UA Student Organizations to Host Meteorologist Documentary Screening, Panel

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – On Monday, Oct. 24, The University of Alabama chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association, along with the Capstone Association of Black Journalists,  will host “Meteorologists in the Storm.”

The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. in room 180 at Reese Phifer Hall.

The program will feature Dr. Chandra Clark, of the department of telecommunication and film, who will show parts of her documentary, “The Signal that Saves.”

The documentary showcases meteorologists from Tuscaloosa and Joplin, Mo. who covered the deadly storms in April and May. A panel of meteorologists and one local television news director will comment on Clark’s project.

“I hope people realize that broadcasters have a clear, defined role during severe weather and anytime that there’s a situation that could impact people’s lives,” Clark said. “They serve the community, and during times of disaster they do it very well.”

Clark, who joined the TCF faculty this semester after teaching at the University of Montevallo, will be joined on the program by meteorologists Wes Wyatt, WBRC-TV FOX 6 and Richard Scott, WVUA-TV.  Bill Payer, news director for WIAT-TV CBS 42, will also be in attendance.

Recognized earlier this month as “Chapter of the Year” for the Southeastern Region, the UA Chapter of Society of Professional of Journalists is an affiliate of the nation’s largest, most broad-based organization for journalists.

The Radio-TV Digital News Association is the nation’s largest group of electronic journalists. And, the Capstone Association of Black Journalists is an affiliate of the National Association of Black Journalists, the largest group of journalists of color in the nation.

For more information about this event, contact Matthew Conde,  promotions director for The Society of Professional Journalists, at mmconde@crimson.ua.edu or 205/937-2798.