Change in Media "Direction"

[Frank2]

With the lowering of CSU numbers for this season (which are almost half of last season's totals), don't be surprised if the media (even CNN, TWC and NBCWP) will scale back their "hurricane central" talk.

Already last evening, TWC put much more emphasis on the summer heat wave, and, even had a short discussion on fall foliage in New England.

If I didn't learn anything about the media while in the weather business, it's that they are very fickle...

Frank

[HURAKAN]

Media focuses mostly on what attracks more the public, the more shocking the news is, the more it attracks public. Right now the season isn't dead but it's not very active, so it doesn't attrack the public. It's all about the ratings, not because they care about the public. NEVER BELIEVE THAT.

[Frank2]

I agree - one time we had them camped out at the NHC for what seemed days, until the storm they were covering suddenly sheared, similar to Chris, and, within 2 or 3 hours, everyone folded their tents, and was gone.

As you said, it's all about ratings (and money), and, it's also a popularity contest, so, anything that does not fall into that category, is immediately discarded.

One Miami station often runs an ad stating their "integrity in reporting", but, I couldn't help notice yesterday morning that this same station seemed to intentionally stop the IR loop - before the portion which would have showed Chris being suddenly sheared - which, by their doing this, made it appear that Chris was stronger than it really was at that time.

Apparently, they did not want to lose viewers in the "golden hour" before the network's morning program.

Sad, but true...

Frank

[CajunMama]

TWC was right in focusing on the heatwave last night. It is affecting almost the entire nation. With the tropics having minimal activity affecting the US mainland and the heatwave killing people they were focusing on the correct weather disturbance. Summertime isn't just for tropical weather.

Another shameful plug...have you voted for motm in the announcement forum yet?

[DESTRUCTION5]

This was not a Dramatic cut in storms...I mean 2 TS and 1 cane and 1 major? Please....those 2 extra storms could be 40MPH Fish that never got east of Bermuda.. This forecast was in no sence a major shift in thinking..

[BayouVenteux]

If I didn't learn anything about the media while in the weather business, it's that they are very fickle...

Frank

True, but in this day and age, the collective news media can, so to speak, unfurl and raise a folded tent faster than a gang of seasoned carnival roustabouts...which is basically what they are anyway, right?

[Frank2]

I agree with our moderator, that the heat wave is much more important at this point than a slow hurricane season, so, I do not fault the media for changing their focus, however, I mentioned it because the media change has begun, especially since the CSU announcement...

Frank

[Frank2]

Re: Destruction5's post

Not to us, but, it is a major change to the media, especially since the revised totals are almost half of last year's actual totals...

[Scorpion]

No offense Frank, but I have noticed that you seem to downplay everything. Even last year, around this time, you called for a much slower season with few majors.

[Frank2]

Yes, I agree - the are very circus-like...

[Frank2]

Well, no offense taken, but, after the Katrina disaster - who wouldn't hope for something less...

[Frank2]

...and, this topic wasn't to downplay anything, but, I have noticed a change in the media coverage over the past weeks - which will increase (in the absence of a major hurricane), now that CSU has opened the door with their revised totals...

[seaswing]

Frankly, the less media coverage, the better. They tend to make people want to come to Florida to buy property.....

[cycloneye]

...and, this topic wasn't to downplay anything, but, I have noticed a change in the media coverage over the past weeks - which will increase (in the absence of a major hurricane), now that CSU has opened the door with their revised totals...

Frank,next week NOAA will release their August outlook.Depending on what they do if they let the numbers the same 12-16 named storms,or they downgrade,the media will report that too.

[wx247]

With the lowering of CSU numbers for this season (which are almost half of last season's totals), don't be surprised if the media (even CNN, TWC and NBCWP) will scale back their "hurricane central" talk.

Already last evening, TWC put much more emphasis on the summer heat wave, and, even had a short discussion on fall foliage in New England.

If I didn't learn anything about the media while in the weather business, it's that they are very fickle...

Frank

What are they scaling back from? If there is nothing going on then why or how could they scale back?

[Frank2]

Yes, cycloneye, and, especially if they are lower (some say they will stay the same), the media will also find that a reason to also put the entire subject on the back burner - that is their fickle nature - they go with whatever is "popular" at the moment...

Frank

[Frank2]

wx247,

I don't like to use this term, but, they are lowering their "media hype" of a hurricane season originally thought (by them) to be similar to '04 or especially '05 - that is how they work - they "hype" whatever is outstanding at the moment, or as our Pastor likes to say about the media, "What's new this week?"

Frank

[Jim Cantore]

I've said it once and I'll say it again

Create panic for ratings

[Frank2]

I agree - sometimes, and, I know this is a very sensitive topic, but, sometimes I think that the Constitution should be amended to state "only an honest and factual release of information to the public can allowed by the media".

The mix of big business and media reporting (the "ratings/money issue") has become very damaging to the public mindset (creating fear, panic, distrust, anger, disinterest, etc.) - when I was a child, this problem was only isolated to the National Enquirer, but, today it's at all levels of media...

I know some local OCM's are on this site, and, I don't want to hurt their feelings, but, something really needs to be done concerning this problem...

Frank

[crazycajuncane]

I really get sick when I hear the Weather Channel calling themselves the "Hurricane Authority". I am not sure why they think they suddenly know it all. The tracks change just as much as the hours do in a day.

It's easy to adjust your tracks at the last minute. Just look at Rita.... we were sitting at home outside with the bbq lit and watching the storm track way to the east of Houston, yet hours before landfall they were still claiming a Houston area hit.

And it hit the TX / LA coast.

I'm sorry, but the weather channel isn't the Hurricane Authority. They are LUCKY cause they are the only weather channel on most cable systems. They have the right to call themselves the Hurricane Authority when they are the only weather channel on TV. I listen to the local mets a lot more that TWC.

Sorry for the rant.... but those Hurricane Authority commercials piss me off .