Career Path of a Broadcast Meteorologist at a TV Broadcasting Company
Meredith's 15-year broadcast meteorology career began with two college internships, one at WGN-TV in Chicago with Tom Skilling, which sparked a passion that led to a "coast-to-coast" journey across the country. The career path included varied experiences, from chasing tornadoes and covering severe weather to reporting on space exploration, resulting in a "curly swervy line" of opportunities.
Meteorology, Broadcasting, Internships, Travel, Journalism
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Meredith Garofalo
Broadcast Meteorologist
TV Broadcasting Company
Valparaiso University
NA
Environmental & Related Sciences
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Meredith's career started with two internships, one in radio and another with a renowned meteorologist at WGN-TV, which provided invaluable newsroom experience.
2. Her career path involved relocating across the country, showcasing adaptability and a willingness to embrace diverse weather forecasting experiences, including fieldwork during various weather events.
3. Beyond weather reporting, Meredith's career highlights include covering space stories, interviewing key figures in NASA and government, and reporting on STEM topics, showcasing a diverse journalistic skillset.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I have been in the TV broadcasting career field for 15 years. It all started with two internships I got in college.
I did a radio internship where I gave weather reports in the morning before class. I also had the honor of interning with one of the best meteorologists in the country, Tom Skilling at WGN-TV in Chicago. That's what really got me into a newsroom for the first time and made me very excited.
From there, my TV career has taken me coast to coast across the country. I went from South Dakota to Florida, then moved to Southern California, Denver, and the New York City area before returning to my hometown region in northeast Ohio and Cleveland.
I've always wanted to be a meteorologist; it was something I was super passionate about as a child. My mom survived a tornado outbreak, and for some reason, when she told me this, I felt it was my calling. While other kids wanted to be ballerinas or athletes, I wanted to be a meteorologist since I was three.
I grew up reading books about tornadoes and severe weather and watching videos to learn as much as possible from local stations and The Weather Channel. Throughout my career, I've had both great success and failures. You can't have a career path that is always going up.
There were a few jobs that didn't work out, but it took a lot of hard work and a willingness to travel. My job has taken me all across the country, and the greatest part is I've forecast every type of weather imaginable.
This wasn't just in the studio; a lot of it was in the field. I've chased tornadoes, covered severe weather aftermath, and talked to families to tell their stories and warn people about severe weather. I've been out during blizzards and tropical storms.
I am a meteorologist, but I'm also a journalist. I've reported on space stories, science stories, STEM, and STEAM. In addition to weather, I've told countless stories about rocket launches.
I traveled with a satellite on a military plane to show the behind-the-scenes process of getting it to the launchpad in Cape Canaveral. I've interviewed brilliant minds at NASA and individuals in government and private industry who are driving the space community forward.
I also sat down with the former National Weather Service director for a one-on-one exclusive interview to share his accomplishments. I think the best part of my career path is that it's not a straight line; it's a swervy line that has taken me all over the country.
It has led to so many different opportunities, which I'm very grateful for. I'm really glad I didn't stay in just one place.