SLU Broadcast Meteorology Students Get First-Hand Experience on Campus

ST. LOUIS - The students in Chris Higgins’ principles of broadcast meteorology class got a taste of life in television journalism Wednesday when the KTVI/KPLR meteorologist did a live newscast during their class at Saint Louis University. 

Higgins did the weather reports for the 7 p.m. newscast on KPLR-TV Ch. 11 from a spot near the Joseph G. Lipic Clock Tower on West Pine Mall. Higgins had three live segments during the hour-long broadcast, plus a quick intro at the beginning of the show. During the breaks, he and his camera person offered tips and tricks of the trade on live broadcasting. 

“It was amazing to see how Chris and Lou were able to work together when an obstacle popped up,” said freshman Evelyn Maruszak. 

Maruszak’s goal is a career in broadcast meteorology.

“This broadcast course has been such a wonderful opportunity, and it is so special to me that I have been able to get some experience in my career path, as a freshman,” she said. 

A career in broadcast meteorology is one of many options for students studying meteorology at Saint Louis University. Eight-time Emmy award-winning Higgins is a graduate of the program himself. After graduation, he worked in Joplin, Missouri, before returning to his hometown station Fox 2. 

“I really enjoyed seeing what happens and how everything works from start to finish when a broadcaster is out in the field,” said junior James Motz. “When I took a broadcasting class in high school, I was told how a minute in TV time equals 10 minutes in regular time, and it was wonderful to see that play out last night right in front of me. I am considering a career in broadcasting, and this experience added to my belief of how cool it would be to be a broadcast meteorologist.”

The students enrolled in the principles of broadcast meteorology learn how to develop the skills necessary to communicate scientific information, with an emphasis on weather forecasts.

“The broadcast was cool and gave us an adventure of what could go wrong when you are outside doing a broadcast,” said junior Austin Portner. “I am considering a career in research with my backup being broadcast as I want to research hurricanes.”

Portner added that he would recommend the class to anyone. 

“it is a great experience for everything that happens in a newsroom – not just the meteorology broadcast part.”

Victor Geiser, a senior enrolled in the class, said seeing all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into a live broadcast was rewarding.

“I’m always amazed at the flexibility and planning that goes into each and every second of a broadcast,” he said. “Just having plans for when something goes wrong is very different from being able to implement those plans effectively when things inevitably go wrong.”

Geiser said he wasn’t planning on a broadcast career, but the course opened his eyes to the possibility of working in the field.

“Our professor Chris Higgins has done an incredible job really getting us the hands-on experience required in today’s media industry,” he said. “I’d like to thank him for his commitment to preparing us for the future.”

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Saint Louis University’s meteorology curriculum emphasizes theory and practical application in fundamental and innovative aspects of the atmospheric sciences. Meteorology students at SLU apply principles of physics and chemistry to discover what makes our atmosphere work. With relatively small class sizes, students develop effective relationships with their instructors and receive personalized instruction.