The American Meteorological Society and the Development of Broadcast Meteorology

Abstract

Forty years of my professional career have been spent in weather-casting. That in itself is not unique. However, 38 of these years have been spent at the same television station, and that may be unique. I had never been inside a television station prior to starting my current job. (I give this brief history so that you can understand my perspective for the review that follows.) Although I have worked in only one area of the country, I have been closely involved with the AMS Seal of Approval program since its inception and with the broadcasting industry since my entry into it. From my “stable” job position I have been able to view the ever-changing emphasis and direction of two industries, broadcasting and meteorology. Thus despite the fact that my view may be rather myopic, I have attempted to gather and correlate, in some meaningful manner, information on broadcast meteorology spanning 50 years of the 75-year history of the AMS—a specialty that I believe has been the greatest single influence on our Society and its public perception.