Everybody Talks About the Weather; All of a Sudden, It’s Controversial

[onehandle]

Source: The New York Times

ATLANTA — For 25 years, they have been talking about the weather nonstop. At The Weather Channel, which has its headquarters here, that talk once amounted to a reliable humdrum of forecasts and storm coverage in the United States and abroad. In addition to broadcasting weather reports, the channel has thrived by selling its utilitarian but appealing content to newspapers, radio stations and Web sites, and by developing specialty programs around everyone’s favorite elevator-ride conversation topic.

“The weather is not controversial, but people are very engaged with it,” Debora J. Wilson, the president of the network, said in a recent interview in her office. As the network has seen its primary subject turn into a hot-button issue, it has had to grapple with how it wants to address it — and has decided not to tread gingerly.

The issue started influencing the network’s coverage in a new way after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf coast in 2005, and has been shaping its programming decisions. “If The Weather Channel isn’t talking about climate change and global warming, who is?” said Kaye Zusmann, the vice president for program strategy and development for the network. “It’s our mandate.”

snip...

The lightning rod for controversy, so to speak, is Heidi Cullen, the network’s resident climate expert. In December, she raised the ire of Fox News and others by writing on her weather.com blog that the American Meteorological Society should not give its “seal of approval” to any meteorologist who “can’t speak to the fundamental science of climate change.” (There are now more than 1,700 comments on that one post.)

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/business/media/04weather.html

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Several strong women mentioned are doing the right thing over at the Weaher Channel.

[Jamastiene]

1. When it comes to climate change, I do believe the song

"Let's Talk About It" by Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa would fit the need. We need to talk about it. Everybody needs to talk about it. It's happening.

It's changing things drastically. Al Gore is right. The climatologists are right about it. We need to talk about it incessantly until our government does something about it. As it stands now, the US and China will be the last nations to bother trying to cut global warming trends.

[donsu]

2. true

kicking

[WindRavenX]

3. Climate change isn't controversial.

I hope the Weather channel sticks to their guns about this.

[barb162]

6. The only thing that's controversial is the tipping point.

5 years from now? 10?

Although I know people who just think the climate is undergoing a "natural" cycle.

[NickB79]

10. It could have been 5 years ago

We very well may have already passed the tipping point.

[barb162]

11. I agree. It wouldn't surprise me.

Whenever I see pictures of the receding glaciers, there's not much doubt wse are in very serious trouble.

[underpants]

4. Oh so THIS is why Santorum was trying to privatize the weather

I thought it was just the old "this more money to be made off it" thing but now it is clear-they want to control the discussion on the weather too.

BTW- the Weather Channel is a great idea not just because it is so necessary but all their content is free. They get all of it from NOAA.

[LynneSin]

5. Santorum wanted to privatize the weather because Accu-weather was a big donor to his campaign

Ricky supports whomever is giving him the big bucks

[Radio_Lady]

7. Sunday 6/3 TV show "It Could Happen Tomorrow" about a Category 5 hurricane hitting Miami Beach and

Miami -- was just chilling. I was horrified just thinking this could happen. As a former Miami resident, I was totally stunned. To say we're at the mercy of the weather is putting it mildly.

Did any of you see it?

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

8. Global Warming's a myth

but Saddam's WMDs were real!

[daleo]

12. Global warming's a myth

But Noah's Ark is factual history - how's that for bizarro world.

[glitch]

9. K & R for my favorite channel.

Ok, cspan+ but then TWC. I bet they are having to delete a lot of threatening comments too.
Heidi Cullen is very brave, sad that she has to be.

[Lisa]

13. speaking of this -- another related story, on downsizing of satellite program

Scientists and professional forecasters will be up in arms about this -- anything that affects the quantity and quality of available data is going to have an impact on global warming models and impact studies (which would suit the Bushies just fine!)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2869936

[eridani]

14. A new take on an old saw--

Everybody's doing something about the weather, but nobody wants to talk about it.

[Kolesar]

15. The " Weath - Her " Channel ?

Several strong women mentioned are doing the right thing over at the Weaher Channel.:)

[onehandle]

16. I swear that was a typo on my part.

But it sure does work.