The Weather Joke....

Storm Team 8 and the rest of the W. Michigan/S. Michigan News outlets blew the snow forecast once again for our viewing area. What a big freaking surprise that was!

What I do find quite amusing though was that News Channel 8 out of Grand Rapids, MI actually posted an article on their web site explaining WHY they were inaccurate with their forecast and explaining that yes, they were wrong but so was the National Weather Service and other local news outlets as well:
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/What-happened-to-the-weekend-storm

I cannot ever recall a TV Station or News Agency doing this before. I think they realize that they are becoming a laughing stock for regularly exaggerating their forecast. If you want a good chuckle, read the comments at the end of the online article. The people are catching on, they know a scam when they see one.

But I don't think it will ever stop.I don't know if the news agencies of our country can help themselves. I really can't see them pulling back their coverage on anything, be it weather or regular news. They have to play up the drama, have the most cameras and have more reporters on the scene then everyone else...it's become a joke. The Weather Channel is largely responsible for the "Weather as News" phenomenon we have today. Like I wrote in yesterday's post: It's now a Weather Event, not just Weather. Now everyone else has to compete with TWC for the Forecast Audience.

But the bottom line in all this is that TV Stations are businesses and their goal is to make money. So they basically do what they have to do to sell advertising so they can be profitable. So as far as this weather as news stuff goes, I suppose if they didn't have a (paying) audience for this nonsense they wouldn't do it, right? BINGO....