It's Cliche Mike

/
dan-rather-covering-a-hurricane-285x201.jpg

Years ago, Dan Rather clung to a light pole as he was battered by Hurricane force winds. 

Since then, every Reporter has thought that they needed their Dan Rather moment of standing out in a Hurricane and shouting into a microphone that is a few inches from their face. Reporters did it in the 70's, the 80's, 90's and into the 2000's. 

It got to the point, it became a cliche and more of a joke. 

Yet, some TV people think that it's still cool (it's not) and they do it anyway. The Weather Channel spends days telling people to stay out of the storm and to seek safety. They warn people that they could die. 

But, when the storm hits, people like TWC's Mike Seidel then do exactly what they tell viewers not to do. They go out in the storm and shout about how windy and wet it is. 

DJXYnxlW0AICbFl.jpg-large.jpeg

Why? 

Can't a camera pointing outside show that? Why do it on camera, exactly what you are telling the viewers not to do? 

It's not only cliche, it's idiotic. Yet Seidel does the same schtick each and every time.  He wasn't the only one, just watch CNN for 2 minutes, but Seidel should know better. He's a goddamn meteorologist after all.   

Then there are those that have grown up a bit. Tom Doerr has been a News Director for 30+ years and is now running the newsroom at WINK in Ft. Myers.

Before Hurricane Irma hit Florida, Doerr told his Reporters no outdoor live shots when the storm gets strong close. In an internal memo to the staff, obtained by FTVLive, Doerr wrote, "JUST TO BE CLEAR, AS THE STORM GAINS IN STRENGTH, WE DO NOT WANT YOU OR YOUR COLLEAGUES OUTSIDE AND EXPOSED TO THIS STORM WHILE IT’S SO INTENSE AND SO DANGEROUS."

This is a smart move, it not only insures the crew's safety it also stops them from looking like idiots standing out in the wind and rain. 

I can assure you, the live shot (stand up) in the storm has been done ad nauseum. Unless you stand out there and take a flying stop sign to the head and die on live TV, it has all been done before. 

Doing that kind of live shot hurts are industry much more than it helps it. Despite the fact that Mike Seidel still thinks it's cool.