Subtropics Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Currently early in my college career. I am interested to know what someone should do to give them the best possible chance to be a broadcaster for TWC. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isohume Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Adopt a flair for the dramatic and shave your head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinwood Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 A meteorology degree is not a requirement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeffsvilleWx Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 this thread has so much potential... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtropics Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 A meteorology degree is not a requirement. Any degree and you can get there? Would I need to have a family friend type connection to be hired or is it realistic to get in the door? You have posted the most helpful response so far so I thank you for that Mr. Ellinwood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtropics Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 this thread has so much potential... If by this you mean potential for someone to answer my question then great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isohume Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 If by this you mean potential for someone to answer my question then great. I was not joking. Serious, they want someone with a personality that sells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeffsvilleWx Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 If by this you mean potential for someone to answer my question then great. you'd probably have a better shot going with broadcast journalism. However, women have an advantage in that field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtropics Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 I was not joking. Serious, they want someone with a personality that sells. Sorry for being so brash. I appreciate your response. I want to apply after undergrad. An interview would be a win in my book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isohume Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Sorry for being so brash. I appreciate your response. I want to apply after undergrad. An interview would be a win in my book. Good luck! Really tho, make sure your shtick is smooth. There really is a lot of competition for very few jobs. Starting in a local market will probably have to be a realistic start...but not the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinwood Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Any degree and you can get there? Would I need to have a family friend type connection to be hired or is it realistic to get in the door? You have posted the most helpful response so far so I thank you for that Mr. Ellinwood. The best part is my post was tongue-in-cheek. Nearly all broadcasters on TWC have their met degree. I was making fun of Al Roker. Get a met degree, take as many broadcasting classes as you can, get good grades and have good confidence, composure and communication skills. Being pretty also helps. Basically anything you would need for any broadcasting job. Some graphic design knowledge would probably be a good bonus as well. I do not necessarily know the "pecking order," if there is any, to work your way into an on-air position at TWC. Perhaps you could message a few on Twitter and see if you get any answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellinwood Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Good luck! Really tho, make sure your shtick is smooth. There really is a lot of competition for very few jobs. Starting in a local market will probably have to be a realistic start...but not the end. I second this. Landing a TWC gig is most likely not a first step for most, on-air or otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtropics Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Thank you everyone. Really appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phlwx Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I second this. Landing a TWC gig is most likely not a first step for most, on-air or otherwise. Most TWC on-air have come from elsewhere prior to working there...perhaps two or even three stops of elsewhere before hitting Atlanta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Lizard Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Crystal Egger has a BA and a 60 hour Miss State U certificate that earns an AMS seal. People getting BAs in things like radio-television-film and broadcast communications seem to have more time for extra curriculars in college than hard science majors or engineers. Don't even need a BS to be a 'severe weather expert' at TWC... ETA MSU's 60 hour remote learning green screen class for an AMS certificate and no science background required. http://www.distance.msstate.edu/geosciences/BMP/index.html Carl Parker, who joined The Weather Channel last year, is single and a native of Boston, Mass. He studied journalism at the University of Maryland and broadcast meteorology at Mississippi State University. He worked at KPRC-TV in Houston before joining the Weather Channel.Read more: http://americanprofile.com/articles/carl-parker-jeanetta-jones-weather-channel/#ixzz2L2c2tuhm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormitecture Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 A meteorology degree is not a requirement. I know it was a requirement for at least up until 2003 (for both on-air mets and off-air). I don't know about after that. But originally, TWC was big about making sure all their mets were degreed and damn good at it. If I remember correctly (been a few years since I read Frank Batten's book), it was one thing they wanted to do to lead credance to the network. They kept it a requirement for as long as he was in charge. Outside of Rooker, I'm pretty sure all the on-air mets are degreed. (I know I'm being redundant here). I think working on communication skills, reporting skills, and probably start now with a video blog. Simple, but show a good energy level and having a healthy (quality) social media presense wouldn't hurt these days either. Also....be on top of your game. Be better than just about anyone. Look better than most when doing it. That'll land some points too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Lizard Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 I know it was a requirement for at least up until 2003 (for both on-air mets and off-air). I don't know about after that. But originally, TWC was big about making sure all their mets were degreed and damn good at it. If I remember correctly (been a few years since I read Frank Batten's book), it was one thing they wanted to do to lead credance to the network. They kept it a requirement for as long as he was in charge. Outside of Rooker, I'm pretty sure all the on-air mets are degreed. Jeanetta Jones was a journalism major with no science background. Just found out, she is off TWC because of a disabling automobile accident. And Carl Parker and Crystal Egger are just the two w/o science degrees I am aware of. There could be more, although I doubt they'd hire a non-met for anything but a OCM. Egger BA in Communication, University of California Meteorology, Mississippi State University From TWC, note no degree listed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormitecture Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Jeanetta Jones was a journalism major with no science background. Just found out, she is off TWC because of a disabling automobile accident. And Carl Parker and Crystal Egger are just the two w/o science degrees I am aware of. There could be more, although I doubt they'd hire a non-met for anything but a OCM. Huh, that I didn't know. I was going by what was in the book. I guess the book wasn't about to get into specific personalities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BayBreeze Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 on tv, they look for personality and looks. weather is considered an entertainment part of the news. yammering on about what a good forecaster might win points but not many. start in a small market and work your way up. my first chance at this came in 1986 when wboc in salisbury maryland called asking if i wanted to try out. i said no at the time since i knew i was close to landing an nws job shortly. and the lady who wanted an audition tape and interview was a total yutz to me on the phone. rude as hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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