TV Meteorologist Job Description Complete Guide 2020

TV METEOROLOGIST Job Description

A Television Meteorologist prepares material by designing graphics and reviewing models for the weather news. In addition, they study weather data and are mostly responsible for posting it on the TV station’s website and social media. The following article will give the reader an idea about the job and guide them on pursuing it, the working hours, frequently asked questions and the salary. By the end of the article, we will discuss the TV Meteorologist job description and have an idea of whether they are fit to play that role. 

TV Meteorologist Job Description

Meteorologists are also known as the TV weather women/men or the atmospheric scientists of television. They must report on the state, national or international, or the local weather on cable or broadcast TV. TV meteorologists use computers to calculate temperature, air pressure, and other atmospheric characteristics, create weather maps and visuals and report weather conditions via television broadcasts. They usually appear and work with TV presenters that handle the weather reports. 

They can predict the weather by predicting the movement of pressure areas, fonts, and precipitation by examining weather maps covering large areas of the world and charts related to them, like upper air maps. They calculate such data as temperature, cloud cover, wind, precipitation, and flying conditions. To predict weather patterns in the future and to develop high accuracy in studying weather and forecasting, meteorologists research various subjects, such as clouds, electricity, precipitation, data from satellites, and hurricanes. Ocean currents and temperature are two more areas of research that can be utilized to anticipate the weather. In the United States, there are around 10,000 atmospheric scientists, including meteorologists, employed for weather prediction. 

The main personality traits to be possessed by a TV meteorologist are to be curious, scientific, technical, and, of course, charismatic, since part of the job is to appear on television. These personality traits and other skill sets will be talked about in the article further. 

Important Skills for the Job

  • Having analytical skills in order to analyze computer models, evaluate vast quantities of data, and draw well-informed judgments regarding weather patterns and forecasts
  • Curiosity about weather systems.
  • cooperative and good at teamwork.
  • Interpersonal skills to maintain good relationships at work. Because weathercasters frequently appear on radio or television with other people, they must have excellent interpersonal skills in order to form connections with presenters and guests.
  • communication skills as Weathercasters must be able to talk clearly and logically in order to deliver their presentations effectively on television or radio. 
  • Written communication skills
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking skills 
  • Computer abilities as well Meteorological forecasters must be proficient with word processing, multimedia editing, and meteorology applications in order to evaluate weather data, develop scripts, and do basic picture and video editing.
  • Mathematical intelligence.
  • Possess the ability to work under pressure, in order to perform under the pressure of live newsrooms and present information with the minimal presentation. 
  • marketing skills to create social media posts in order to use those platforms to benefit the station. 

Basic Requirements and Qualifications  

  • A Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree relevant to the job from an ascribed university is most definitely required. A bachelor’s degree in subjects such as meteorology or atmospheric science, mathematics, computer or environmental sciences, or any other physical sciences with coursework including climatology, atmospheric chemistry, and using radar.

A postgraduation qualification that is relevant to the job is also beneficial. For example, a Ph.D. or a research-based MSc. This may also be important for positions in research positions. The Royal Meteorological Society awards a variety of degrees.

Some weather forecasters also major in communications or journalism, including coursework in research, journalistic ethics, multimedia storytelling, and interviewing techniques. However, those who have a degree in communications or journalism must complete coursework in meteorology or atmospheric science. 

Also, some people have served in the military as meteorologists. The military provides meteorological training that is comparable to that provided by recognized institutions.

  • Practical Work Experience 

Volunteering at their university’s radio or television station or interning at local stations are common among entry-level weather forecasters. Mid-career weathercasters sometimes begin their careers working in smaller markets before progressing to larger areas as their experience grows.

  • Certification

The most competent individuals also hold the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) certificate. Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in meteorology or atmospheric science from an accredited university or who have completed a certain number of courses in atmospheric measurement, synoptic meteorology, and other relevant topics are eligible for this credential, which the American Meteorology Society awards. In addition to that, candidates must pass a 100-question exam and submit two weathercasts for evaluation.

Duties of a TV Meteorologist 

  • Giving live weather predictions for the day or week, giving high and low temperatures, as well as the likelihood of precipitation.
  • analysis of the data related to changes in the weather, atmospheric models, meteorological graphs, and discussing the conditions with effectiveness. 
  • Analyzing data from the ground, the sea, and the upper atmosphere and informing viewers or listeners of severe weather patterns that might have an impact on everyday activities or safety.
  • Report on the weather from the newsroom or from the areas that have been impacted.
  • Identification of important weather-related news and production of captivating articles using pictures, videos, and interviews.
  • Collecting and analyzing data from weather stations, satellites, radars, and other distant sensors all around the world.
  • Talk about breaking weather news, such as severe storms, floods, or other things related to weather changes that might impact the lives of the viewers. 
  • Collaborate with the design and editing teams to create graphics that represent weather conditions or the audience’s possible effects.
  • Using mathematical and physical formulas, as well as computer modeling techniques, to aid with long and short-term weather forecasting
  • Make public appearances in order to promote the television station. 
  • Update the social media accounts of the station with the most up-to-date weather information and alerts.
  • The prediction of climate change and research on it make the viewers aware of ways to prevent/ delay it. 
  • Assisting in the improvement of weather prediction models.
  • Writing research articles, reports, reviews, and summaries, to name a few.
  • Keeping up with the latest scientific and technological advances.

Social Media 

TV meteorologists are now required to be social media superstars. This is usually achieved by using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms. It’s also probable that the meteorologist will need to record a weathercast to be published on the station’s website in between episodes. This creates a stronger bond between the weather crew and the station’s viewers. This is a smart technique for increasing the station’s viewership, but it can be exhausting for meteorologists, especially on busy weather days. The meteorologist types their forecast into a closed caption system if the TV station does not have closed caption software. This is done to assist the audience with hearing disabilities. 

Distinctive Employers of Meteorologists

  • BBC
  • The Met Office 
  • Environmental Consultancies 
  • Research Centers 
  • The Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC)
  • The Armed Forces
  • British Antarctic Survey

Job vacancies are usually advertised on the internet and by career services in national newspapers. Vacancies can also be found in relevant scientific publications like Science and Nature and New Scientist. The recruitment process typically involves a technical interview. 

Salary of a TV Meteorologist

There has been a decrease in salaries in the last decade due to many factors, such as more broadcast schools teaching meteorology. Also, degrees in meteorology are becoming easier to achieve as some universities have been offering online courses. It is also a fact that a lot of tracks don’t include uncompromising calculus and physics. There is a problem with demand and supply that lies here. More people are competing for a limited number of positions in this job. Hence, it results in news stations offering lower salaries. Other aspects of this decline also include less ad revenue due to there being a larger number of stations being there to divide the money. People are turning away from television in favor of accessing on-demand content on their phones and other devices. During the week, a television station’s newscasts are usually covered by three or four meteorologists. The chief meteorologist leads the squad. They are the highest-paid employee. Morning and midday meteorologists are generally paid next, followed by weekend meteorologists. The average pay for a fill-in meteorologist is the lowest. Always remember that there are exceptions to the norm. In some of the country’s most populous television areas, stations may employ up to five meteorologists. The extra weathercasters might be used for vacation relief or have other duties. With fewer newscasts, small-market TV stations may only have two weathercasters to cover the week.

The salaries also differ depending on the size of the market (town), the amount of experience, public popularity, ownership of the individual television station, and various other factors. On a general note, if the market were bigger, there would be more expenditure in salaries to be paid as the markets would make higher ad revenues. In the United States, there are approximately 200 markets, with New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia among the most populous. Working in a tiny market may mean relocating to a place you’ve never heard of.

Different groupings or media businesses own television stations. Some ownerships of media companies tend to pay more than others. This is usually the result of the personal business philosophy of a station’s owner. One station may try to do a newscast on the “bare bones,” skimping on salaries and other expenses. Another station may offer competitive pay and perks to its staff. Knowing individuals in the news industry is the only guaranteed method of finding out if a certain station would pay a fair wage for its market size.

The popularity of an individual is another way to measure their salary. News stations regularly search for the popularity of their on-air personalities. A meteorologist who is a local celebrity or has worked in a market for a long time may be paid far more than the market size requires. On the other hand, a huge market may recruit someone with little expertise and pay them less than would be anticipated in that market. 

Lastly, an estimate of the salaries that can be expected for this job in the top 10 markets is: The chief meteorologist may make around $400,000 or more. Morning and midday meteorologists can earn between $150,000 and $400,000, while weekend meteorologists can earn between $40,000 and $150,000. Keep in mind that most meteorologists earn far less than these figures. For example, a chief meteorologist in market 100 can earn between $45,000 and $90,000 and less than $30,000 in market 200. Weathercasters on TV cable have a huge profit margin, ranging from approximately $50,000 to well over $300,000 for prime-time weathercasters.

Remember that there are no hard and fast salary regulations, only guidelines. You are as useful as the station’s management believes you are, and your compensation will reflect this.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is there a demand for TV meteorologists?

Weather broadcasters continue to be in great demand. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for meteorologists is anticipated to expand by 8% between 2018 and2028. This is a faster-than-average pace of development, thanks in part to more powerful computer models and increasingly precise weather forecasts, which may help firms in various industries.

  • What type of work environment do they work in?

Although meteorologists broadcast from the studios, some employers require their employees to report from areas of concern about the weather, as the location of a storm. As a result, some of them have to travel in and out of their local regions. 

  • What are the working hours like?

Most TV meteorologists work on full-time schedules and report on the weather at the same time each day. Most of them in the morning or evening or afternoon or nightly basis. Some even report on an hourly basis. When they don’t appear on television, they work on forecast reviews, analysis of computer models, preparation of weather stimulus, and writing of the script. 

Conclusion

A weather broadcaster delivers important information regarding daily and weekly forecasts, such as temperature and precipitation, to the public. TV meteorologists are essential personnel on television. They are also known as weather forecasters and meteorologists. Television is a visual medium, which favors more good-looking people. This is the bitter truth of this industry; better-looking people find it easier to carve their way into this business. Therefore, improving your wardrobe, hair, and smile, and overall appearance is a necessity. If you’re interested in the workings of the weather, you should check into this position. It, like any other, has advantages and disadvantages. However, if it is a good fit for your hobbies and personality, you should investigate it more.

TV Meteorologist Job Description Complete Guide 2020

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