Mike Morgan Responds
So this discussion started with Jim Cowan, director of the Bricktown Association, complaining about what he felt was hype by tv weather forecasters and how it was costing downtown merchants business.
I then brought up how Mike Morgan was singled out for criticism at www.okctalk.com and what I heard from his forecasts. Was it fair for OKC Talk to focus on Morgan? I’d be curious to hear your comments. I have no agenda, other than to air people’s views, provide more of the behind-the-scenes details to stories, and go more in-depth on issues relating to downtown and the city.
There has not been a convergence relationship between The Oklahoman and KWTV for the past year and from what I’ve seen we’re truly competitors again.
Now for Mike Morgan’s response, unedited:
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Comments
I’m actually fine with MM not getting the particulars perfect regarding this pint-sized headwind (which is probably more substantial than the actual impact in OKC of the weather event in discussion). He’s probably paying attention to other things like, oh, I don’t know…the weather?
Cowan should’ve picked up on the real issue: why can’t OKC deal with wintertime precipitation? The garbage that shuts this city down is a mere nuisance in other cities. How about we preserve our tax base by learning to deal with ice/snow? Then, it doesn’t matter if the forecast is right or wrong…we’re ready.
I’ve got to stand by Mike on this one.
He has been very careful all week leading up to this deal, backing off estimates that were even BIGGER by the National Weather Service, who was calling for even MORE SNOW than anyone.
I was actually taken back by how much Mike couldn’t be sucked in to pushing the panic button by me during our afternoon chats.
These guys are predicting what is almost unpredictable, so perhaps we the public need to remember that. When they’re right, they save lives, when they’re wrong, they might ruin a day. Not a bad trade out.
Mike, why are you so defensive? Models change, forecasts change. No need to sling mud at others when you get a little criticism. You show your a$$ when you react like this.
Mike Morgan was okay to defend himself, but he went a little too personal on Steve. Mike should probably tone it down a notch personally and in his weather forecasts.
Steve, dude, I am in tears here. This is hilarious. Perhaps 4 or 5 or whatever station Morgan is with should hire someone to edit his e-mails for grammar and general clarity.
I can see both sides on this one. Mike Morgan has every right to stand up for himself if he thinks he has been disparaged and wronged. However, admitting you were wrong in your forecast before leaping into the deep end would be preferable and it would say more about your ability to deal with these situations. Saying you changed your mind “at granted a later period in the OKC Forecast time line,” then launching into disparaging attacks on other weather forecasters in OKC is practicing the exact same things he is apparently incensed against. The only missing piece is a challenge to a duel to salvage his honor.
Forecasting is an inherently difficult job, but it is supposed to be a science and he should not be so angry when people take issue with forecasts of multiple inches of snow which turn out to be incorrect but too late to change the myriad closings that took place (but challenging his character was perhaps a bit of a low blow). Changing your mind at 5:45 on Friday and just saying there will be less snow than originally thought is not a great mind jump. Additionally, being able to accurately state the current status of the roadways is not extremely difficult. Saying you could do that when others cannot is not a large feat.
Our local forecasters usually do a great job, but, sorry to say, they at least missed this one for the OKC area. Winter weather forcasting has always been an issue. They are usually great when it comes to spring storms and tornadoes, but snow storms are almost always hit or miss. Defend your character fine, but just say you made a mistake with earlier forecasts, and move on…mistakes are made by all of us, and are just a little more high profile for them.
Speaking from experience I know that it’s difficult to perform a job that is executed in the public eye. I imagine it’s even more difficult when your job tangibly impacts the decisions and movements that people make.
It’s sad that we live in a world where people revert back to being a toddler when they feel justified in doing so. Adults don’t just rattle off, “Mike Morgan makes me sick..”, and wait as everyone else bandwagons and drags a guys name through the mud. You have to consider his feelings and the emotions of his family. If you don’t care or feel the need to do that then you should question what attributes you possess that give you the right to be so judgmental. It’s concerning that so many people get off on the embarrassment and pain of another. That’s just pretty weak.
If you don’t believe that the man is honestly doing his best then say so, but before you do that make sure that you know the entire story. Make sure you know what resources he was using and whether or not they are perfect in their output.
No doubt Mike has a passion for the weather. I don’t see the need for him to muzzle that part of himself. Everyone else is allowed to be passionate about their work, so why not him.
Jim Cowan and everyone else who is so freely throwing stones needs to write down a list of all of their flaws and shortcomings. Then we’ll start threads and publicize them on OKCtalk. Then Steve can keep us up to date of the bull feces that everyone is tacking on by replicating the posts in his blog.
No matter what anyone said or wished the sky was going to behave precisely as it did. No human controls the weather. Some of us are running the mets down because we think that they act as if they do, while some of the same people are complaining because it didn’t snow…as if they DO control the weather. Make up your mind…wait…computer models make up YOUR mind…wait…low pressure, Gulf of Mexico, water vapor, earth make up your mind…wait…God make up your mind…eff it!! They all messed up my weekend.
I’m with Mike Morgan on this one. Steve Lackmeyer is probably slanted towards Channel 9 because of his affilliation with newsok.com – and still that’s ok, he’s entitled to do this. However, Lackmeyer could have very easily posted information and quotes regarding every other weather forecasters in OKC the past few days. Don’t blame one particular messenger. No one should schedule their life around the 100% accuracy of weather forecasting anyway.
Yes, there is more to life than weather forecasts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmxT21uFRwM&feature=player_embedded
I prefer Gary England because he just tells you how it is and doesn’t sensationalize every detail of the weather. When I watch Mike Morgan he’s professional, but it’s like every storm is the storm of the century. If I believed everything I heard from him I’d probably never leave the house in fear of what momentous weather event might kill me or my family.
I can appreciate Mike Morgan’s passion. I wouldn’t want to be an Oklahoma weather forecaster. However, this e-mail is an attack on the messenger, not the original author. Also, I thought everyone knew that OPUBCO and News 9 broke up? Oh, and show some balls…really?
1) Steve is only reposting comments, not making them. Thanks for the format Steve.
2) Weather news is designed to cover the broadest area. It is common to everyone and “BROADCAST” tv is exactly that, generated for the “BROADEST” audience. It is a very long section of the half hour news and in fact, has it’s own channels, iPhone applications, radio reports, txt, etc etc etc
3) Is there an economic impact? sure, but err on the side of caution. I cancelled meetings in Dallas not wanting to put people at risk based on the reports. I lost productivity, but no one was injured and I had an unplanned day to sit around and lazily watch the weather.
4) Got to love a guy who uses the word “balls” in a document he must have known would get published!
Thanks for the fun Mike and the snow day! 
I’m a little surprised by the unprofessionalism of this e-mail from Mike. This whole experience has taught me that weather anchors should not have as much power over people as we give them.
So Mike states that people say things behind they keyboard that they would never say in person and that he ALSO ‘does it face to face with his viewers’. Okay, hold up a second. I know you’re defending yourself, but the best thing you could do “face to face” with your viewers–who, by the way, can not talk back to you through the TV, so it’s kinda like a keyboard–is apologize for your gigantic misinterpretation of a snow storm that was SUPPOSE to affect the Oklahoma City metro area.
When I started my thread the other day on okctalk.com, I only pointed out Mike Morgan because of the simple fact that Channel 4 is the primary news channel I watch. I remember being a little kid and they used to have these 4×6 cards that the news staff would hand out on a tour of the station. That was back in the day when the Channel Four logo was that brown and yellow curvy Four. My parents watched News Channel Four and therefore I carry on the tradition. Even when my friend worked for Fox or for Five or for Nine, I could not bring myself to watch those stations just because he worked there. And that is why I only had my thread on Mike Morgan. Yes, Mike, you are a passionate man when it comes to your job & I appreciate your tornado coverage because you are one of the best. I do not want to judge your character. I really don’t know how you are suppose to forecast snow & I also know you weren’t the only one but intellicast.com, was just reporting a future cast of snow showers in the OKC area. That is it. They usually have it right. They, and I’m sure you hate to hear this, are not going for ratings here!
My overall point is when you forecast this stuff, you treat it like it is the end of the world. I’m just glad on Saturday morning your channel didn’t say the roads were bad like someone said a weatherman from Nine said that the roads were ‘treacherous’. I’ll be watching News Channel Four at 10:15pm Monday night. I don’t expect an apology from you to the people because you did what you do, you forecasted. But, maybe, hearing you own up to the fact that your forecast was way off for one time in your forecasting days since 1974 might be a great thing for people to hear.
This is a copy of an email I just sent slackmeyer.
Hi Steve,
I feel pretty good about the forecast accuracy portion of the blog extravaganza, and many of your bloggers seem to get the picture as well.
I take GREAT issue with your focusing on my character as well. Your blogging print is clear and plain.
If you can find a map of Oklahoma with statewide snow totals on it, then you will see, as I have, how the heavier snowfall amounts curved VERY NICELY up, over, and around Oklahoma county. Go see for yourself!
How that random phenomenon has ANYTHING to do with my character I couldn’t tell you.
It’s ridiculous and absurd, at best. Get it?
Again, you do not know me, but my wife, children, Home Depot cashiers, OKC gargage man, tax man, pastor, Sonic drive thru person, Sam’s Club check-outers all DO know me, over decades in time, day in and day out. The fact the YOU have the audacity to draw my character into question over a fluke change in snowfall path on a blog board is off, WAY off.
BTW, It was the second heaviest snowfall EVER in Oklahoma (since about statehood). It was only topped by a storm in 1971.
Mike Morgan
PS And to your bloggers here, I do not want to sound too intense, I just can’t stand personal attacks from people I do not know.
Leave it to the radio guy, Mark Shannon, to be the great intermediary between TV and (what am I these days anyway) Yes, it’s really Mike Morgan.
I’m comforted to see Mike Morgan is this passionate about what he does. I hope his competitors feel as strongly about being accurate. Thank you, Steve Lackmeyer, for providing an open, honest forum for people to speak their mind.
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why SOMEONE at KFOR has not told Mike to shut it. Being a little thin-skinned and lashing out once might be understandable, but twice?
Anyone who is a face of an organization has a responsibility to not embarrass themselves or the organization. Reacting like a 10-year old who a bully called a bad name is not living up to that responisibility.
Mike:
Would your pastor like you telling someone to grow some balls? And just because you were singled out doesn’t mean that we aren’t mad at all of the other weather anchors as well. Grow up, buddy. You are in the top weather market in the nation. Start acting like it.
Hello,
I really don’t do these type discussion boards anymore.
But let me be perfectly clear and say it one more time.
Lackmeyer took a random variable like mesoscale fluctuations in a heavy snowfall footprint that tracked across Oklahoma….that just happened to mostly miss one area in its path…..the OKC Metro area, and try to directly relate the forecast bust to my PERSONAL character.
That is dead wrong.
Seems easy enough to see.
Steve and I have worked it out publicly here and privately too. No worries.
Onward and upward!
Mike
P.S. My pastor would laugh. That is why I love him!
“If you have to carry a bucket of paint to defend your sister’s (or your) honor, you might be a redneck.”
Really? Third time’s a charm? Nope, you still came off as thin skinned.
I want everyone to be clear – I have not and am not questioning Mike Morgan’s character. Instead, in a comment on the original post, I reflected on a reader’s accusation that Mike was hyping up forecasts for ratings. And I challenged the commenter on the seriousness of that comment – was he suggesting that there was a problem with Mike Morgan’s character or whether he wasn’t up to the job.
As for how Mike worded his email, if it’s rough on the edges, I’d give him some slack – he’s probably not gotten a lot of sleep.
Now Mike, seriously, it’s a beautiful day out there. I’ve got a sick four-year-old here at home, otherwise I’d be out there myself.
I think everyone has had their say on this, so I’m going to shut down comments so you won’t feel like there’s something left to respond to.
In the meantime, I’ve posted a link to a blog by Andy Wallace at KOCO that is probably the best shot at explaining this mess.
Mike, even though comments are shut down, if you feel like there is something else you want to add, email me and I’ll continue to let you have your say.
At this point I’d say we both have an ample supply of baseballs, basketballs, tennis balls and footballs.
- Steve
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Show some balls? I’m dying over here! I feel a Lost Ogle blog coming on…