CALL FOR PAPERS
47th Conference on Broadcast Meteorology, June 12-14, 2019, San Diego, CA
The 47th Conference on Broadcast Meteorology, sponsored by the American
Meteorological Society, returned to the West Coast! The conference was held at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley June 12-14, 2019, with a Short Course on June 11, 2019. This location served as both the conference meeting destination and the designated hotel accommodation, conveniently located about eight miles North of Downtown San Diego in Mission Valley. It’s about the same distance to several beaches, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Coronado Island, the Gaslight District, just to name a few. The closest airport is San Diego International (SAN) located about 8 miles South East of the Marriott.
As with every year, we encouraged presentations that focus on recent weather events and weather phenomenon that were unique to our host region. As Broadcasters, we encourage broadcaster presentations, showcasing how science is communicated across the country. Student presentations were also welcome! Below are some suggested areas we delved into during this year’s conference.
Tension remains between how weather events are communicated on a local broadcast scale versus the national weather headlines. How can local weather stories be better told (accurately and without undue sensationalism) at the network level? How can national news outlets better tap into the local knowledge of market broadcast meteorologists? What are wise ways to accurately inform reporters (both local and national) about the context of weather events? How can local competing stations prevent “first on, last off” viewership battles and cover local weather events in a balanced and appropriate manner to best serve the communities who depend on us?
As the way science is communicated continues to evolve with technology and social media platforms, we particularly encouraged presentations related to social media. How do we regulate, filter and validate the dissemination of weather information across social media platforms? Can social media help lower warning false alarm rates by providing more spotter reports in real-time? With the whiplash-changing landscape of social media, how do broadcast meteorologists keep up with platforms, select the most beneficial ones, utilize them effectively and track analytics? Case-studies and examples of successful social media weather stories are encouraged.
National conversations about racism, ageism and sexism continue. Discrimination is also within broadcast television. How do we in broadcast appropriately identify cases of discrimination, and also encourage diverse and inclusive workplaces? How are employers meeting the legal needs and rights of new parents, both nursing mothers and new fathers? How can television stations better value meteorology experience, knowledge and wisdom? What are great examples of broadcast companies and local affiliates providing for and encouraging a healthful work balance in a 24/7 field? We welcome broadcaster’s stories and human resource presentations regarding these important national topics.
We also encouraged presentations on companion fields of science, including connections with social science, climate science, oceanography, agriculture, astronomy and space weather.
An abstract fee of $95 (payable by credit card or purchase order) was charged at the time of submission (refundable only if abstract was not accepted). The $95 abstract fee included the submission of your abstract, the posting of your extended abstract, and the uploading and recording of your presentation that is archived on the AMS website. Authors of accepted presentations were notified via e-mail mid-March 2019. All abstracts and conference presentations are available on the AMS website.
The early registration deadline for the conference was May 1, 2019. Conference attendees received a special AMS group rate at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley for the dates June 10-14, 2019. Our meeting took place in this hotel, just downstairs from the lobby.
Weather and media vendors were encouraged to participate in the conference by purchasing AMS exhibit booth space to showcase their latest products and advancements. Exhibitors also participated in the conference by presenting during the conference sessions.
If you had suggestions for or questions about the conference content please contact the 47th Conference on Broadcast Meteorology Chair AJ Fox ([email protected])
For exhibitor questions, please contact Jennifer Rosen, Exhibits Manager ([email protected]). For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Stephanie Armstrong, Director of Development (617-227-2426 ext. 3906) ([email protected]). For all other questions, please contact Ricky Sidla ([email protected]).
Follow us on Twitter @AMSBroadcastCon for updates!