There’s a reason why so much media coverage of hurricanes is referred to as “storm porn.” They want to get viewers’ addicted attention, which involves getting them bug-eyed, scared and riveted to their meteorologists, their spinning cones of Armageddon, their ominous spaghetti-models and their optics-oriented reporters.
But then there’s Denis Phillips, Tampa’s ABC Action News chief meteorologist. Overlook the suspender look, he’s a professional and the voice of anti-anxiety and objectivity. His Facebook updates and big-picture objectivity should be required reading. He knows that “hype breeds fear” and comports himself accordingly. “When it comes to hurricanes, hype is every bit as dangerous as the storm itself,” says Phillips. “Because it can create a false sense of security, and worse than that, create a false sense of panic.”
Hurricane season is fraught with understandable concerns and anxieties. It’s the media’s job to keep us informed and prepared, not histrionically pile on to maintain—or gin up–ratings.