Oregon Media Insiders

Who will ever know? If only they had some way of alerting people, like access to some mass medium which could "broadcast" the information to millions. But with the Olympics only 41 days away, there's surely no time to get such information out there.

This is completely unrelated but I thought it was quite interesting to see (non-meteorologist) reporter Keely Chalmers doing the weather tonight on the news. Wonder why they couldn't get Ron Pederson to fill in as usual. Remember a few years back when reporter Krista Vasquez (now ex-reporter) used to be the substitute weather anchor? She looked and sounded so lost.

Ok enough of my rambling haha.

How much worst at forecasting the weather could Keely do? By the way, she's filled in before.

Check the numbers Monday and see who the people watched.

I found it interesting that, on the nbcolympics site you posted above that 24 Hr Fitness is a sponsor. On KGW's broadcast yesterday (Fri), they ran a story about a 24 Hour Fitness promotion for 'free workouts'. I thought it was weird that they'd run that story (bolding displaying the 24 Hr Fitness logo), but when I saw 24 Hr Fitness advert on that site..it made sense. ;)

Coincidence, maybe..but interesting none the less.

KGW, even though the beast that they are needs to use a meterologist. Keep using reporters and they'll drop. But then again... prob not.

Just saw her on the 11, and I quote: "As you can see, not much blue and yellow, and a whole lotta brown here..." Doing a weathercast and not being a meteorologist or at least a serious weather geek would be akin to the dream where you're in school in your undies.

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Lynn Siprelle * Former Innie * OMI Coordinator

She's more qualified than you people think

This whole situation highlights how arrogant the KGW management has become. Small little daily decisions (such as giving the whole weather team the night off and having a reporter do the weather on a big weather night) don't make a difference at all in that night's ratings. We all know that and understand that. KGW, in all likelihood, will still win the night. But it doesn't eliminate the fact that the weather staffing decision this weekend isn't consistent with what it takes to be #1.

KOIN and KATU are too easy to beat. KGW doesn't have to try very hard to be #1. So the competitive landscape totally sucks, and the overall quality is lower. There's no reason to be "excellent" when "good" is good enough. I miss the days of the three-way fight. The viewers used to be so much better served.

That means that you have to give your main team the time off when it is slow and this week it was slow! Even the networks do it. Cambell Brown did the NBC nightly news and the Today show for a couple of days straight...
But to get back on track. NBC has been cutting back on spending money on the big events, NBA, NFL, etc. This is the last big sports event they spend money on. If it doesn't garner the high numbers they want they will bow out of the bids in the future. Other networks are watching and if they don't think that they could do much better they will not bid as high next time. This is what has happened to other events/sports. The NHL is a good example. NASCAR seems to be the hot broadcast sport...

NBC gets the NFL Sunday Night package starting next year.

I guess I don't see the problem with putting a good, competent reporter up there doing weather on a holiday night. TV reporters have to be generalists, anyway; smart people, quick studies, adept at gathering in the information and explaining it well. Unless you're Jim Little or Mark Nelson, the meteorology you're up there professing is essentially a graphic, mass-consumption recapitulation of the National Weather Service, anyway. And look at the other people who stand in front of the Chromo-key: Jim Donovan? Last I checked, his scientific pedigree was as a radio jock.

I thought Jim Little died?

I think your thinking of David Apple.

is just a goofy guy on camera. He is a perfect example of 'info-tainment'. He is a great guy but has no professional training in meteorology. As far as the olympics, the success is based on the quality of the human interest stories. If Americans can find a 'sweetheart' (Peggy Fleming, Dorthy Hamill, overcoming the odds, etc.) or a conflict (steroid use/metal dis-qualification, Nancy vs. Tonya), then they will tune in. One is based on the quality of coverage and the other on the PR machine at NBC.

I thought the ratings were based on how much time Matt Zaffino can waste in Italy? Of course I'm jealous, but it's still ridiculous.

they should sell that

Because most of us did weather at some point at a small station far far away, some are better than others at doing weather.

Keely has done weather before and I am sure she will pitch in again. I think she does a good job filling in.

Over the years at KGW various reporters have filled in when there was no "real" wx person available. Portlanders have survived.

To digress a moment, I had to shoot and report and do weather and sports and produce at my first mkt 180+ job.

No one ever asks me to fill in as a photographer, but Ive been asked to do weather. Maybe the photog's should be making the big bucks instead of the wx guys.

As to being able to send a bunch of reporters and zaffino to the Olympics I say congrats to you all! What a great experience. Will it make any difference to viewers? who knows. I didnt think it added anything when they were in Greece and SLC, but I know everyone who went had a great time.

I liked it when they were in Greece. The more I can see of Stephanie Strickland, the happier I am.

Looks to me like the KGW reporter blogs have vanished! Maybe the minions were talking out of school too much!!

...despite what you might hear from KGW folks, ad sales aren't going well. Local clients aren't interested in Olympics. The KGW sales staff has had to dramatically cut prices to get people to re-consider buying airtime. Don't be surprised to see commercials from small local businesses during the coverage. It's really sad.

They keep doing the damn things in the eastern hemisphere.
Its always old news.

Why do they invite all these foreign countries anyway?

PS

When will lance armstrong be switching to the luge?

Talk about brokeback mountain.

KGW has the money to send someone to Italy, but not enough to really cover local news?

Actually Lance Armstrong is our "secret ringer" in long distance speed skating. Check out the thighs.

He also is working on a "triple" something in figure skating, and you will really like his "stunning" costume.

Why does a weather dude--that weather dude--always go? The guy's away from the station a lot more than he's there, and half of the time, he's spending BELO's money when he's away.
Olympics=Sports. How about sending a sports guy?

Stephanie Strickland used to be a cute blond who wore her hair down. now it's getting darker by the day and she wears it in almost a Nurse Rachet style. trying to get away from the "dumb blond" appearance? come on steph, don't sell out! I'll stop before i mention her Jack Nicholson "Joker" size mouth.

Hmm, a quality reporter who is still presentable on the air but isn't trying to look like she's fresh off the pageant circuit and who perhaps values her natural hair color. That's right, shame on her!! Sex it up, Steph. THAT'S what's important.

Call me. I'll hook you up with my plastic surgeon so he can "fix" those awkward lips of yours. Genetics is a bitch, but we can work on that. And when we're done we'll get you a nice, shiny, tight shirt and a thin bra so you, too, can join the Storm Team storm-trackers.

Give me a break.

I just graduated from University of Washington and have my Bachelor's in Meteorology. I've lived in Oregon my whole life for the most part and TV is full of morons who claim to be Meteorologists.

CH 2 (KATU): Everybody there is "supposedly" one, but from the way they talk, they couldn't explain the difference between a gust front and a tornado. None of them are REAL meteorologists. The good-looking blonde on there says that it's "moisturing". What is that? Can't you just say rain without making yourself look stupid? "We should get 1/4 inch of moisture." hahahaha. Yup, next time we have a flood, I guess it won't be called a flood...it will be an excess of moisture or something. We have puddles of moisture. haha, what morons!!

CH 6 (KOIN): Biggest laughing stock! Bruce has his degree in Broadcast Journalism...and KOIN made him Chief Meteorologist? hahaha!!! What a joke! That is the definition of an insult to the science of Meteorology. "Hi, I'm chief, but I can't tell you how a tornado forms, how a rain drop forms...etc." No wonder their ratings are in the toilet. He was a dumpster diver on KGW...since when have you EVER heard a REAL meteorologist diving in a dumpster doing a story on anything???

They used to have REAL meteorologists in Jim Little, Mark Nelson, Phil Volker. They were the real deal! That was when I used to watch them. When that one guy from Louisiana came, that's when they went downhill because he didn't know what he was talking about either.

Ch 8 (KGW): Matt Zaffino is a REAL meteorologist and he's good! Ron Pederson is as well, but he's only a "fill-in", which doesn't make much sense.
Dave Selesky...what a joke! I call him Damp Dave, because it's ALWAYS damp according to him. His forecasts are the most predictable that I have ever seen. Partly Cloudy is in there every single day. When it is actually sunny, it's FAIR to Dave. Fair? In 4 years of Meteorology school, the only time I heard "fair" was for "fair weather cumulus clouds". Dave says it's FAIR SKIES when it's sunny out. Didn't anybody tell him that there's only 1 sky? Then, fair is so vague, it's just stupid to use. So, whenever he says FAIR SKIES, it's sunny/mostly sunny outside. Oh wait, I forgot, it's been completely overcast and he's said FAIR SKIES too. There you go...Dave Selesky...as clueless and stupid as Bruce Sussman.

Then there's Joe Michaels...I could go on about him, but I don't feel like it. He and Bruce Sussman are in a dead heat for the dumbest people on TV that I can't believe are actually called Meteorologists when they're NOT EVEN CLOSE to being one.

Jim Donovan...clueless, not a Meteorologist, even though CH 8 calls him one. CH 8 calls EVERYONE a Meteorologist. Keely Chomers is one and she's a reporter. I bet the janitors would be Meteorologists too.

For someone just out of college and I assume trying to get a job - you should be a little kinder. Let me guess - you're perfect. You know all about what it's like to be a meteorologist thanks to four years in school. What's your real world experience.
I can't believe that email - you're already disgruntled and you're hardly in this industry.
I hope no one makes fun of you some day and calls you a moron.
Sad.

work on that attitude hotshot. I think 10 to 12 years in a smaller market might bring you down to size.

..because I don't believe this green wannabe knows anything at all about meteorology. For all of that supposed comparing and contrasting of TV mets, there's hardly a technical term in the entire puddle of bongwater.

But she/he's no communications major either, unless UW has slipped badly since my years toiling in the Bullitt vineyard. "HAHAHAHA" is hardly a convincing analysis by an educated aspirant in a field that requires not only actual knowledge, but the ability to communicate it.

So congratulations on the GED.

Personal preference: Salesky. Dude knows weather like a pilot, and communicates it like a local.

UW, its a great weather school. Only problem, they lack a decent journalism school up there to teach the met students how to do on air work. As someone who has worked with a majority of the television and private mets in this area, I can tell you that most are very very reliable and know weather. If you want to get into the tv weather business, you all are correct, go to a smaller market and work your way up. Market 23 isn't for jokers just out of school. Medford, Bend, Idaho Falls....start small and grow. Your cocky attitude won't do much but show you the door very quickly. I also suggest working on getting a tape, your forecasting skills won't do you much if you just stare into the camera and forget to speak.

When all I have to do is look out the window to check the weather, I look for a bit more from weathercasts, and I gotta admit I LOVE Dave Salesky (don't tell my hubby please) Not any kind of meteorologist myself, his reports always help me understand what's going on and what might happen later ... plus he gives me a jolt of positive energy no matter what kind of "skies" are forecast.