Side Panel Discussion: Challenges, Opportunities And Trends In Digital Weather Journalism.

Thursday, 26 January 2017: 12:15 PM-1:15 PM
620 (Washington State Convention Center )
Host: Town Hall Meetings
Organizer:
Thomas Fahy, Capitol Meteorologics, Washington, DC
Chair/Co-chair:
Jason Samenow, Washington Post, Washington, DC

With the proliferation of platforms for communicating information over the internet and the popularity of weather, many news organizations are increasingly covering the subject. The platforms - including blogs, social media and more traditional online articles - facilitate instant sharing of time-sensitive, important information leading up to and during hazardous situations. Their interactive features encourage engagement that can facilitate mutually beneficial exchange of information. But in their drive to attract readers and clicks in covering weather in a very competitive business environment, some organizations and/or individuals have crossed lines. They sensationalize headlines and social media posts. They post forecasts beyond the range of predictability. They omit important details, make errors and/or perpetuate misconceptions. This panel will feature digital meteorologists and weather journalists who will discuss today's rapidly evolving media landscape. They'll discuss what's working well in online weather communication, best practices, and areas to improve.

Papers:
12:15 PM
Andrew Freedman
Andrew Freedman, Mashable, Princeton, NJ
12:30 PM
Doyle Rice
Doyle Rice, USA Today, McLean, VA
12:45 PM
Becky Elliott
Becky Elliott, AccuWeather, State College, PA
1:00 PM
Robert Henson
Robert Henson, Weather Underground, Boulder, CO
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