Managing Viewer Feedback & Erroneous Social Media Weather Posts in the Digital Age

Amy Sweezey, WESH-TV (NBC) Orlando@amysweezeyhttp://amysweezey.com

The Internet Audience

• Scrutiny is expected• Feedback is probable• Social Media makes us more accessible

We are in the PUBLIC EYE

“During a news broadcast, television news personalities face the camera as if they are looking directly at the viewer. The newscaster addresses the viewer as an individual. The result is an emotional bond in the mind of the viewer. The fact that this news personality is on TV routinely creates a dependable continuing relationship in the mind of the viewer who feels like a friend is in the living room.”(Horton & Wohl -1956)

“The more exposure the viewer has to a media personality, the greater the chance that the viewer will like that personality. As with any personal relationship, there’s some chance that the increased attraction will cause the attraction to decrease.”(Rubin & McHugh – 1987)

Parasocial Interaction:

“The illusion of a relationship or bond with the celebrity determined the individual user’s level of participation with that celebrity on social media.” (Phelps - 2011)

“The primary roles of the weathercaster are 1. forecasting day-to-day weather; 2. protecting viewers from severe weather; 3. be a personality that the viewers like.”(Henson – 2010)

Research could indicate that weathercasters use Facebook to define their role to the viewer: get the daily forecast on our channel FROM A FRIEND.

Parasocial Interaction:

Forecast Question/Criticism

On-Air Delivery

Appearance

Internet Trolls

• Snail Mail• Email• Social Media

Types of Viewer Feedback

“You are an incompetent ignoramus. I also believe you have some sort of

eating disorder by the look of your frail arms! What the hell are you doing?

Ruining Bike Week and any plans one may have had for Sunday. It did not

even rain one drop yesterday. It is true that a “meteorolist” is no more than a

palm reader, as your attempts at predicying the weather are not based on any

patterns, nor even did you take the effort to call the National Weather Service,

as you ”soothsayers” often do! Question your education and I certainly will

NEVER trust your judgement, not Cnahhel 2’s hiring practices. Piss off you

Quack”

Forecast Criticism/Questions:

Forecast Criticism/Questions:

Forecast Criticism/Questions:

On-Air Delivery:You talk too fast.You mispronounce words.You have a funny accent.Your voice is annoying.You use your hands too much.You turn to the side too often.You talk AT me instead of TO me.You shout or talk too soft.Etc...

On-Air Delivery:

Appearance:

Appearance:

Appearance:

TROLLS:

• Does the type of feedback matter?• Does the boss’ opinion or station policy matter?• Does our mood/personality matter?

We have a CHOICE in how we respond.But HOW do we choose the response?

• Ignore• Delete, Mute/Hide, Unfriend/Unfollow, Block

• Kill with Kindness• Answer, Give them the benefit of the doubt

• Respond in Kind• Fight fire with fire, Answer with same “tone”

• Engage• Defend yourself

Response Choices:

IGNORE: (unfriend, unfollow, delete)

MUTE: (T) Tweets & RTs are no longer visible in your home timeline, & you no longer receive push or SMS notifications from that user. The muted user can still favorite, reply to & retweet your Tweets; you just won’t see any of that activity. The muted user will not know that you’ve muted & you can unmute at any time.

BLOCK: (T) They cannot follow you or send Direct Messages to you;Cannot view your tweets, following or followers lists, photos, videos, lists or favorites when logged in;Cannot add your Twitter account to their lists or tag you in a photo;Their tweets will not appear in your timeline.

(FB) Unfriends them and prevents them from starting conversations with you or seeing things you post on your profile.

KILL WITH KINDNESS:

KILL WITH KINDNESS:

RESPOND IN KIND:

RESPOND IN KIND:

RESPOND IN KIND:

ENGAGE:

ENGAGE:

Brad Panovich, WCNC-TV

Morgan Palmer, KIRO-TV

Frank Alsheimer, NOAA/NWS Charleston, SC

LET’S DISCUSS!

Social Media Panelists: