Snap. WPLG just announced they hired former head of the National Hurricane Center Max Mayfield as the station’s hurricane specialist. However, he won’t be at the chroma wall forecasting the hurricane, instead he’ll do much the same he did while at the Hurricane Center – answer questions from the meteorologist and explain the weather data.
Mayfield says he chose WPLG because he believes in their no-hype approach to hurricane coverage!
He officially begins work at WPLG on April 1st.
Mayfield is recognized as one of the world’s most knowledgeable scientists with an expertise in forecasting the path and intensity of tropical storms.
From the Herald:
In a note to employees, Pohovey put it more bluntly: “Just imagine the coverage the next time a storm is heading this way. . . . I’d hate to be sitting in a competing newsroom in this market!”
Channel 10 and 4 will be duking it out this summer on who’s got more hurricane coverage power. Let the bragging begin.
Local10.com – Hurricane Coverage Gets ‘Maxxed’ At WPLG
Miami Herald – Max Mayfield to join WPLG-ABC 10
Sun Sentinel – May Mayfield ends retirement, joins Channel 10 as hurricane expert
Max Mayfield to join WPLG-ABC 10
BY MARTIN MERZER
mmerzer@MiamiHerald.com
Max Mayfield was just a government weather forecaster, but he — somewhat reluctantly — posed for pictures, signed autographs, shook countless hands.
His frequent media appearances during hurricane crises made him something of a television star. Now, it’s official.
Mayfield, who retired as director of the National Hurricane Center in January, signed a three-year contract Thursday with WPLG-ABC 10. He will serve as its full-time hurricane specialist.
What he will do: interpret tropical weather forecasts and help viewers prepare.
What he won’t do: issue his own forecasts or wave his arms this way and that in front of those fancy TV graphics.
”I will not expend any effort ever on the forecast,” Mayfield, 58, said. “I don’t think anyone can beat the quality of the forecasts of the hurricane center.
”I’ll just try to make it understandable . . . ,” he said. “I will most likely be doing what I’ve done in the past, sitting at a monitor and interacting with the anchors and the weather people there at WPLG and keeping that close connection with local emergency managers.”
Competition for Mayfield’s services has been keen since he retired after a 34-year career. He said he rejected flattering offers from the Weather Channel and several television networks.
Joining a South Florida operation will allow him to spend more time at his Kendall home with his wife and, when they’re not at school, their three children. He begins there April 1.
”I just had to decide on something, and I just felt like it was a good fit with the local station,” he said. “South Florida, as far as the number of people, is one of the most vulnerable areas anywhere, and I hope I will be able to contribute.”
The contract gives WPLG exclusive media rights to Mayfield’s expertise, though he still plans to speak at conferences and accept other duties related to hurricane preparedness.
Bill Pohovey, WPLG’s vice president of news, said Mayfield will work closely with the station’s chief meteorologist, Don Noe, and the rest of the staff. He called the signing of Mayfield “a coup.”
”He brings such credibility to the weather,” Pohovey said. “He’s the guy that this community and this country has gotten to know and trust.”
In a note to employees, Pohovey put it more bluntly:
“Just imagine the coverage the next time a storm is heading this way. . . . I’d hate to be sitting in a competing newsroom in this market!”
Wow… Didn’t see THAT coming.
to me it makes sense b/c 4 has bryan norcross – 6 has jim lushine and 7 is way too much hype – so 10 was the only reasobable one left.
Congratulations Max.
It’s nice that you stayed in South Florida.
Regardless of what station you decided on, its
a blessing for us all to have you here.
Awesome!!!
Wow! I didn’t see that coming either! …but I’ve gotta say, I’ll be watching 10 come this hurricane season, lol.
Smart. No one is more credible than this guy. You know he’ll just give you the facts.
Hopefully, they will treat him respectfully and he will not have to banter back and forth with recent college grads on live shots screaming in rain coats and pointing out palm fronds.
Seem to remember Norcross talking to some reporter at a night time live remote in the Keys a few seasons ago. The reporter pointed to water lapping up against the sea wall (as it always does) and then the camera panned up to a nearly full moon. The reporter said something to the effect that there was a high tide and a full moon, but wasn’t sure if the moon was had anything to do with it.
I hope they don’t put Max in those situations.
Great decision on his part, I’m sure gonna be watching 10 this hurricane season as well!
I now will be watching 7 and 10 and not 4
Max is boring. Good but boring.
This is awesome for Local 10. Max will gain lots of viewers in any storm. He is going to have unique insight the viewers may not be used too. Great move.
Let’s hope Max has no storms to talk about.
This is awesome! Talk about a powerhouse of a team with Don Noe, now Max. WOW! I definately will be watching 10 this hurricane season too.
Max Mayfield is a coup for 10! Brilliant move by management. Max will still be part of the hurricane mix. I’m sure ABC News and post newsweek will borrow him from time to time. Way to boost station cred!
News Nut,
I don’t think it’s a matter of other P-N stations “borrowing” Max. I suspect his contract is with P-N, not just WPLG. Remember, P-N has lots of stations in hurricane territory — WPLG, WKMG, WJXT, KPRC. Since Max lives down here, it’s easy for Channel 10 to imply he’s theirs and theirs alone. But by doing the deal with the whole group, I’m sure it’s much easier to justify financially, and it makes perfect sense. I suspect he’ll turn up on other P-N stations about as much as you see him on ‘PLG.
Hey no big woop, but didn’t plg have Dr. Bob Sheets as an expert a few years ago? He was probably more popular than Max today. Why didn’t it work out? Why was he let go? Does anyone have any input?