WDIV Local 4, the Graham Media Group-owned NBC station in Detroit, is seeking an engaging, dynamic, and knowledgeable Meteorologist with a passion for weather forecasting, a strong connection to the community, and the ability to make weather matter wherever our audience is watching.
We’re looking for a modern weather storyteller who can do far more than deliver a forecast on television. This is a multiplatform role for a meteorologist who can own the forecast on-air, then take that expertise directly to the audience through compelling, relatable video and content across social, digital, streaming and mobile platforms. The right person understands how people consume weather today and knows how to turn complex science, breaking weather and everyday forecasts into content people want to watch, share and talk about. You should be as comfortable creating an authentic, informative weather video for social as you are leading severe weather coverage on television. This is not simply a TV job — it is an opportunity to build a direct relationship with the audience, earn their trust and become their go-to source for weather wherever they consume news.
Position overview
The Meteorologist will be an essential member of our weather team, responsible for providing accurate, compelling, and understandable weather forecasts across multiple platforms, including TV, digital, streaming, mobile, and social media. This position involves detailed weather analysis, live reporting, digital content creation, audience engagement and active community involvement.
The successful candidate will understand that weather content does not begin and end with a newscast. They will actively create and publish useful, engaging and personality-driven weather content throughout the day, using the strengths of each platform to reach and serve our audience.
Responsibilities
- Deliver accurate and compelling weather forecasts, paying special attention to severe and inconvenient weather that impacts our consumers’ lives.
- Create frequent, compelling and relatable weather content for social and digital platforms, including short-form video designed specifically for the way audiences consume content on those platforms.
- Use social and digital platforms effectively to build an ongoing relationship with the audience, not simply to promote television appearances or newscasts.
- Produce creative and engaging weather reports using state-of-the-art graphics and pre-production elements, adding value across all platforms.
- Use process language to explain the “why” behind your forecasts, stories and the relevance to the audience.
- Demonstrate trustworthiness, authenticity and empathy both on-air and within the community.
- Develop a distinctive voice and presence across digital and social platforms while maintaining the credibility and accuracy expected of a Local 4 meteorologist.
- Actively contribute content to station platforms online and on social media, establishing a strong feedback and engagement loop with the audience.
- Identify opportunities to turn weather information, trends, science and community impact into original digital and social stories.
- Provide urgent, immediate weather information from the studio and in the field across television, digital, streaming and social platforms.
- Be an active participant in severe weather coverage across all platforms, helping audiences understand not only what is happening, but what they need to know and do.
- Understand that significant weather events are an all-hands-on-deck moment for the newsroom. During major storms, severe weather, winter weather or other high-impact events, the meteorologist is expected to be fully engaged across platforms and throughout the coverage — providing frequent updates, creating social and digital content, reporting from the field when appropriate, and working collaboratively with the entire newsroom to serve the audience wherever they are.
- Work collaboratively with reporters, producers, digital journalists, photographers and other members of the newsroom to maximize the impact of weather coverage.
- Develop and maintain close ties to the Metro Detroit community by engaging with local individuals, venues, organizations and participating in community events.
- Other duties as assigned.
Key qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in meteorology.
- Prior years of on-air experience, including significant severe weather coverage experience.
- Proven track record of accuracy in weather forecasting.
- Strong on-air presence with an engaging personality and conversational weather presentation.
- Demonstrated ability to create compelling, authentic and relatable video content for social and digital platforms.
- Strong understanding of how audiences use social media, digital video and mobile platforms, and the ability to tailor content for each.
- Comfortable using smartphones and other tools to independently create, edit and publish digital and social content.
- Ability to build an audience and meaningful engagement through social and digital platforms.
- Ability to translate complex meteorological information into clear, useful and compelling storytelling.
- Strong knowledge of modern weather technology, graphics systems and digital tools, with the ability to learn and adapt to new technology quickly.
- Ability and willingness to take an all-hands-on-deck approach during major weather events, including extended and changing coverage needs across television, digital, social, streaming and mobile platforms.
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and willingness to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends and holidays.
- Knowledge of newsroom computer systems, smartphone technology and social media platforms.
- Excellent leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to represent WDIV and Local 4 positively in the community.
Preferred qualifications
- Master’s degree in meteorology.
- CBM seal.
- Demonstrated success building an audience or strong engagement through social and digital content.
- Experience creating short-form video specifically for social platforms.
Location:
WDIV
550 W Lafayette Blvd
Detroit, MI 48226
Contact Details: Please submit your updated resume and application to: Jennifer Wallace, Jenniferw@wdiv.com.
Click HERE to download and complete employment application.
Additional information
Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening, investigative background check, employment/education verifications and reference checks.
No Phone Calls Please
WDIV is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In addition to complying with the requirements of federal law, WDIV will comply with applicable state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.