weather Channel (TWC) was put up on the auction block. But while its loyal viewers should view the potential sale of...
By Andrew Freedman | April 14, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (12)
Kim Martucci's On-Air Surprise
Channel 9's (WUSA) meteorologists are no strangers to on-air drama. Just six weeks ago, Howard Bernstein busted his face doing a live shot. Last Friday, Kim Martucci was red in the face under much more joyful circumstances: At the conclusion...
By Jason Samenow | March 25, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (2)
Towards An Interactive Weather Index
Two weeks ago we asked you to brainstorm with us about how to create a new weather index or scale that will be used to communicate our weather forecasts. Many of you responded with excellent suggestions, and I'd like...
By Andrew Freedman | March 10, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (7)
News & Notes: Wind, Ohio Snow & Bob Ryan
It's been a windy week! After clocking a hurricane force 74 mph gust Tuesday, Reagan National Airport recorded a 60 mph gust yesterday. Gusts of 50-70 mph were widespread yesterday. See also: 80,000 Lose Power in Burst of Wind, Hail...
By Jason Samenow | March 9, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (13)
AccuWeather's Jim Kosek: Weather Idol?
Sometimes going over the top gets you noticed. When surfing YouTube yesterday, I stumbled upon a video forecast for the D.C. area by Accuweather meteorologist Jim Kosek which shocked me when I hit the play button... My reaction???...
By Jason Samenow | February 23, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (20)
A Stitch in Time & Weathermen at Channel 9
As Channel 9 (WUSA) meteorologist Howard Bernstein stitches his busted face back together, the Channel 9 promotions department is reportedly stitching up the profile of Chief Meteorologist Topper Shutt based on input from you, our readers. DCRTV.com, a blog covering...
By Jason Samenow | February 9, 2008; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (8)
Could YOU Survive? Two Tales That Astound
Extreme weather yields aftermath, but also miracles Humans have been put to the test this week. Violent tornadoes in the South. Heavy snow in the West. Story number one comes out of Tuesday's tragic tornado outbreak that killed more than...
By Camden Walker | February 8, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
Freedman: Super Tuesday Spin
Tornado outbreak competes for Super Tuesday attention It was a tough decision on Tuesday evening of what story to follow more closely: the presidential primaries or the unfolding tornado tragedy in the South. As of early this morning, the death...
By Andrew Freedman | February 7, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Media: Weather for the Eyes and Ears
New shows available in audio and video, online and on TV Coming soon to the National Geographic Channel is Six Degrees Could Change the World, based on the book, Six Degrees, which was just released in the U.S. after being...
By Steve Scolnik | February 5, 2008; 07:00 PM ET | Comments (0)
Readers' Choice: Topper on Top
Last week, The Capital Weather Gang rated the evening weathercasters, and Doug Hill (WJLA-7) earned the highest score, with Topper Shutt (WUSA-9) last in the standings. But when we asked you, our readers, who your favorites were, the tables...
By Jason Samenow | January 29, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Freedman: In Defense of TV Weathercasters
TV weathercasters are a paranoid lot. They have good grounds for living in fear, because they're often a scapegoat in the television age. As the adage goes, they have the only gig around where they can be wrong and suffer...
By Andrew Freedman | January 27, 2008; 05:00 AM ET | Comments (11)
Ranking the Local TV Forecasters
Who's the best of the best? You love 'em. You hate 'em. You rant and rave about them. You praise them for good weather, and blame them for bad. They are your local TV weather forecasters. And four of them...
By Dan Stillman | January 23, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (98)
Climate Corner: Myth-tery Science Theater 2008
One of the major myths of the climate change saga comes in for some major debunking at a session Wednesday of the 20th Conference on Climate Variability and Change, which is meeting in conjunction with the 88th Annual Meeting of...
By Steve Scolnik | January 22, 2008; 07:50 PM ET | Comments (0)
Test Your Weather History Knowledge
Are you a weather buff, a history buff, or both? The Weather Channel program "When the Weather Changed History" which had its debut last week, will air its second episode this Sunday at 9pm (ET)....
By Jason Samenow | January 12, 2008; 02:00 PM ET | Comments (9)
Mediarology: Got $5 Billion?
Apply directly to the forehead! Raid the piggy bank, weather fans. Today's WaPo has a front-page business section article discussing the previously-announced potential sale of The Weather Channel. Landmark Communications, current owner of TWC, was founded as a newspaper company...
By Steve Scolnik | January 11, 2008; 12:46 PM ET | Comments (0)
