UPDATE: 11/25 I now have word from a reputable source close to TWC that Cullen was indeed part of the layoff. – Anthony
I’ve been following this story since yesterday, but the details kept being somewhat nebulous. Since WaPo has it, I’ve decided it is safe to consider reasonably accurate now. It looks like TWC has ditched their entire environmental unit, and possibly also host Heidi Cullen, who once said:
“If a meteorologist has an AMS Seal of Approval, which is used to confer legitimacy to TV meteorologists, then meteorologists have a responsibility to truly educate themselves on the science of global warming.” “Meteorologists are among the few people trained in the sciences who are permitted regular access to our living rooms. And in that sense, they owe it to their audience to distinguish between solid, peer-reviewed science and junk political controversy.” “If a meteorologist can’t speak to the fundamental science of climate change, then maybe the AMS shouldn’t give them a Seal of Approval.”
Needless to say, I and many other current and former TV meteorologists took exception to the issue. I posted on it almost two years ago here.
TWC’s Heidi Cullen
From the Washington Post: (h/t to Jason Samenow)
NBC Fires Weather Channel Environmental Unit
Some on-camera meteorologists also let go
*A very cold evening: PM forecast update*
NBC Universal made the first of potentially several rounds of staffing cuts at The Weather Channel (TWC) on Wednesday, axing the entire staff of the “Forecast Earth” environmental program during the middle of NBC’s “Green Week”, as well as several on-camera meteorologists. The layoffs totaled about 10 percent of the workforce, and are the first major changes made since NBC completed its purchase of the venerable weather network in September.
Keep reading for more on The Weather Channel cuts…
The layoffs affected about 80 people, but left the long-term leadership of the network unclear, according to a source who requested anonymity due to the continuing uncertainty at the station.
Among the meteorologists who was let go was Dave Schwartz, a Weather Channel veteran and a viewer staple due to his lively on camera presentations. USA Today reported that meteorologists Cheryl Lemke and Eboni Deon were also let go.
The timing of the Forecast Earth cancellation was ironic, since it came in the middle of NBC’s “Green is Universal” week, during which the network has been touting its environmental coverage across all of its platforms. Forecast Earth normally aired on weekends, but its presumed last episode was shown on a weekday due to the environmentally-oriented week.
Forecast Earth was hosted by former CNN anchor Natalie Allen, with contributions from climate expert Heidi Cullen. It was the sole program on TWC that focused on global climate change, which raises the question of whether the station will still report on the subject. Cullen’s future role at the network is not known.
By Andrew Freedman | November 21, 2008; 5:00 PM ET
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Gee, I’m going to miss Heidi. Heidi who?
Anthony, has TWC contacted you about filling in their credibility gap, now that Cullen’s hubris has been sent packing and the New & Improved Ice Age is just around the corner?
Here’s a shocking thought.
Perhaps they’ll quit the propaganda areana and start presenting useful weather information and forecasts.
And in this tough economy perhaps the greenies will discover that they’ll be the first to be let go. We can only hope.
I’m hoping it includes Heidi. She’s earned it.
I also won’t be surprised if there’s someone higher up who’s sweet on her and saves her.
Perhaps this means they are going replace the group with some naturalists.
I seriously think that TWC could really get some interest and make some money with a educationally oriented natural climate cycle program.
They don’t need to focus on CO2 to have an extremely interesting program. Also, by being the 1st to change gears they would take any early ratings lead and add tremendous credibility.
This is a no-brainer automatic winner for them and I won’t even ask for a commission fee.
In this context, I believe it is time that we educate ourselves and the rest of the population as to what the definition of the word “Science” is.
Lately it seems that we are confusing Science with Science Fiction (made-up-stuff) and Fantasy (wishful-thinking).
The work Anthony has done has opened my eyes. In the case of climate records and such…specifically the Severonson Screen placement limitations as a RESULT of ‘certain’ improvements.
It appears that they (GISS) had embraced a new and improved technology that has ultimately proved to produce less accurate results than the more primitive, old-fashioned technology. From what I have read here, this is a fact and GISS has admitted it as fact.
It’s what happened next that annoys me most. Does GISS ditch the faulty data gathering technique and return to the more reliable technique? NOPE!!! Not a chance.
In response, they start massaging the data, adjusting the data, re-reporting the data and even go so far as the alter the data compiled from the earlier and more accurate and reliable methods. This is mind-boggling to me. I believe that this is entering into the realm of Fantasy.
Not to pick on GISS exclusively…where it comes to sun spots, we seem to be having difficulty counting to “ONE”. (FYI: ‘one’ is more than zero yet less than TWO.)
Who am I? I am a know-nothing, nobody peasant of the realm. But what I do know is that I would PREFER to get my daily dose of Sci-Fi and Fantasy from the likes of Orsen Scott Card or Terry Goodkind… Not GISS, NASA et al.
Thanks for the chance to rant-but who can we trust? What can we trust?
Dave Schwartz? He was my favorite anchor. A sad day.
As a private pilot I would tune into TWC to get the overall weather picture prior to calling in for a formal briefing. I was subsequently turned off by all the AGW propaganda. It’s really to bad too. Since I live in Southern California, where we don’t have real weather, when traveling I need the information. As Joe Friday used to say “just the facts mam”. Is that really too much to ask?
Maybe now I’ll start watching the Weather Channel again.
Heidi Cullen is gone. Long live the first ammenment. This is the fraud who wanted to have all TV meteorologist who didn’t profess allegiance to her version of the Global warming hoax have their AMS Seal Of Approval yanked.
What goes around, comes around. Dr. Cullen, learn civility in the unemployment line. The real world is getting very tough and people have little patience for sanctamony.
I’ll miss Dave Schwartz. When he got graveyard shift duty he was always a pleasure to watch. Not exactly a gentleman’s gentleman (he would on occasion say some racy stuff) but he always presented the weather with a style that was all his own.
Now all the up and comers at TWC are a bunch of stiffs with no character. Who could ever forget all those priceless moments on TWC when Santa visited John Hope, a man that must be turning in the grave right now….
The weather on TWC was always fun to watch. Now if they’re not trying to scare you with global warming they’re playing endless drivel such as epic conditions, or when weather changed history or storm stories. That’s what ruined the weather channel. Just like MTV diverting away from music and involving themselves exclusively in pop/’urban’ culture. Why flaw a thriving business with distractions? The weather channel was just that. Weather. Now you’re lucky to even catch the weather while watching.
I’ll also never forget earlier in the year when TWC had a hurricanes 2008 discussion forum with Steve Lyons, Jim Cantore and ‘Abrams and Bettes’. Stephanie Abrams said something absolutely assinine when the conversation moved to global warming and hurricanes. It went something like this:
“Imagine if a hurricane went over 100 degree waters in the Gulf of Mexico, went across Florida then up the East Coast and hit New York City as a category 5?!?!”
I was watching that show with some interest until that little hallucination upon which I quickly turned the station. Absurd.
Turnabout…an alarmist lost her job?
Apparently Dennis Smith who anchored the very first segment on TWC when they premiered in 1982 was also let go, which was very sad to hear.
Maybe with Heidi out of the picture, the Oakland Raiders might be able to score touchdowns; Heidi was their undoing.
A very well respected British weatherman died recently, his name was Jack Scott. He didn’t engage in gimmicks, just did his homework and presented the results in a clear, informative and friendly manner.
It is said that one day he was accosted in a corridor with the words “Jack, I’m due to play golf this afternoon, what’s the weather going to be?” Jack walked to the window, looked out at the sky and replied “It looks fine to me.”
Forget hocus-pocus, forget being Nostradamus and always rely on the best possible evidence – observation.
REPLY: Observation and measurment trumps theory any day of the week and twice of Sunday. Which is why I travel to remote places to get photos of weather stations for quality control assessment. – Anthony
Apparently they took her literally when she said “weather isn’t climate.”
Kate, my thoughts are similar to yours. I used to avidly watch the Weather Channel until Heidi and “Forecast Earth” took over. It also seemed as if every time I wanted to see what was actually gong on with the weather, instead there would always be a special program on.
Dave Schwartz is personable and entertaining. I seem to remember when some newbie (was it Eboni?) first started, she was on with Dave. The newbie was so nervous, but Dave seemed to be especially trying to put her at ease.
Heidi Cullen Got Culled. Yay!!!
PS. Normally I’m not happy when someone loses their job, but in this case I’ll make an exception.
NBC didn’t buy TWC unless TWC could be a decent profit center. The downturn in the capital markets, increased unemployment, and a recession that will last at least another 12 months mean that every advertising dollar must count. AGW or Climate Change (as it has morphed into the last 24 months) is a loser as far as advertising revenues are concerned. Most people who periodically tune into TWC are not in the least bit interested in meteorology or the cat fights concerning Climate Science. The kind of contention that Heidi Cullen created a few years ago is a killer for ratings and advertising dollars. With the Internet and instant weather that can be relayed to one’s Internet devices, the TWC is under increasing competition.
Such large scale lay-offs only mirror lost revenue that the TWC either has incurred or wil incur in the near future. The Alarmists have over played thier hand – both in academia and in the market of public opinion. The entire Green Movement does not automatically equate into revenue, as many like NBC are finding out. When one considers that much of the Green Agenda will be painful to many( mandates forced on an unsuspecting public), it could end up being a sure way to shut off revenue.
Tom (15:42:10) :
Dr. Cullen, learn civility in the unemployment line.
Unemployment? Not a chance –
“And that’s it fer the commodity prices on KLOD TV’s ‘Farm Report with Abner Ferkle.’ Now here’s KLOD’s own Doctor Heidi Cullen with the weather. Still good fer plantin’, Doc? You been predictin’ warmer weather fer a long time, now.”
A switch to the anti-AGW side by TWC would generate huge controversy, and controversy is good for ratings. NBC shareholders would appreciate it.
JP et al — I wouldn’t count on ‘fair and balanced’ programming from NBC. Leap not to wishful conclusions. Their track record is what it is.
If there is a God, Heidi Cullen will end up giving blizzard warnings on some little tv station in Grand Forks or Duluth. Maybe the Weather Channel will become watchable again.
Glad to see Heidi was shown the door. Too bad about Dave. He was one of the better ones.
She got canned? Good. Couldn’t have happened to a more vile Luddite. [snip] If only someone at NASA would have the cajones to fire Hansen and then toss him to the wolves to be torn to shreds in litigous court battles.
REPLY: it is uncertain yet if she was part of the layoff. – Anthony
George E. Smith (16:08:58) :
Come on George, seas rising 20 feet in two weeks, our children perishing in clouds of dust from global warming, but … Oakland Raiders scoring a touchdown?
I have to draw the line somewhere between plausible scenarios and outright fantasies.
Just tune in this Sunday and watch the game and see if the Raiders can score a touchdown.
Go Broncos!!!!
It’s a little sad to see the Raiders where they are today. In the old days the word was, “Here come the Raiders, lock up the women and children and hide the hubcaps”.
Now?
Sad.
Soon, we will feel the same way about the alarmist.
If they don’t wreck the economy first.
Except the economy has already been wrecked. With a bunch of people who had their own little computer models of derivatives and computer calculations of the value of all those junk loans and so forth.
So it doesn’t matter.
A little sense of irony here isn’t there?
Isn’t computer science wonderful?
I really long for the days of the giant electronic brain.