Media Files: Washington Post weather editor Jason Samenow on how weather coverage is evolving – and building audience growth

Media Files

The world's weather is changing and the media needs to keep up. Flickr/Shannon Dizmang, CC BY

When he founded the blog CapitalWeather.com 15 years ago in Washington DC, Jason Samenow was working for the US government as a climate change analyst. A full-time media career was probably the last thing on his mind.

But the blog – which became known as the Capital Weather Gang – gained traction, and was gradually absorbed by The Washington Post.

These days, Samenow is chief meteorologist and weather editor for the Post, where his work is driving audience growth and engagement.

Jason Samenow began his career as a climate change analyst before transitioning into journalism. Jason Samenow, Author provided (no reuse)

Lawrie Zion caught up with him for a chat about how digital media has changed the way that we connect to the weather, and why it’s wrong for weather editors to leave climate change out of the discussion.

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Additional credits

Producer: Andy Hazel.

Theme music: Susie Wilkins.

Image

Flickr/Shannon Dizmang

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.