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Joey's Blog

by Joey from Memphis, TN

Last Post 22 days, 23 hours Ago


WEATHER COVERAGE - SOUND OFF
May 13, 2008 | 5:09 PM
Category: Weather
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How Mid-Southerners get their 'weather warnings' is an often debated topic.

When local weather-anchors break-into your shows to tell you what's happening, two things happen:  ratings skyrocket, and people complain. 

Your very own FOX13 here in Memphis is the creator and pioneer of what's now being studied across the country:  the "No Hype" weather approach.

What does that mean?

Let me start with what it DOES NOT mean.

"No Hype" DOES NOT mean we will never jump into programming.  When it's important, we ABSOLUTELY will.

"No Hype" means WE WON'T STAY IN YOUR SHOW, and IN YOUR FACE. 

FOX13 has a team of dedicated meteorologists with years and years of experience that scrutinize every single storm.  Our job is to look for potential dangers, and pass those warnings along to you, our friends and family in the mid-south.  "HOW" we do that is what differentiates tv station from tv station.

Is one way right, or one way wrong?  Is one way better, or one way worse? 

WHAT DO YOU THINK? 

First, read this article from the Charlotte Observer (weather coverage is an issue EVERYWHERE).  Then, sound off.

I'll try to answer when I can.  And I'll be sharing some of your responses on-air, also.

The FOX13 Weather Authority is committed to keeping the mid-south safe during severe weather.  We also respect your opinions and comments, and believe that good dialogue makes a difference.

Good, responsible communication is where it starts.  And we want to hear from you.

(don't forget to read this!)

http://www.charlotte.com/112/story/617846.html<
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19 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 19
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mercedes1682 read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 6:01 PM

When my family and friends discuss the weather we all want to know what JOEY said because we can trust him to give us what we need to know. We feel like we can talk about him on a first name basis.We all know his last name we just don't have to use it. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK JOEY
Joey read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 6:05 PM

Mercedes, I am seriously honored by your kind words.

We're dedicated to keeping the FOX13 family of viewers safe.

Stay with us.

Joey
sonnygll read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 6:34 PM

Joey, me and my husband were talking about this soon as you told us about this blog, and all we could come up with to make everyone happy in an event of bad weather/tornado's is to have like the right top hand side of the screen still showing the show/sport, etc... Thats right we want be able to hear, but at least the ones that complain about this will be able to see whats going on. Hey they can act like their own sound went out.
All you Weather anchors,
Keep up The Great Work:):)
Joey read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 6:45 PM

Funny you should say that, Sonny.

The "No Hype" strategy means that from time-to-time, when the storm warrants, we will have to go (cautiously) wall-to-wall with storm coverage. It's inevitable. And while each storm is unique, and each situation different, we were prepared to use your idea on Saturday during the NASCAR race - using part of the screen for our coverage, and part for the race.

We started something else new during that race that we're going to try continuing. When we weren't on the air, we broadcasted live on MyFoxMemphis.com. That means if anyone logged on, and clicked on the big yellow ALERT bar, you would have seen our TrueView radar up (hot - which means you saw at home what we were studying here live), and we turned our microphones on every 5 to 10 minutes to update viewers. We plan on expanding that option, so that folks who DO WANT more weather information can stay with us from the web.

And just like those late night infomericals tell you:

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

We're working on some brand new, VERY COOL, cutting-edge stuff that will give you EVEN MORE options! The FOX13 weather team will be available to you in brand new, convenient ways - all with a responsible, No Hype mission.

Thanks, Sonny.
sonnygll read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 8:53 PM

I was so thinking what you said while I typed out my first comment, "you might have to have the full screen to keep an eye out on all the different cells that pop up an that little TV/programing in the upper top right hand might get in the way"

Hope it works out for yeah and the ones that have to have their Programing on at the time of bad weather rolls in. Weather/Program.

Also the other day my husband was watching something on cable and the storms were coming and I told him to change the channel so I could see what the weather was doing and he kinda got grumpy, so I told him, "Well I will just go to Fox's Weather site and look for my self" But he gave in and let me watch. HA!!
lady_midnyte read my blog
May 13, 2008 | 9:49 PM

My name is Alex and I suffer from astraphobia, lol. When I moved down here 10 years ago I had never seen so many powerful and terrifying thunderstorm in my life. I also hadn't seen weather coverage the likes of what I saw on the news stations down here. It was overkill and FOX used to be the WORST offenders.

I have absolutely fallen in love with the "No Hype" weather. You tell viewers what they need to know, when they need to know it. Breaking into prime time programming is a must sometimes (the Super Tuesday events are an excellent example) and advanced warning is a proven life saver. There is a such thing as overkill, however. The tickers are sufficent in some cases, especially when storms are in remote places.

I think you all have accomplished a perfect balance. My family laughs at me when I say this but when there's bad weather afoot I always say "When Joey comes on, then I'll get worried!"

^____^
Joey read my blog view my photos
May 13, 2008 | 9:55 PM

Lady, my hope is that everyone with a tv will one day say your last 8 words also.

Thanks for your time and opinion -

Joey
CHELLE76
May 13, 2008 | 10:33 PM

I THINK FOX 13 SHOULD STAY ON LONGER SOMETIMES, EVERYONES SAFTEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A TV SHOW, I ALSO THINK IT IS SO RUDE WHEN JOEY IS ON THAT PEOPLE ARE EMAIL BECAUSE THEY ARE MISSING THERE TV SHOWS GET OVER IT ITS JUST TV, JOEY IS MY FAVORITE AND I GET SO DISAPOINTED WHEN I TURN IT TO JOEY AND HES NOT ON AND I HAVE TO WATCH A DIFFERANT CHANNEL. WEAVER, NEWBER TN
david83
May 14, 2008 | 7:50 AM

I think the NO HYPE approach is a good one, as for chelle's comment that you need to stay on longer, I have to disagree. FOX 13 always has the map in the lower corner of the screen and a message scrolling across the bottom, with you breaking in occasionally this should be enough. You can usually tell us everything we need to know about a storm in a few minutes and there is no need to repeat yourself over and over, when the scolling message tells you everything that you need to know.
nana44bz read my blog
May 14, 2008 | 11:16 AM

I find it strange that NO ONE complained when 9-11 happened and all the shows were pre-emptied with that coverage ( OMG How awful it was and the "what will happen next"that we needed to know) but you get to the weather and how it may or may not make you " Hunt a Hole " no one wants to see it... what am I missing.. If Joey tells me to get to a safe place I GET MY SHOVEL!!!!!!!!! I know it's hard to miss your favorite show but it's better to miss it and be around for the next episode than to not be around period. Advanced warnings SAVE LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JanL
May 14, 2008 | 1:40 PM

I love the no hype weather. It is easy to understand and most of all it doesn't scare me to death.

The other stations on that night were on ALL night long and to just have to sit there and watch it will scare the daylights out of anyone. I appreciate the concern, but there is no need in saying the same things over and over.

I did watch the broadcast over the internet as well while I watched the race. I saw no harm in cutting in every once in a while to give updates and new watches and warnings.

Keep up the good, no hype, work.

P.S. Where was the Weather Wise question last night? It is one of my favorite parts of the whole newscast!
Joey read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 3:38 PM

Jan - every once in a while, we'll get so busy with weather that the Weather Wise question goes on hiatus....but I always hear about it!

Back in force tonight, though, just for you!

Chelle, David and Nana - Great thoughts! Love hearing what you guys think. It's evident that some viewers want less coverage, some want more, and some like what we're trying.

Here's something you may not realize: FOX13 came up with the No Hype approach a few years ago, but just recently it's been getting national attention. We're finding stations across the country (and not just FOX stations) taking our idea, and even calling it the same thing. Some stations are even studying our commercials and doing the same things verbatim!

What we're all a part of is a major cultural shift. We're trying to pioneer a movement away from 'wall to wall' coverage, and into more efficient, consistent coverage.

Now, as we're starting to see from the thoughts here, different people want different things. That's why we kicked off the "on line" coverage Saturday during NASCAR (thanks JanL!). Our plans are to expand that coverage....and we've got even more cool stuff coming!
atouchofafrica
May 14, 2008 | 9:49 PM

I agree with the other guy about people getting upset about not being able to see their TV shows. I like the way you guys stay on top of the weather and it helps those who live in rural areas who dont have cable. Wake up people and get a life and stop complaining about stupid issues. If you want to fuss about a issue then let it be the high gas prices.
Arkguy56 read my blog view my photos
May 14, 2008 | 9:56 PM

Joey safty come first! So if we need to missed one of our shows or part of it everyone need to understand that our safty come first. yeah SONNY one of our station here in Arkansas does that...then when they go back to the show they put the little box with the radar in the corner. So keep up with the good work Joey that you and Fox are doing.
msgirl94
May 14, 2008 | 10:04 PM

I am writing in response to the viewer from Hernando who wrote in & said that his mother lived in Horn Lake & did not have cable. I moved out of Horn Lake four years ago & I vividly remember how loud the weather sirens are there in bad weather situations. Also, the radio is a good source of information during bad weather. A weather radio is even better. Also, even though the TV station may say that a tornado is going through your town at 7:46PM, this does not mean it is coming down your street, it just means, take cover, just in case. If a tornado is coming towards your town or your house, there is really nothing you can do, but hide in your bathroom or closet under a mattress. You can't prevent or run from a tornado/Mother Nature. I was pleased to see that FOX and ABC were continuing their shows on Saturday night & running the information on the ticker. When I flipped to either NBC or CBS during commercial, I heard the weatherman say they had been doing the weather for 4 straight hours. That's a little much. Just my opinion.
FlyMarines read my blog view my photos
May 16, 2008 | 4:35 PM

OK Joey I know I said this on another blog but I'll say it again, get yourselves aligned with a local radio station! I have a satelite which always goes out when the weather gets bad, and I would still appreciate your updates when the dish doesn't work.
Joey read my blog view my photos
May 17, 2008 | 12:42 PM

Fly, we're all over it.

It's at the top of our list: radio simulcast during severe weather.

It does take some time to work these things out (I'm finding out the hard way)...but we're listening.

Thanks for the great idea!

Joey
The_Okay_Pro_Se read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 2:40 PM

Joey you are my boy when it comes to the weather on a normal day. I also look at you and Dave Brown and I have a weather monitor... why? because I get afraid when bad weather comes.... Okay I know I am too big for that. I channel jump because I want to know. many times my monitor will go off before it is announced. The last time a few of my friends took the weather for granted, their roof came off. I take threaten weather serious and if you have to break in,, hype or not, then you do so.... besides I like a man that can tie his own bows.
Dalejr8rulz view my photos
May 26, 2008 | 6:51 AM

Joey~~ I have sat here and read everyone's comments on this subject and here is mine.....I agree with both sides but when you are watching a show and it's interupted by the weather, it's fine to let people know what's going on however, repeating the same info over and over and for hours is totally ridiculous. We have the technology now with the internet, cable, satellite, and weather radios. However, one point that some have failed to mention is MOST people have either satellite or digital cable ( or even regular cable for that matter) and IF the storms are good enough or there is a LOT of rain, the signals cut out and you lose whatever you were watching anyway. Channel 3 is bad about breaking in on my show that I record everyday and instead of using a news ticker at the bottom, I have to delete what I recorded because the news had broke in and repeated the same story (whether it be weather or some other news) that could have been gone over in detail in a few hours anyway! Some shows that people get so upset about interupting, are ones that if you miss 1 episode you are lost for a while cause you don't know what's going on and that makes a lot of people angry! So I would suggest for people to get a weather emergency radio cause if the storms are that bad......you will lose power and a signal for t.v., computer, or anything else plugged in. If you have a laptop GREAT!!! Just my thoughts!
Thanks Joey! Fox 13 is the best when it comes to the weather!
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