More about Weather Watchers from the BBC Website:-
The BBC has today launched BBC Weather Watchers, a brand new, online crowd-sourced weather club for people who want to join in the nation’s favourite conversation and help tell the story of the UK’s weather.
First announced in March as part of BBC Make it Digital, BBC Weather Watchers will also allow people to develop basic digital skills.
Open to everyone with an interest in what the weather is up to, BBC Weather Watchers will play a key role in bringing a wide audience together - and in particular an older audience – on this much-loved topic. Not only can they have fun creating their own weather reports, but even have their pictures and observations appear in BBC broadcasts. A first for the BBC, the club will connect the audience's passion for weather with BBC storytelling on local radio, regional and network TV and will also aim to grow relationships with regular weather watchers, getting them on air to help tell the latest on their local weather.
The website is easy to navigate and works on whatever platform it is accessed from: PC, mobile or tablet. Irrespective of scientific knowledge and equipment, people will be able to sign in and create simple digital weather reports to 'now-cast' whatever the weather is doing where they live. They will develop basic digital skills such as uploading content to the web or sharing their report cards on social media, thanks to easy-to-complete digital templates and a selection of iconic BBC weather symbols.
Working with the Royal Meteorological Society - the project's academic partner - BBC Weather Watchers also provides information about the science behind the weather and behind-the-scenes info from BBC national and regional weather presenters.
Liz Howell, Head of BBC Weather, says: “BBC Weather Watchers is for everyone. Easy to use, it will bring the nation together on a topic they love so that wherever they are in the country, they can be a part of BBC Weather. It will help some take steps into the digital world and boost existing skills, whilst fulfilling the BBC’s public purposes such as supporting education and learning, representing the many communities in the UK and delivering the benefit of emerging media technologies.”
Mike Burnett, executive product manager, BBC Digital Weather, said: “Audiences already interact with the BBC, sending in their pictures and observations which we use on air, on social media and in our online gallery, and Weather Watchers builds on this existing relationship. BBC Weather Watchers is not just a responsive website, it’s a community, enabling our audience to upload photos and weather data in real time and engage with our weather team in their local area on TV, radio and online. We’ve created a distinctive, personalised digital experience where users can join the nation’s favourite conversation, via smart phone, tablet or PC.”
David Holdsworth, Controller of English Regions, says: “We know local and regional audiences are fascinated by the weather, as it generates high levels of contacts to our Local Radio stations and regional TV News programmes up and down the country. Now using the BBC’s unique relationship with local audiences, we are bringing people together to share this fascination with each other and the whole country. BBC Weather Watchers will be rooted in our local and regional broadcasting through radio, TV and online, and I look forward to audiences joining in the conversation.”
To find out more about BBC Weather Watchers, please read Liz Howell's blog and Michael Burnett's blog.
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