In a TVNewsCheck profile, Mark Arum, a traffic reporter at Atlanta ABC-affiliate WSB, reveals the ins-and-outs of his beat, like where traffic reporters fall on the “newsroom hierarchy” and whether viewers blame him when their morning routes get clogged. Arum also talks about the future of traffic reporting:
Do you think TV traffic reporters could become obsolete? You can’t watch TV in a car.
I don’t think so. I think weather could before traffic because you can turn on the Internet and get a weather forecast. With traffic, by the time you walk out of your house and get into your car, things can change. One morning commute will be fine and another will be shut down. I am pretty confident the role of the traffic reporter on TV and radio is secure.
AdvertisementDo you get jealous of all the attention weathercasters get?
No. If weather is bad, traffic usually follows. On those mornings we tag team.