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February 8, 2013
21:46 • 4 months ago
Gawker’s Max Read on why you shouldn’t call this storm battering the East Coast Nemo:

Yes: last year The Weather Channel—which owns Weather.com, Weather Underground, and a host of other weather-related sites—announced it would begin naming winter storms too. That is its official list of names, as packaged in its official, attractive graphic.
The truth is there is very little attempt being made to hide the fact that this is a money play. In case the inclusion of “Draco” and “Nemo” (just some Greek and Roman names, nothing to do with any recent children’s movies, don’t worry) and “Gandolf” (the “Bert Sampson” of fantasy names) didn’t tip you off, the announcement itself makes it clear that this is about punching up the weather story: “A storm with a name takes on a personality all its own,” writes Tom Niziol. Such “personality,” he claims “adds to awareness.”
Awareness! Of course, awareness. It’s true that if everyone involved in risk and emergency communication—management agencies, local governments, and private news outlets—can agree on a name, it might help emphasize and direct storm news and information.

Cable networks: Where they throw out the official rule book in the name of ratings and hope everyone else plays along.

Gawker’s Max Read on why you shouldn’t call this storm battering the East Coast Nemo:

Yes: last year The Weather Channel—which owns Weather.com, Weather Underground, and a host of other weather-related sites—announced it would begin naming winter storms too. That is its official list of names, as packaged in its official, attractive graphic.

The truth is there is very little attempt being made to hide the fact that this is a money play. In case the inclusion of “Draco” and “Nemo” (just some Greek and Roman names, nothing to do with any recent children’s movies, don’t worry) and “Gandolf” (the “Bert Sampson” of fantasy names) didn’t tip you off, the announcement itself makes it clear that this is about punching up the weather story: “A storm with a name takes on a personality all its own,” writes Tom Niziol. Such “personality,” he claims “adds to awareness.”

Awareness! Of course, awareness. It’s true that if everyone involved in risk and emergency communication—management agencies, local governments, and private news outlets—can agree on a name, it might help emphasize and direct storm news and information.

Cable networks: Where they throw out the official rule book in the name of ratings and hope everyone else plays along.

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76 notes from really cool Tumblrs like ours:

  1. maneatingbadger reblogged this from shortformblog
  2. ampersandandfriends reblogged this from shortformblog
  3. willvsworld reblogged this from shortformblog and added:
    Walda? seriously…
  4. gasolinereinbows reblogged this from shortformblog
  5. ax93 reblogged this from shortformblog
  6. owenshill reblogged this from shortformblog and added:
    Well, now. How about that.
  7. apoisedpen reblogged this from shortformblog
  8. suceder reblogged this from shortformblog
  9. sjs1959 reblogged this from shortformblog and added:
    TWC has no shame, sadly.
  10. aquietvillage reblogged this from afinecupofcoffee and added:
    Ooh, well that makes sense.
  11. afinecupofcoffee reblogged this from shortformblog and added:
    @skoobish — basically, these storms were pre-named.
  12. grapelet reblogged this from shortformblog and added:
    YES. THIS.
  13. spiderman-eskimo-kisses reblogged this from shortformblog
  14. toomanykitties reblogged this from shortformblog
  15. tinnitisisnojoke reblogged this from shortformblog
  16. zenish reblogged this from shortformblog and added:
    I am personally hoping for Q.
  17. thehedrick said: What about storm Xena: Warrior Princess?
  18. krispekreme reblogged this from shortformblog
  19. elucidatorium reblogged this from shortformblog
  20. starchildnoodles reblogged this from shortformblog
  21. dendroica reblogged this from shortformblog
  22. get-me-off-the-cloud reblogged this from lifeincommas
  23. jasonstiff said: Make the names go away. This winter storm naming farce is driving this meteorologist nuts. *sigh*
  24. knutiscute reblogged this from fourpennies
  25. lifeincommas reblogged this from notnadia
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