Controlling Nature: Weathercasts on Local Television News

Since discovering the shrinking politician sound bite, researchers have shown that TV news grew more journalist-centered since the 1960s. To explore how far journalistic authority extends, this study turns to the weather. We examine local coverage weekday mornings on three local stations before a national convention. Close qualitative reading, supplemented by content coding, compares weather rhetoric, tone, and style during segments. Weathercasters raise concerns during weather reports, which they soften during banter. Most surprising is their rhetorical claim to control nature. They personify weather, but ignore the audience. Accuracy in forecasts relates to the visual style and ratings of the station. (100 words)