86 BULLETIN AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY The Professional Meteorologist in Radio FRANCIS K. DAVIS, JR. Staff Meteorologist, WFIL; Asst. Prof, of Physics, Drexel Institute, Philadelphia HE BULLETIN presents herewith another in ing last September that we are happy to have Tits series of portraits of professional meteor- captured his words for the benefit of those who ologists at work in the commercial field. Mr. were unable to hear him there. Readers of the Davis spoke so frankly at our Philadelphia Meet- January 1949 BULLETIN will note both differences and similarities between his approach and that of Mr. Partridge of WOR. Mr. Davis brings a serious professional back- ground in physics and meteorology to bear on his job. After undergraduate training in physics and mathematics he entered M.I.T. in 1942 as an avia- tion cadet in meteorology, obtained an Air Corps commission and a M.S. degree, worked on upper- air analysis projects in the AAF and returned to civilian life in 1946. Results of one of his war- time studies on upper-air charts appeared in the BULLETIN for May 1945. In addition to his radio work, he has been taking graduate studies in physics at University of Pennsylvania and teach- ing physics at Drexel Institute. Mr. Davis is a Professional Member of the A.M.S., and member of the American Physical Society, American Assoc. of Physics Teachers, American Geophysi- cal Union and Sigma Xi. A recent letter informs FRANCIS K. DAVIS, JR., Broadcasting Over WFIL, us that he now also puts on a weather telecast Philadelphia. over WFIL-TV at 6:45 p.m. weekdays.—R. G. S. HE work of the professional meteorolo- it to his advantage occasionally to tie the spon- gist in radio might be summed up by the sor's product in with the weather incidents de- Tword "compromise." Because of the fact scribed in the body of his own script, contrary as that radio broadcasting stations operate primarily it may be to his professional principles. for the field of entertainment, they want their In view of the nature of the radio broadcasting weather presented in an entertaining fashion, business, the professional meteorologist can do without the technical language or approach which radio weather work in two ways. First of all the professional meteorologist is accustomed to he can sell his services directly to some sponsor using, but with technical accuracy maintained who will contract for radio time for the program. (if possible). What seems a more satisfactory and comprehen- The entertainment field is, of course, a busi- sive field for the professional, however, comes ness and despite the constant reference to "public through associating himself directly with the sta- service presentations" on the air, the primary object of radio stations is to make money. This tion as a staff meteorologist. In this capacity he results from inducing various commercial enter- can put across complete and continuous weather prises to sponsor programs. Thus the profes- information to all types of listeners. sional meteorologist in radio must be reconciled The overall arrangement we have worked out to having the virtues of various products ex- here in Philadelphia at station WFIL will serve tolled before and after his weather broadcast, as an example. We broadcast weather programs and sometimes in the middle. And he will find five minutes in length three times daily except Unauthenticated | Downloaded 09/27/21 06:52 AM UTC VOL. 30, No. 3, MARCH, 1949 87 Sunday. These come at 6 :55 a.m., 6 :55 p.m., and veniently divided and the job is highly confining 11 :10 p.m. In addition to these complete sum- in that it requires one's services a full 6 days a maries and forecasts, weather information is sup- week. In compensation the salary levels are com- plied for the early morning farm broadcast and paratively high, especially if these programs can to the disc-jockey show which runs from 7 a.m. be worked out on a commercial basis. till 8:45 a.m. A brief weather summary and After a sampling of listener reaction, we find outlook, with special emphasis on newsworthy it most satisfactory to include on the main pro- weather, is supplied for use on the 15 minute grams a general picture of the weather in the news broadcasts at 7 :30 a.m. and 8 :45 a.m. An- immediate area, and if the implications make it other forecast is furnished the newsroom for their desirable, in other parts of the nation or over evening newscasts. In addition to these regular oceans. Included in these summaries are any daily tasks, the station meteorologist is called on unusual and interesting weather details such as to answer a great many questions by mail and by extremes in temperature, heavy rain or snow, phone—we shall have more to say of them later. tornadoes, hurricanes, droughts, floods, etc. When One may ask, what demands does this sort of these special phenomena show up, often the greater schedule make on the weatherman who follows part of a program is devoted to a simplified ex- it conscientiously ? The bulk of the synoptic planation of their origin and history. Record weather information must be obtained through and near-record local weather reports are always U. S. Weather Bureau offices since the average included. The general synoptic picture is then radio station is in no position to maintain a interpreted as far as its effects on local weather weather staff capable of plotting and analyzing are concerned, and a detailed forecast is given daily maps. Here in Philadelphia we get com- including such things as degree of cloudiness, plete cooperation from both the downtown office temperatures, winds, times of beginning and end- and the airport station of the Weather Bureau. ing of expected precipitation, estimated amounts It cannot be overemphasized that unless there is of rain or snow, etc. wholehearted and complete cooperation and un- With an eye on the particular type of audience derstanding between the radio weatherman and being served, each of the programs also embraces local Weather Bureau personnel, a program such some special applications as well as the foregoing as we outlined above would be impossible to general picture. For example, the early morning work out satisfactorily. broadcast emphasizes a detailed outlook for the To return to an analysis of the radio weather coming day and its implications for the public's schedule, one who wants to assemble complete pleasure, business, and agriculture. We find that weather data and put them in appealing form for one of the main concerns of area farmers is a broadcast at 6:55 a.m. must necessarily begin general outlook for at least three days in ad- his labors at the Weather Bureau office some vance so that they can adequately plan operations one and a half to two hours earlier, an event such as plowing, planting, and haying. To satisfy that requires rolling out of bed rather early every this demand we always issue a forecast on the morning. With another program scheduled for morning program covering three days. Crop in- 11 :10 p.m., it is evident that some compromise formation, where related to the weather, is also must be worked out for the convenience of the given when available and of interest. In Phila- radio weatherman. We have found the most delphia and immediate vicinity there are 18 op- successful solution is to prepare a transcription of erating airfields, and perhaps three times that the late evening broadcast in advance. This we many within the listening area of WFIL. Be- do as soon as possible in a given weather situa- cause of them we have found a demand for some tion. For the most part it can be safely and flying information in the early morning which adequately completed by 8 p.m. would include such items as cloud types and Since the morning work is usually over by 8 heights, visibility restrictions, winds aloft, and a.m., the meteorologist is free from that time until stability conditions. he begins his preparation for the evening pro- The early evening program, coming as it does grams, usually about 4 p.m., although occasionally immediately following the dinner hour, apparently some of the intervening time must be used in attracts the most varied group of listeners. For research and correspondence in response to listen- this audience simplified explanations and descrip- ers' questions. The overall working time will tions are given as far as possible. The emphasis amount then, on the average, to perhaps 45 hours on detailed weather information is shifted to that a week, but these hours are still rather incon- of the coming evening with relation to special Unauthenticated | Downloaded 09/27/21 06:52 AM UTC 88 BULLETIN AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY activities in and around the area. This might "... What are the weather prospects for include details about temperatures, winds, etc., as Friday, May 28? The graduating class is taking they influence choice of clothing. a trip up the Hudson to Bear Mountain Park The 11 :10 p.m. program follows 10 minutes and we hope to do some swimming. of news, and is similar in makeup to the 6 :55 p.m. ". Can you advise what the weather condi- "show," except that emphasis on detailed weather tions will be in the Poconos from January 1 to is shifted from that evening's to the following January 4 ? Will there be enough snow for day's, and a summary of the day's local weather skiing? . ." is included. "... The part I appreciate most is your in- In addition to these regular program formats, terest in one of the housewives' worries—a good we find it desirable to make some seasonal appli- drying day on Monday.