BREAKING NEWS: WLWT Hires Kevin Robinson as Chief Meteorologist

We just received word (via the Kiese blog here) that WLWT has hired their new Chief Meteorologist, straight from The Weather Channel in Atlanta.

Here's the WLWT press release as it came in:

CINCINNATI, OH – After 4+ years at The Weather Channel, Kevin Robinson returns to the Tri-State to join WLWT News 5 as Chief Meteorologist effective Jan 11th.

Kevin’s roots are in the Tri-State. He graduated from Princeton High School, his father works for P&G, and his family members still live in the Tri-State.

“Kevin covered every weather situation there is while forecasting at The Weather Channel, working side-by-side with the top meteorologists in the country” said WLWT President and General Manager Richard Dyer. “His forecasting experience, weather knowledge, and engaging style, along with his Tri-State connections, bring a unique combination to Cincinnati television.”

Prior to WLWT and The Weather Channel, Kevin also served as morning meteorologist at Hearst Television Inc owned WAPT in Jackson, MS.

Kevin is an active speaker in the community, from visiting schools and showing students the science behind weather forecasting, to holding town hall meetings on how to stay safe during severe weather.

Kevin graduated from Mississippi State in 2001 with a BA in Broadcast Meteorology, and carries the American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval.

Our Take: This, on paper, would seem to be a good move on WLWT's part. Hire a guy with local ties (Princeton HS and his dad works for P&G which is headquartered downtown), who knows his weather (BS at MSU plus his four years at TWC) and has the style that apparently Channel 5 was looking for.

But Robinson is coming into a new environment here. He's never been chief meteorologist...that's certainly not a dig against him. We've seen his work on TWC and he impressed us. We're only stating facts that can be gleaned from the above presser. (As noted in our administrative announcement this morning, Your Tri-State Media Watcher has been watching weather patterns around the Cincinnati area for 17 years.)

We'll just have to see what happens. We wish Mr. Robinson the best, and he'll certainly get his chance here in Cincinnati to show what he can really do...what with unpredictable patterns and all...