> I noticed this past week that the new Channel 8 weather
> "guy" John Stehlin is titled "Forecaster". What's the
> difference between a Forecaster and a Meterologist ? Is it
> an educational thing ? Or a personal preference ?
>
> He does have a single accreditation listed next to his name,
> not sure if it's NWA. I've noticed that Hetsko and Haswell
> have 2, but Crafts didn't have any, but was titled as a
> Meterologist ??
>
> Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks...
I think you're on the money with the educational thing. A meterologist has a degree in that particular science..."forecasters" are just broadcasters who don't really "forecast", but just broadcast whatever the National Weather Service forecasts. (uh,..does that make sense?)
There are some weather people who have obtained "degrees" in meteorology (usually mail order or correspondence and often from Mississippi State University) and then kind of pass themselves off as meteorologists much to the chagrin of those who actually went to school and earned a 4 year degree. That might explaine one of the accredidations you see. The other might be the official "AMA seal" which is a certification by the American meteorology Society. I understand the AMA seal is a little tougher to come by.
Bottom line is: 8 can't call him a meteorologist because he's not one.
DOES ANY OF THIS MAKE DIFFERENCE???
Don't know if it does among viewers,..probably not.
It does make a difference in markets though. In Buffalo over the years it doesn't seem that it's been as important to have a bonafide "meteorologist" giving the weather, as it does in say, ..Rochester, where almost every weather person is a meteorologist. (and has been for the past 20 years)
The viewership in that city has become accustomed to it and usually --(with the noted acception of Bill Peterson)--it won't tolerate anything less than a scientist on staff. So, 8 is kind of bucking the trend with Stehlin,..it's sort of a throw back...and the other stations will probably try and make hay of all this (i.e. promos which say "don't trust anyone without meteorologists, and oh by the way all of our weather staff is.)
For a further extreme, look out west to LA and San Diego....where you have the phenomenom known as the "Weather Bunny" Just put some eye candy on the air to give the weather... after all, she need not be a scientist to tell you it's going to be sunny and 80,..because that's what it mostly will be. You'll note conversly the absence of said "bunnys" in our area: Upstate New York, where forecasting really is tricky and viewers might take more stock in having a scientist. In fact the last Buffalo Weather Bunnys I recall were in the late 80's...Marty Scold, Maria Genero, Sally Ann Mosey,..etc... I can't really recall a weather Bunny in Rochester.
Mark Giardina, ...can you remember one??? (Mary Beth Wroebel doesn't count--she actually had the degree)
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