WIBA-AM DROPS THE BALL ON STORM COVERAGE

[Klaw59]

Last night, while driving home in a raging snow storm, I was hoping to hear some updated weather coverage from WIBA-AM in Madison. I worked there for three years (1997-2000) and as part of the news team, we always put in a major effort to cover every thunderstorm, snow storm or weather pattern that could affect the lifestyles (and lives) of people.

What do I get instead? Vicki McKenna taking phone calls on some court case and the rights of the accused (sorry, I didn't catch names or details). Meanwhile, I see dozens of cars in ditches, squad cars all over the place, and vehicles driving at speeds of 5-10 mph trying to make it home in one piece.

Granted, WIBA provided newscasts at the top and bottom of the hour and as usual traffic and weather together every half hour. But it would seem to me that weather coverage would take precedence over McKenna's show. Why didn't WIBA provide more traffic reports and more updates from the meterologist on duty? Why weren't reporters out in the field trying to cover this?

Last night made me glad that I no longer work in broadcasting. I would be embarassed to be part of a news/talk format staff that found it unnecessary to provide wall-to-wall coverage of a snowstorm that was paralyzing the city during afternoon rush hour.

Thank God it was snow. What happens when a deadly tornado is about to approach the city of Madison? Does McKenna talk about that, or bray about some controversy in city hall?

Kudos to WOLX, which seemed to be more on the ball when it came to covering the storm and providing detailed information on where there were major accidents and traffic tie-ups. I thought Randy Lucas and Bill Short did great work.

As for WIBA-AM, they failed to serve the public.

 

[k9ez]

> Last night, while driving home in a raging snow storm, I was
> hoping to hear some updated weather coverage from WIBA-AM in
> Madison. I worked there for three years (1997-2000) and as
> part of the news team, we always put in a major effort to
> cover every thunderstorm, snow storm or weather pattern that
> could affect the lifestyles (and lives) of people.
>
> What do I get instead? Vicki McKenna taking phone calls on
> some court case and the rights of the accused (sorry, I
> didn't catch names or details). Meanwhile, I see dozens of
> cars in ditches, squad cars all over the place, and vehicles
> driving at speeds of 5-10 mph trying to make it home in one
> piece.
>
> Granted, WIBA provided newscasts at the top and bottom of
> the hour and as usual traffic and weather together every
> half hour. But it would seem to me that weather coverage
> would take precedence over McKenna's show. Why didn't WIBA
> provide more traffic reports and more updates from the
> meterologist on duty? Why weren't reporters out in the
> field trying to cover this?
>
> Last night made me glad that I no longer work in
> broadcasting. I would be embarassed to be part of a
> news/talk format staff that found it unnecessary to provide
> wall-to-wall coverage of a snowstorm that was paralyzing the
> city during afternoon rush hour.
>
> Thank God it was snow. What happens when a deadly tornado
> is about to approach the city of Madison? Does McKenna talk
> about that, or bray about some controversy in city hall?
>
> Kudos to WOLX, which seemed to be more on the ball when it
> came to covering the storm and providing detailed
> information on where there were major accidents and traffic
> tie-ups. I thought Randy Lucas and Bill Short did great
> work.
>
> As for WIBA-AM, they failed to serve the public.
>

I guess I dont see the big deal. So we had a couple inches of snow. (and it wasnt a tornado). As Wisconsinites are we used to this by now? Or since you USED to work for them you have a bone to pick?

I get so tired of the TV stations with their reporter infront of the salt pile freaking everyone out about the impending doom of a snow storm. Good grief.

You wanna see snow? Go to the UP of Michigan, or out in the Rockies. People out there laugh at your types that freak out with a couple inches of snow.

BTW what were they supposed to report? Its snowing out? Turn your headlights on? Drive safely? Personally I would have tuned out the "snow coverage" as I am ALREADY IN IT. I would instead have listened to the talk show.

 

[JeremyAndrews]

> Last night, while driving home in a raging snow storm, I was
> hoping to hear some updated weather coverage from WIBA-AM in
> Madison. I worked there for three years (1997-2000) and as
> part of the news team, we always put in a major effort to
> cover every thunderstorm, snow storm or weather pattern that
> could affect the lifestyles (and lives) of people.
>
> What do I get instead? Vicki McKenna taking phone calls on
> some court case and the rights of the accused (sorry, I
> didn't catch names or details). Meanwhile, I see dozens of
> cars in ditches, squad cars all over the place, and vehicles
> driving at speeds of 5-10 mph trying to make it home in one
> piece.
>
> Granted, WIBA provided newscasts at the top and bottom of
> the hour and as usual traffic and weather together every
> half hour. But it would seem to me that weather coverage
> would take precedence over McKenna's show. Why didn't WIBA
> provide more traffic reports and more updates from the
> meterologist on duty? Why weren't reporters out in the
> field trying to cover this?
>
> Last night made me glad that I no longer work in
> broadcasting. I would be embarassed to be part of a
> news/talk format staff that found it unnecessary to provide
> wall-to-wall coverage of a snowstorm that was paralyzing the
> city during afternoon rush hour.
>
> Thank God it was snow. What happens when a deadly tornado
> is about to approach the city of Madison? Does McKenna talk
> about that, or bray about some controversy in city hall?
>
> Kudos to WOLX, which seemed to be more on the ball when it
> came to covering the storm and providing detailed
> information on where there were major accidents and traffic
> tie-ups. I thought Randy Lucas and Bill Short did great
> work.
>
> As for WIBA-AM, they failed to serve the public.
>
I've heard WIBA's severe thunderstorm/tornado coverage (as I can pick them up here) They usually do pretty well on that end.

Snow isn't exactly EXTREMELY LIFE THREATENING if you either drive carefully or avoid driving until its all cleared up. Considering this is Wisconsin people should be used to it by now. So traffic & weather is good enough.

Now if it were a tornado warning, and WIBA was completely ignoring it I could see. <P ID="signature">______________

</P>

 

[Chris_Milwaukee]

> > Last night, while driving home in a raging snow storm, I
> was
> > hoping to hear some updated weather coverage from WIBA-AM
> in
> > Madison. I worked there for three years (1997-2000) and
> as
> > part of the news team, we always put in a major effort to
> > cover every thunderstorm, snow storm or weather pattern
> that
> > could affect the lifestyles (and lives) of people.
> >
> > What do I get instead? Vicki McKenna taking phone calls
> on
> > some court case and the rights of the accused (sorry, I
> > didn't catch names or details). Meanwhile, I see dozens
> of
> > cars in ditches, squad cars all over the place, and
> vehicles
> > driving at speeds of 5-10 mph trying to make it home in
> one
> > piece.
> >
> > Granted, WIBA provided newscasts at the top and bottom of
> > the hour and as usual traffic and weather together every
> > half hour. But it would seem to me that weather coverage
> > would take precedence over McKenna's show. Why didn't
> WIBA
> > provide more traffic reports and more updates from the
> > meterologist on duty? Why weren't reporters out in the
> > field trying to cover this?
> >
> > Last night made me glad that I no longer work in
> > broadcasting. I would be embarassed to be part of a
> > news/talk format staff that found it unnecessary to
> provide
> > wall-to-wall coverage of a snowstorm that was paralyzing
> the
> > city during afternoon rush hour.
> >
> > Thank God it was snow. What happens when a deadly tornado
>
> > is about to approach the city of Madison? Does McKenna
> talk
> > about that, or bray about some controversy in city hall?
> >
> > Kudos to WOLX, which seemed to be more on the ball when it
>
> > came to covering the storm and providing detailed
> > information on where there were major accidents and
> traffic
> > tie-ups. I thought Randy Lucas and Bill Short did great
> > work.
> >
> > As for WIBA-AM, they failed to serve the public.
> >
>
> I guess I dont see the big deal. So we had a couple inches
> of snow. (and it wasnt a tornado). As Wisconsinites are we
> used to this by now? Or since you USED to work for them you
> have a bone to pick?
>
> I get so tired of the TV stations with their reporter
> infront of the salt pile freaking everyone out about the
> impending doom of a snow storm. Good grief.
>
> You wanna see snow? Go to the UP of Michigan, or out in the
> Rockies. People out there laugh at your types that freak
> out with a couple inches of snow.
>
> BTW what were they supposed to report? Its snowing out?
> Turn your headlights on? Drive safely? Personally I would
> have tuned out the "snow coverage" as I am ALREADY IN IT. I
> would instead have listened to the talk show.
>
I agree with everyone above. However, if a station wanted to put a little oomph on the local coverage, they could include some extra traffic reports. I think that would be useful information during a snow storm.