| Topic Name: |
What makes a meteorologist? |
| Message Name: |
"WacoWx," careful how you generalize.. |
| Date Posted: |
05/04/2005 |
| In Reply To: |
That has absolutely *nothing* to do with the question originally posed on this thread and is totally irrelevant.
Viewers aside, this is about who can be called "meteorologist" on TV.
AS I said above, and as Don Paul has concurred:
A degreed meteorologist is a meteorologist. Period. TV has nothing to do with it. Weathercasters without degrees are free and have every right to work in TV. They are frauds if they assume the title, and could not get hired by the NWS or in private industry, as their resumes just wouldn't stand up to those with degrees.
Those with the MSU certificate in BROADCAST meteorology do deserve credit for serious study, but the theoretical understanding of how the atmosphere works (how can you POSSIBLY w/out college level physics) is left out and the program is just that--GEARED toward TV weather personalities.
If you've pored over medical texts and been a professional medical editor/writer/reporter as I have, can I call myself "Doctor" on TV? (Lots of TV Medical reporters w/PhD's are more than happy to be called "Doctor.") Hey, why not? "The viewers don't care." |
| Message: |
I'm a 4-yr degreed met who's been gainfully employed for many years, never supplanted by an MSU certificate holder, and who, indeed, works UNDER a "chief" who has NOTHING, no degree, no MSU, and boldly claims the title of "Meteorologist."
No, viewers *don't* want to see us derive equations on the air (that was a rather dumb statement on your part); the idea is that we have the education to make informed forecasts withOUT sharing the technicals with viewers.
And enough with the "nerds" label for degree holders. That's just baloney.
There are PLENTY of degree holders who are attractive, enthusiastic, excellent communicators; it's a shame so many are leaving the business because news directors have been willing to lower the hiring standards and allow a flood of less well-trained weather types to glut the market.
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