Parent company announced plan to ‘hub’ local forecasts through The Weather Channel. WLFI's Chad Evans confirms he’ll lose his job in the change. Last day still up in the air.
Weather coverage — especially during severe weather — is part meteorology and part local relationships. This is a tremendous disservice to our community.
Agreed. I can't imagine someone in Atlanta will be hoping on the air when we get a local severe storm blowing through and isolating cells down to the smallest local towns. His blog has been my go-to for every serious weather forecast event. Chad seems like a good guy who cares for this community and it's awful both for him and for the local area that he's being laid off.
To Allen Media Group: Why exactly should anyone patronize your business when you continue to force your best people out the door?! Evans and our community deserve better.
I'm sorry that Allen Media is joining the "kill local news" initiative that is fast covering our country. I had expected more from Byron Allen. Loss of local news, especially weather, leaves holes in media that will be filled by someone/something far, far away, with no local input. The loss of Chad is particularly sad. Who will report the pictures and local impact on the many small areas in our viewing area? Local News in America is falling apart. Quickly. And then probably all at once.
Thank you, Chad, it was great while it lasted these many years. We adored and will miss your personality, wit, weather wonkiness, trees-of-the-week, pics from locals, your blog, and all the great weather info. No "state-of-the-art cutting-edge" bs from Atlanta can replace it! Dave, I'd pay extra for Chad Evans weather supplements to BIL...
What a slap in the face to Chad and to the WLFI viewing audience!!
The "bosses" couldn't care less that weather reporting is more than offering temperatures and measurements of snowfall and rainfall.
It includes connecting to the community. Upon his return, Chad rekindled his affection for the WLFI viewing community. He is the consummate weather science and broadcasting professional.
When I arrived in West Lafayette in 2015, WLFI had a host of seasoned broadcasting professionals, who cared about the community and knew how to meaningfully deliver useful news "product." The variety of "news," "features," "sports'," and "weather," reporters were consummate pros. Obviously, $$$$ won out and the elders retires and the others moved on.
Watching WLFI and the other station is like watching college "wanna-bes". I get no sense of connection to the community, other than set-shots of them setting up cameras. WTF????
For whatever reason, the loss of Chad to the viewing public made me recall a wonderful "song" name by the great jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, who along with his musical partner, keyboardist Lyle Mays recorded a a great album along with percussionist Naná Vasconcelos in 1980:
"As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls."
The title makes reference to Wichita, Kansas, and Wichita Falls, Texas.
My old brain connects to the loss of steadfast local journalism across the nation and here in metro-Lafayette.
First it was the J&C management and editorial board being swallowed-up by USAToday that destroyed local journalism. (or whoever -- Dave will correct me).
But, we have Bangert now to keep us abreast days of important goings-on, way ahead of the-check-all-the-boxes "newspaper" and "electronic media" journalism.
Back to my connection to the Metheny album title to our connection to our community:
"As Falls Local Journalism, so Falls the Vital Connections Needed as a Community."
My Depression Era/World War Two era parents and extended family wanted nothing more after 1945 than for their offspring to have lives so much better their 15-years from 1930 to 1945.
They pushed, prodded and sacrificed that their progeny had much better lives...and perhaps we a bit envious.
Having just turned 74, and living through some momentous events in out country's history, I do not envy the future lives of my children and grandchildren at all, considering the changes that to the "American Life" (as Norman Rockwell-ish as it was), cannot be fully projected.
WBAA sent off to Indy and now local weather is going to be covered by some dude from Atlanta? Why not just give us an AI weather person. This is a horrible decision. Chad is a fixture of this community and an overall wonderful guy.
I am so very sorry for us, and for Chad. He is awesome, and now what happens for storm coverage? Coverage from someone who is out of state? I wish Chad the very best.
We all have to remember that consumers have been going to the internet for all things news for a long time now. OUR departure from newspapers has caused the demise of newspapers. OUR move to streaming services have made everything at broadcast stations harder.
Weather coverage — especially during severe weather — is part meteorology and part local relationships. This is a tremendous disservice to our community.
Agreed. I can't imagine someone in Atlanta will be hoping on the air when we get a local severe storm blowing through and isolating cells down to the smallest local towns. His blog has been my go-to for every serious weather forecast event. Chad seems like a good guy who cares for this community and it's awful both for him and for the local area that he's being laid off.
I wonder if Chad could get a Substack following and make it even somewhat financially viable...
Can we get a Chad weather section for Based in Lafayette?
To Allen Media Group: Why exactly should anyone patronize your business when you continue to force your best people out the door?! Evans and our community deserve better.
Great, can’t wait to hear from Atlanta about the “local” weather. 🤨
5 bucks says they mispronounce at least 3 area towns. 🤑
Well, the j&c sold out. Now WLFI has bailed on us. Thank you based in Lafayette for hanging in there. Who’s your weather person?
I'm sorry that Allen Media is joining the "kill local news" initiative that is fast covering our country. I had expected more from Byron Allen. Loss of local news, especially weather, leaves holes in media that will be filled by someone/something far, far away, with no local input. The loss of Chad is particularly sad. Who will report the pictures and local impact on the many small areas in our viewing area? Local News in America is falling apart. Quickly. And then probably all at once.
Thank you, Chad, it was great while it lasted these many years. We adored and will miss your personality, wit, weather wonkiness, trees-of-the-week, pics from locals, your blog, and all the great weather info. No "state-of-the-art cutting-edge" bs from Atlanta can replace it! Dave, I'd pay extra for Chad Evans weather supplements to BIL...
Hope there is some way to send the comments here to Allen Media & the Weather Channel.
No amount of great technology can replace what someone like Chad brings to the reporting.
Obviously no one making these decisions cares about any of the communities involved - only their own profit.
The Weather Channel itself is not nearly as good as it has been in the past.
Allen Media Broadcasting
300 Interstate N. Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30339
What a slap in the face to Chad and to the WLFI viewing audience!!
The "bosses" couldn't care less that weather reporting is more than offering temperatures and measurements of snowfall and rainfall.
It includes connecting to the community. Upon his return, Chad rekindled his affection for the WLFI viewing community. He is the consummate weather science and broadcasting professional.
When I arrived in West Lafayette in 2015, WLFI had a host of seasoned broadcasting professionals, who cared about the community and knew how to meaningfully deliver useful news "product." The variety of "news," "features," "sports'," and "weather," reporters were consummate pros. Obviously, $$$$ won out and the elders retires and the others moved on.
Watching WLFI and the other station is like watching college "wanna-bes". I get no sense of connection to the community, other than set-shots of them setting up cameras. WTF????
For whatever reason, the loss of Chad to the viewing public made me recall a wonderful "song" name by the great jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, who along with his musical partner, keyboardist Lyle Mays recorded a a great album along with percussionist Naná Vasconcelos in 1980:
"As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls."
The title makes reference to Wichita, Kansas, and Wichita Falls, Texas.
My old brain connects to the loss of steadfast local journalism across the nation and here in metro-Lafayette.
First it was the J&C management and editorial board being swallowed-up by USAToday that destroyed local journalism. (or whoever -- Dave will correct me).
"You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." Joni Mitchell, "Big Yellow Taxi"
But, we have Bangert now to keep us abreast days of important goings-on, way ahead of the-check-all-the-boxes "newspaper" and "electronic media" journalism.
Back to my connection to the Metheny album title to our connection to our community:
"As Falls Local Journalism, so Falls the Vital Connections Needed as a Community."
My Depression Era/World War Two era parents and extended family wanted nothing more after 1945 than for their offspring to have lives so much better their 15-years from 1930 to 1945.
They pushed, prodded and sacrificed that their progeny had much better lives...and perhaps we a bit envious.
Having just turned 74, and living through some momentous events in out country's history, I do not envy the future lives of my children and grandchildren at all, considering the changes that to the "American Life" (as Norman Rockwell-ish as it was), cannot be fully projected.
I leave you with this from Dylan:
"If your time to you is worth savin'
So you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'
Ugh! Terrible news.
Truly a poor decision by Allen Media. Chad Evan’s is part of the community.
WBAA sent off to Indy and now local weather is going to be covered by some dude from Atlanta? Why not just give us an AI weather person. This is a horrible decision. Chad is a fixture of this community and an overall wonderful guy.
I'm guessing that's next.
I am so very sorry for us, and for Chad. He is awesome, and now what happens for storm coverage? Coverage from someone who is out of state? I wish Chad the very best.
A great loss for the greater Lafayette area.
We all have to remember that consumers have been going to the internet for all things news for a long time now. OUR departure from newspapers has caused the demise of newspapers. OUR move to streaming services have made everything at broadcast stations harder.
If we broke it we need to at least TRY to fix it.