Standard procedure in reading weather forecasts

[ct2874]

OK, so I'm listening to 620 this morning and happen to catch their bottom-of-the-hour news update. When it gets to the weather report I hear this (and have been hearing this ever since Gordon Byrd has been doing these updates): "9 in 10 chance of rain..." Uh, Mr. Byrd, DOES THE WORD PERCENT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU??? Every other broadcaster in the nation uses PERCENT when describing rain possibility in the forecast!! This to me sounds embarassingly condescending and ignorant. I know 970 just got rid of Roper lately--maybe they should get rid of some other dead weight at that operation as well...

 

[RickSklar77]

Every other broadcaster in the nation uses PERCENT when describing rain possibility in the forecast!!

Are you serious? He shouldn't say "9 in 10" because no-one else does? All that should matter is, does the listener understand what he means.

 

[ynot2k]

Every other broadcaster in the nation uses PERCENT when describing rain possibility in the forecast!! 

Wow. I'm impressed that you've listened to "every other broadcaster in the nation" to determine that they use the word "percent."

Not speaking for Gordon, but do you have any idea how many forecasts he, and the anchors down the hall at WFLA read in any one day?

IT'S CALLED VARIETY... if I said the same thing over and over again, without changing the words (but not the meaning) everytime, either my head would explode or another company of liner card readers would... no, not going there.

It's why some broadcasters (not all, since I don't have the time to listen to as many as you apparently do) say "10 after the hour" instead of "12-10," or "quarter to" instead of "12-45." The meaning is the same and like the previous poster said, it doesn't confuse the listener.

Mark Schreiner
WHNZ 1250 AM

 

[TerryKay]

Prozac, anyone?

 

[WDCX]

who cares?

 

[Ferreri]

Actually, it takes a lot of talent and imagination to make it interesting. Everyday from May to October it will be hi 90 lo 70 and afternoon showers. Dennis Phillips must be on his knees at night praying for a low pressure system.

 

[Medlin]

Actually, that's pretty cool! It changes things up a bit. ynot hit it on the head. What's wrong with mixing it up a bit. Especially when you have to do that many reports. I guess if a music station dj changed up a liner card, you'd hate that as well.

-Medlin

 

[Studio20]

At the risk of taking this bait of the original poster........Gordon Byrd has been in this market for years; truly one of the last workhorses in this business. Easily the most dependable and straightforward of radio men, running a board, cutting up news stories, producing spots or having to produce those infamous infomercials....

For all his dedication and hard work, hes' been the good soldier. Previous WHNZ management promised the world, but couldnt deliver a quarter-acre lot. When some were looking to get the station ink in the paper, Gordon was looking for the next story or the next follow up...

Hes employed in this business when many of us wish we still were.

Man, if the original poster is employed in radio...well...maybe it wouldnt surprise me...but it would disappoint me.

 

[twshadow101]

9 out of 10, it was probably done like that on purpose to make it interesting, hell it got you talking. Didnt it?

 

[CCB]

Mr. Byrd is actually a great broadcasting and knows his job well.

 

[apgar]

That's to funny ;D

But clear channel will never get rid of Gordon Byrd because he has been making 6 bucks an hour for the past 20 years LOL