Ethics in meteorology, and giving the NWS credit where credit is due?

Question

If someone does not hold a degree in meteorology and works for a television or radio station, is it ok for them to use the forecast from the National Weather Service without giving the NWS credit? The NWS does have a disclaimer on their website that all their products, including forecasts, are free for public use for ANY purpose. If a degreed meteorologist uses the NWS forecast and DOES give credit, is that ok?

Critical thinking question from my Meteorology class. Opinions welcome.

Answer 1

To answer the second question first; it is always ok to give credit.

IMO, I think it fine for a tv meteorologist to use NWS forecasts without crediting. It wouldn't be fine to do so in a class, but academic standards are different, and for different purposes. The question about a tv or radio weatherman, it seems to me, is whether the public 1) believes the forecast is done by the weatherman, and 2) relies on the forecast BECAUSE it believes the forecast was done by that weatherman. I think the answer is no in each case. I'm no expert, but I know well that local weatherman in my city often have backgrounds as performers, and comedians, not weatherman, and are picked for their presentational skills, and that someone else -- whether it be the NWS or a staff person at the station, does the forecasting.

The question is a little more difficult if the station advertises that the weatherman is a meteorologist, but does not mention that he doesn't do his own forecasts.

If the NWS did not have the have the waiver on the screen, it would be an interesting question as to whether its forecasts were copyrighted -- but I'd consider that more of a legal issue than ethical.

Answer 2

Shame to attend College all those yrs. and then not honor your own code of ethics. What does it feel like to stand there and lie to people about the obvious CHEMTRAILS in the skies? Are you really paid all that much extra? What is it like to be bought off?