This week is not exactly a true open thread… I do have one topic that I’d like to discuss. I’m considering doing a weekly radio show with the same name “Watts Up With That” and I’m interested to hear opinions on the topic.
The idea would be to have a show that would cover topics that we might not cover on the blog and allow interactivity including Callins via Skype, e-mailed questions, and questions submitted in advance.
A few years ago I had done a 24-hour television program to counter Al Gore’s 24 hours of climate reality. While that effort was reasonably successful it required a huge amount of effort to produce. Radio type programs however require far less effort and can be just as effective at communications and equally entertaining if not more. It would be streamed live so that people around the world could listen in, and would be recorded also as a podcast.
While not a sure thing that I will do this, I thought I’d ask readers to see what they thought about it and I welcome any ideas that you might have.
Of course, any other topics within our normal purview are open on this open thread as well.
Thanks for your input and thanks to everyone who commented on my personal note earlier this week. It was very heartfelt and uplifting that I have so many friends around the world.
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Hi Anthony, sorry to be the guy with the cold water bucket, but here goes: Dont even think about a radio channel for a second, period. I´m sure you know the old saying “A picture says more than a thousand words”, well that´s even more true in this area. You could use a million words to try to get the message of this picture from Tony Heller (I don´t agree with the guys foul language, but it´s the facts and figures that count not the language).( http://realclimatescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NASA-US-1999-2016.gif ) across to average Joe and you would still fail, but he (she) will get the message instantly if you show the graph on video. The climate business is a graphical world, you have to be able to show graphs and slides to be able to convey your message to the average public, therefore Anthony, find a streamlined way to use video instead, otherwise forget about it and continue with your excellent blog. As mentioned above, a youtube channel would probably be a good idea. All the best.
Does anyone have any idea if the IPCC is gearing up for AR6? Reports are supposed to come up every 5-6 years and it’s been a good 3 years since the preliminary reports of AR5 have come out.
Hey, the IPCC is a “child” of the UNEP and WMO. Gaia forbid that any such child be orphaned (or – heaven forfend – “retired” to well-deserved obscurity). The post-Pachauri and post-Steiner IPCC regime appears to have taken a somewhat lower profile; however, it looks as though plans are well afoot to churn out yet another series of “gold standard” Reports.
See: http://www.ipcc.ch/activities/pdf/ar6_WSPSchedule_07072016.pdf
And while I’m here … Somewhat belatedly, may I add my voice to those who admire Anthony’s decision to bravely share with us his journey through days of darkness to the light at the end of his personal tunnel. May you continue to grow from strength to strength, whichever paths you may choose.
Of course You do, Mr.Watts, an expert talking about the smallest details.And great things.
Understandable.
https://youtu.be/o705rnsC7CA
Love the idea. I listen to podcasts on a sport I used to be involved in. Interesting to hear the views of guest experts and the conversational format often brings out things the set piece written word articles dont.
Harald Lesch talks 15 min. I must confess that is enough concencentration with nothing for the eyes. The big revenue is the inner cinema.
45 min. discussion of hearers contribution should be walking in the park.
Go for it, I would listen in occasionally and send friends along.
Podcasts are the way to go. Anthony Cumia and Adam Corolla are doing quite well.
Don’t.
It’s an entirely different field that require an entirely different type of expertise.
WUWT is a peak object in its sphere.
Be like John Cleese with Fawlty Towers…
I will be his Manuel!
Do it
I would like to make a suggestion… I quit smoking and now use an ecig… I digress.. there are a lot of weekly shows dedicated to this along the lines you suggest… I suggest you look them up for format ideas. Try inside vaping, plumes of hazard, and pbursardo. I am suggesting show format ideas not pushing vaping btw.
Best of luck with this, Anthony.
Depending on the clarity of the speaker, I tend (personally) to avoid listening to speech on the web or radio due to an age-related loss of hearing. For my nightly dose of TV news, my wife and I have a permanently plugged-in pair of dual headphones – so I can have mine loud! Music, which I love and have on constantly, isn’t such a problem. But when one gets bad speakers, who tend to mumble OR gabble at 90 mph (Caroline Lucas for one – not that she has anything to say worth hearing!) or those with thick accents, then my interest (and comprehension) hits rock bottom.
Earlier I said it was ‘age-related’ hearing loss but I remember struggling even 40 years ago comprehending certain speech sounds in cinemas and theatres. I’m sure you know much more about this subject than do I. Mind you, I do have a history of mistreating my hearing from working on V Bombers in the 1950s (before ear-defenders were the norm) to screaming engineering-workshops-from-hell in the 1970s to always playing my music at a near-deafening level.
I am sure that whatever you decide will be a success and there are some great comments above from (as is so usual for your readership) very knowledgeable commenters.
And I don’t have to remind you visual materials are already provided at WUWT.
– personally I’d prefer listening without distraction.
Just my 2 cents worth in the interests of providing useful feedback.
I wouldn’t listen to a radio program. On your blog I can quickly read the post, scroll through comments, click on links to other posts or videos, including graphs, papers, simulations etc.
An important advantage that WUWT has over other climate blogs is the continuously new story feed. If the lead blogger is diverted into a radio show what will happen to the content of the blog? It can’t get better under that circumstance.
There are lots of good posts here already, including: Lord Monckton, Janice, Kip Hansen and Javert Chip. So I can’t add much. However, the question that needs answering is: “Why?” What would you hope to achieve from this new venture that is not already covered by this award-winning blog? Different audience, revenue stream, subjects that don’t blog well, or something else?
I agree completely with the view that you should not run to a fixed schedule – certainly not a weekly one. I still remember how my heart used to sink when it was announced that I would have to give a progress report at every weekly meeting. I spent one day with Powerpoint, then we had the meeting, then it had to be written up and minutes circulated. It eat into 60% of my 5-day week. Fortnightly was much preferred and irregular would be an even better option as and when something of note happened.
I also agree that YouTube would be a good option (ignoring possible copyright issues). With your background you will espouse the high production values of a professional TV studio. However, those lengths are no longer necessary for a video to work on a medium like YouTube.
So, I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide. I believe answering the “Why?” question will be a good start.
Just my two penn’orth – as we say on the Internet. 🙂
Anthony,
My opinion.
You have the nature for broadcast media, clearly. You also have a sense of where to insert wedge topics, and apply controversy. You have a good feel for “newsworthiness”.
It believe that since you (and et al) have done a good job being critics of CAGW, the general public are loosing interest in it. Which is good. If the USA federal election in Nov falls a certain way, I think that the Greens with be dealt a fatal blow as well as the UN, considering Brexit etc.
So you should act in your own best interest and structure a radio program (with podcasts, call in Q&A) that is tailored to broad science education and truth. Sort of the Anti-Neil DeGasse Tyson. There is a market for science, eg the gravity pulse observatory, exo planets ( I am not enthralled by them but most people are) A.I., genetic engineering, science history, …
You have a gift of communication. Certainly stay on top of the CAGW debate but you et al can assert a better approach to the discipline of science. Less Bill Nye flash and propaganda-esque, more thoughtful.
You can host discussions with Joe Bastardi or Lief ( if he is in the mood to be a teacher), LCM and maybe Willis, Delingpole, Marc, Tisdale, Eric W, I would love to be 3rd party to those kinds of discussions.
Hermes, Mercury, Gabriel — They are your alter egos.
Radio is a fantastic media especially if it is also podcast.
I wish you good fortune.
If you can love doing it, go for it Anthony.
Just one more thing. A question/answer format with interesting guests is one of the most compelling ways to receive information. You could broadcast live, record the podcast and possibly automate the transcription.
Most young people get their info via smartphones now and share information over links. Young libertarians will be sharing your stuff to change minds.
As is her custom, Janice Moore provided the definitive answer. You have already done more than your share, don’t overextend yourself. If you do it please include the broad issue of science integrity.
Congratulations on a life of huge contribution to world science.
It it is something you would enjoy Anthony, go for it, I think it’s a great idea. If it’s another straw closer to breaking the donkey’s back, consider that too.
Now calling you a donkey FYI 😀
I admire your energy and enthusiasm, truly, I’m almost 20 years your junior!
*not, not calling you a donkey.. lol
ossqss on July 31, 2016 at 9:53 am
I think it would be a great idea Anthony.
Similar to some of these from the past on your ClimateCentral channel on youtube?
https://www.youtube.com/user/ClimateCentral
________________________
Hey, that’s a good one!
OK, ossqss!
I think it would be a great idea Anthony.
Similar to some of these from the past on your ClimateCentral channel on youtube?
https://www.youtube.com/user/ClimateCentral
Anthony
Does your copyright need to be updated?
Material on this website is copyright © 2006-2015, by Anthony Watts, and may not be stored or archived separately, rebroadcast, or republished without written permission.
Material on this website is copyright © 2006-2015, by Anthony Watts, and may not be stored or archived separately, rebroadcast, or republished without written permission.
Certainly the common understanding of the scientific ‘method’ needs repair and one could devote a lifetime to addressing its importance. BUT there’s really only one, central, subject crying out for clarification: Christiana Figueres executive secretary of the U.N.’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has admitted that the goal of environmental activists is not to save the world from ecological calamity but to destroy capitalism. (http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/021015-738779-climate-change-scare-tool-to-destroy-capitalism.htm)
from this point
Joe Brown on July 31, 2016 at 12:24 pm
evrything goes down the ‘follow the money drain’.
decide money / scientific truth.
I would sign up for a podcast version, but you might think of starting with a segment on a show such as the John Batchelor show. His format is to cycle between different topics with experts in a field (you for climate) doing interviews with others about specific topics. For example, he has Robert Zimmerman (who has the “Behind the Black web site) on weekly to talk about space exploration.
Good luck whichever way you choose
Planning is essential for such a venture. It is akin to starting a business. You need to start with a formal plan that identifies what your vision is, key objectives, what goals and sub-goals you have, product identification, who are the target audiences, marketing methods, key performance indicators, personnel involved, SWOT analysis, financial section etc etc etc. Remember those who fail to plan, plan to fail.
The challenge is to tighten down on what is going to be the “party position” and how to stick to it. There are so many shades of opinion on such a large number of issues even on the anti change side that getting this accomplished will present difficulties and have us arguing with each other if we are not careful.
Owen, corrupt Arschkriecher.
MY address –
forget about earphone heads, forget about microphones. Do what Harald Lesch did.
Do great what Anthony Watts ever has done.
Convince.