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PSA re Local Weather Coverage Cuts

28 days ago

I found this out last night. The following information was compiled by our local news media and includes the national stations that will have meteorologists cut from staff. I find this disturbing. Not that i don’t trust The Weather Channel, but it’s not the timely weather information needed in time of critical weather events such as tornadoes. Given we and many family members are in one of the ’tornado alley’ locations, we pay attention when someone announces, ’if you live near the Piggly Wiggly on XYZ Road, better take cover! ’ I doubt TWC will give us that info. We still have 2 TV stations that we will be watching now, not the one owned by AMB.

‘Allen Media Broadcasting, which operates 27 broadcast television stations in 21 U.S. markets, has announced plans to begin using “local weather coverage powered by The Weather Channel across local markets nationwide.”

At least one media report states the move will lead to nearly 100 layoffs at local news stations around the country.

“Local meteorologists on TV are a trusted face, not only because they know their science, but also because they’re a member of that community,” Zach Stanford, a former state coordinator for crisis information and disaster intelligence for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, told NPR.

A change.org petition with more than 31,000 signatures was started in Tupelo, Miss. to stop layoffs at WTVA.

“Removal of our local meteorological team means losing the trust and confidence built over the years, and replacing them with outsourced teams who may not fully understand the unique weather patterns in our locality. In times of severe weather, immediate and accurate information is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” the petition states.’

Here are the stations owned by Allen Media Group that will suffer cuts to local weather staff:

WTVA Tupelo, MS

KIMT Rochester, MN/Mason City, IA

KEZI Eugene, OR

KDRV/KDKF Medford, OR

KHSL/KNVN Chico / Redding, CA

WTHI Terre Haute, IN

WLFI West Lafayette, IN

WFFT Fort Wayne, IN

WAAY Huntsville, AL

WEVV Evansville, IN

KADN Lafayette, LA

KITV/KIKU Honolulu, HI

WAOW Wausau, WI

WQOW Eau Claire, WI

WKOW Madison, WI

WXOW La Crosse, WI

WSIL Carterville, IL

KVOA Tucson, AZ

WREX Rockford, IL

KWWL Waterloo, IA

WJRT Flint, MI

WCOV Montgomery, AL* Already cut.

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