I don't usually allow my opinions to enter the weather blog, but I am very dismayed by a voicemail I received this evening from a viewer who was extremely upset we didn't have weather coverage at five and six o'clock. "The other stations have it on, why don't you? You're only covering this NIU thing when there's more that's happening out there." I wish this person would have left their number so I could have explained my thoughts because it makes me very upset. We spent all afternoon covering this story, all the while giving respect to those who've fallen and those who were lucky enough to escape. 13News will have complete coverage of this for days (if not weeks). Any questions about this should be submitted to station management. Questioning our choice of leaving weather out of tonight's coverage was a low-blow, especially to me, a Northern Illinois Huskie. WREX-TV covers weather when it matters and news when it matters. Today, simply is not a weather day.I hope everyone continues to pray for the four innocent people who died, their families, and all students who were impacted by today's event.
Very Sincerely,
Eric Sorensen
Chief Meteorologist
(Proud NIU Graduate)
27 comments:
What a tasteless complaint. As a DeKalb resident and recent NIU grad, I am grateful for your coverage.
Amen Eric!!!!!
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the students, families and friends of Northern Illinois University..this has been an absolutley heartbreaking event.
My prayers are with the victims, the families, and all Huskies alike. And unfortunately, 5 innocent people have now died.
Not only do I appreciate WREX's coverage, I appreciate your contributions to the coverage also Eric. You did a fine job today,and had very relevant information as NIU Alum. You and WREX by far made the right choice. How selfish of the individual who called you.
Eric- It means so much that you covered this story instead of the weather. I was on campus when it happened and was put in lock down. It was very scary and all we had were rumors flying around. When I finally was able to leave campus and get home, I turned the tv on to wrex and was so relieved to see that you were covering the story. I didn't know any details yet and you provided them for me. Thank you so much.
I can't believe this happened. I am so sad. I'm graduating this semester and I won't soon forget my last semester at NIU.
Eric,
I feel sorry for people who leave messages like that. You all made a very tough call in a very tough situation.
My prayers for the victims also.
I am thankful that I could count on full coverage of this event from 13 News. It was heartbreaking to hear the news unfolding, but you all did such a wonderful, PROFESSIONAL job. I appreciate that so very much.
Our family is praying for everyone affected tonight by this tragedy. The victims, their families, the NIU family, the hospital staff who is taking care of the injured, the officers who investigate, the list goes on and on.
I actually didn't even know there was a shooting til I heard about it at bingo. But I commend 13 news for covering whats more important. I dare the idiot who made that voicemail to come face to face with someone.
Eric, you do such an outstanding job. Don't let one fool knock you off your feet. This horrible event was far more important than the weather. It just heart breaking to see students getting shot in cold blood. I just got out of class tonight from Highland in Freeport and I heard the news there. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families. Keep up the great work at the station! We all love you guys-Laura
Like other people have said eric, you are a very true professional with weather, but this shooting does overshadow that majorly. Yes there is a possible winter storm coming, but you still have another day or so to look at that. Don't let one bozo bring you down because the news chose a shooting over a weathercast.
I can't believe that someone would do something like this after what went down. Big deal dude that weather was not covered. I echo everyone words here. This really hits home. I am speechless and very deeply sadden. GOD bless everyone, and if you have someone that you LOVE very much hold on to them tonight has tight has you can. -Ike-
Eric, I think that you and the WREX staff did a fantastic job today. I have been a loyal viewer for many years, and I am so sorry that one self-centered person can make you feel so awful. We didn't need the weather report today... it's February and it's cold. What we did need was a constant update to a very scary situation, and you provided that. Thank you, and the entire WREX crew for doing the right thing. You obviously all knew that people were counting on your brodcast, and I will continue to count on you. Keep up the great work, and I will keep praying for all of the families from NIU.
If it were Sunday and we were about to get hit by that storm, I would say maybe have a comment or two. However, it isn't and there isn't. That voicemail was rude, heartless, and unwarranted. I believe it was the correct choice by the station manager to forgo an uneventful weather situation in lieu of more coverage of the tragic events in DeKalb. My prayers go to the victims and families of this horrible event. Thank you Eric, for caring.
Today we are all Huskies. My heart goes out the the friends and families of the victims.
I completely agree with all that has already been said.
This was heartbreaking and I truly appreciated the outstanding professional job that you and the entire 13 news team did in covering this local tragedy.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all members of the community who were affected by this terrible tragedy.
That is just wrong, how rude can someone be? It's not like we are being hit by a storm at this point in time and i'm sure you guys will keep us updated on the storm to as it comes closer. My heart goes out to all the families,friends i could have that go to NIU, and just the students. It's horrible and i can't believe someone so heartless would leave a voicemail like that. This stuff if getting out of control with shootings, now its just getting closer to home. It's probably making alot of college bound kids afraid to even go to college anymore. You and the news team are doing a great job and dont' let one nut job get you down!
Once again we're reminded that we're surrounded by all walks of life....ones who care, and simply ones that don't. . . .
Eric, you and WREX did what needed and should have been done during such a tragic event. My heart goes out to all of those innocent victims and their familes.
We agree!
The events at NIU were horrifying. I am sure that there were many family members of students that were looking to your team for news. The WREX team did an outstanding job in delivering that news in a caring and timely fashion.
I am an avid weather/forecast follower but could think of nothing yesterday other than the tragedy at NIU.
Thank you for your professionalism and your ability to change the pattern of the news broadcast when it was entirely appropriate.
I completely agree with you Eric and can't believe someone would be soo concerned over the weather at a time when weather isn't of concern. I could understand if say there was a tornado coming straight for the Rockford area, but there simply wasn't any threatening weather like that. Unfortunately, as we all know you cannot please everyone and there will always be those one or two people upset over stuff like this.
Eric -
Thank you for sharing your heart - a part of who you are - in response to the unfortunate opinion of that viewer. The question of "why" could have been answered with a "because" or with silent resolve, both of which would have been appropriate given the grave matters at hand yesterday.
However, it is the PEOPLE that are a part of WREX that make it such a great station, and you and the rest of the team truly show what you are made of in times like this.
THANK YOU!
It takes a sick individual for someone to call in and leave that kind of message. Where's the compassion?
I am very grateful for your coverage. It has hit so close to home and our community should offer comfort and support to these students and families. I'm sure they aren't worried about the weather being broadcasted. Keep up the good work Eric. I value what you do.
A "fool" like that shows what some people are, uncaring and selfish. I just happened to tune in for the 5 PM news (something I never do)and was shocked by the news. I could care less about the weather- (I could look outside). However, WREX coverage was excellent and although I have no students there, I do have friends and acquaintences that do have children there. Do what you guys do best and let that "fool" go to another weather source (although he'll miss the best weather and news coverage around).
Eric,
You & the WREX team did the right thing in covering NIU. I share your dismay with the message that was left on your voicemail.Don't let a compassionless person get you down.
I am grateful for WREX's coverage.
My heart goes out to every one effected by this tragedy.
Today we are all Huskies. My heart goes out to all the friends and families of the victims.
wow.. that is all i can say when i read that blog.. how can someone be so heart less.. my best friends boyfriend was on of the ones that was shot.. but luckily he walked away okay.. u guys did a fantastic coverage.. my prayers are with all niu students and families... god bless
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