‘In it for the money, not the science’?1 Problems and potentials of stormchasing media

Abstract

Stormchasing is the practice of following storm systems and storms in progress over land. Though a critical part of research into meteorology by providing on the ground data for comparison with remote radar, satellite and/or other mechanized sources, stormchasing has more recently become part of the journalistic and digital media landscape. Despite its importance, stormchasing media has not been studied as either a media form and industry in its own right or in regard to reception by its audience. This article will begin to redress this absence through a pilot study encompassing the analysis of stormchasing texts, industrial context(s) and audience reception.