mikemcguff: Tell us about yourself.
Wes Hohenstein: I grew up in a suburb or St. Louis, MO. Like every other kid out there I watch a lot of TV....but not just cartoons; game shows, soaps, talk shows and NEWS. I always watched the news with my parents. I went to school at Saint Louis University and after a shot at Pre-Med/Chemistry...I realized TV is what I wanted to do and since I had taken so much science in my day, TV Weather seemed like the perfect option!! I did a 2 year internship at the NBC affiliate in St. Louis, KSDK. That's where I learned how to do weather in front of a camera. You learn the science in school, but you learn how do execute that skill in an internship....very important. I was very lucky to get my first job right after graduation. I worked 3 years in Lafayette, LA, most of it on the morning and noon show. Lots of weather hits in a 3 hour morning show!! My second job was on mornings in Salt Lake City, UT and after two years there I took a job at KPRC in Houston. And starting Sunday, September 17th, I will be the chief meteorologist at WNCN, the NBC affiliate in Raleigh, NC. mikemcguff: Why do you like the weather?
Wes Hohenstein: I like the weather because it matters to everyone! It doesn't have fans like in sports and if you don't like the team you change the channel. Weather is also not like news...if you don't like a story, you tune it out. Weather affects everyone, no matter who your favorite team is, no matter what your political preference. Weather is also always different; it's a new
forecast every day. When that forecast is for bad weather, I like to help people through it. When the forecast is for good weather, I like to be the one to spread the good news!
mikemcguff: The weather department gets an undeserved bad reputation at some stations for being an easy gig. But isn't more than throwing some maps together and talking in front of a green screen?
Wes Hohenstein: Well, those people living in Houston, Raleigh or any city where severe weather hits knows that the life of a weatherperson can be very busy. I think the days of the entertaining weather man who comes in 5 minutes before he has to be on air are over. I put a lot of time in not only getting the forecast numbers together and the graphics…but also the message of the day to the viewers and the newsroom. The weather team also spends a lot of time in the community teaching weather safety. So, our 2 minutes of time “talking
in front of a green screen” is very well thought out each and every day.
mikemcguff: Tell us about one of your forecasts that you are most proud
of. I imagine there is a sense of satisfaction in predicting it right.
mikemcguff: For folks who would like to be weathercasters, clear this debate up. Do you need to be a meteorologist to get a job?
Wes Hohenstein: The short answer is no. People who are good communicators, comfortable in front of the camera and have a general idea on how to present a weathercast can be successful in this business. For my money though….I want someone with the experience and weather knowledge that you can get with a degree and that you can get with years of experience in the broadcast business. There is also to be something said for have years of experience with one area’s weather. So, there is no one equation to be successful at TV weather.
mikemcguff: What should an aspiring weathercaster study in school?
Wes Hohenstein: In school you should of course study Meteorology….but it doesn’t hurt to know about the business of TV or journalism, broadcasting and communication. Math and Physics don’t hurt either. In TV, it’s good to know a little about a lot….you never know when you’re going to need it.
mikemcguff: Do you believe reporting skills and remote experience are important in your field?
Wes Hohenstein: Yes, reporting skills and live experience are very important….while most of your work will be done in the studio, what a great tool to have at your disposal to be able to say that you can pick up some reporting or that you can do that live shot. The more you have to offer and the more experiences you have, the more marketable you are and the easier it will be to write you ticket to whatever you want.
mikemcguff: What is the difference between the different seals like AMS and NWA?
Wes Hohenstein: At the end of the day….they are very similar. There are different criteria need to get both, but they are just professional validation that you know what you are doing when you get in front of the camera to talk about weather.
mikemcguff: How the heck do you learn to deliver the weather with a green screen and mirror-like monitors? That must take some getting used to.
Wes Hohenstein: Like anything in life….practice makes perfect. If you could see footage of me the first time I ever got in front of a green screen…..you would laugh and then probably never watch me again. Everyone starts off awkward looking and most people get better. It did take some getting used to, but now after 10 years, it’s second nature….now what’s really heard is when your monitors in the studio go out and you are looking at a blank screen and have no idea what you are pointing at….that’s where you earn your money…..or a place on the
end of the year blooper tape!!
Thanks Wes!
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