It’s got to be the first time a local meterologist ever delivered a forecast live on TV, complete with graphics, while riding a bike.
Matt Laubhan, chief meteorologist at WTVA Tupelo, Miss., knew he was seeing a killer tornado. “At that moment, viewers needed somebody to hold their hand and get them through it,” he says.
How A Local News Station Prevented Panic
Recent coverage by WTVA Tupelo, Miss., of a man threatening to crash a plane into a local Walmart demonstrated once again why solid news coverage by local stations that display professionalism and calm is so crucial. The decision to not speculate or sensationalize, but stick to the facts, demonstrated why people still trust local television more than any other media.
WTVA Started By One Man In His Garage
WTVA Promotes Steve Rogers To News Dir.
Heartland Media promotes one of its reporters to oversee news efforts at its NBC affiliate in North Mississippi.
Meredith’s CBS affil KMOV St. Louis is searching for a director of technology and operations. Heatland Media’s WTVA (NBC-ABC) in Tupelo, Miss., has an opening for a director of engineering. Raycom Media’s CW affiliate, WUPV in Richmond, Va., is in need of a director of new business development.To see all job openings on TVNewsCheck, click here.
Exclusives
WTVA Sale to Heartland Media Finalized
Former Gray CEO Bob Prather’s Heartland Media has added its fifth station with this purchase from the Spain family’s WTVA Inc.
WTVA Tupelo Evacuated On Live TV
The Tupelo, Miss., NBC affiliate was evacuated as an apparent tornado bore down on the city Monday afternoon and the tense seconds leading up to the evacuation were broadcast out to the station’s viewers. WTVA Chief Meteorologist Matt Laubhan was in the studio as major storms approached Tupelo. During his broadcast, Laubhan switched to the station’s tower camera, which showed an ominous cloud approaching the city. He immediately ordered the station’s staff to head to the basement before following behind them.
Rentrak Adds 2 Stations in Columbus-Tupelo
The Mississippi NBC and Fox affiliates bring the number of stations using to Rentrak’s Census-Based Local TV Measurement Currency to 182 in 41 markets.
