Florida broadcasters and meteorologists meet in Orlando for annual summit
TODAY IN ORLANDO, THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS HELD THEIR ANNUAL LOCAL NEWS AND METEOROLOGY SUMMIT. EXPERTS FROM ACROSS THE SUNSHINE STATE COMING TOGETHER TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS. OUR CHIEF CERTIFIED METEOROLOGIST, CHRIS MARTINEZ, JOINS US LIVE FROM ORLANDO. AND CHRIS, YOU PARTICIPATED IN A PANEL FOCUSING ON THE CRITICAL ROLE BROADCASTERS PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS AND HOW WE TEAM UP. AND COMMUNICATION IS KEY WHEN IT COMES TO SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO HURRICANES. SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE HONOR TO SIT ON THIS PANEL WITH MY COLLEAGUE TONY MANAFI. HE’S THE CHIEF METEOROLOGIST AT OUR SISTER STATION AT WESH. AND BASICALLY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE BUILD OUR COMMUNICATION WITH OUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS, LIKE WE DO WITH OUR HURRICANE READY SUMMITS AND HOW WE TRANSLATE THAT INTO COMING TOGETHER AND SPREADING ONE MESSAGE AND HOW WE’RE BREAKING THROUGH ALL THE MISINFORMATION, ALL THE RUMORS THAT YOU SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED IN A TIMELY FASHION, IT HAS TO BE THE SAME MESSAGE FROM EVERYONE. SO IT IS OUR MISSION. AND THAT’S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ON THIS PANEL TODAY THAT WAS ATTENDED BY NOT ONLY METEOROLOGISTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, BUT WE ALSO HAD LOCAL NEWS FOLKS. AGAIN, YOUR LOCAL NEWS MANAGERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL, ALONG WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGERS, THEY WERE HERE AS WELL AS THEY’RE HOLDING A CONFERENCE AS WELL. SO WE’RE GOING TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS COMING UP AT FOUR, FIVE AND SIX, BECAUSE I DID SPEAK WITH KEVIN GUTHRIE AS WELL. HE IS THE MAIN GUY. HE IS THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGER, THE MAIN GUY UP IN TALLAHASSEE, AND HE HAS SOME VERY IMPORTANT WORDS IN WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DELIVER
Florida broadcasters and meteorologists meet in Orlando for annual summit
Updated: 2:58 PM EDT Jun 4, 2026
The Florida Association of Broadcasters held its annual local news and meteorology summit Thursday in Orlando. Experts from across the Sunshine State came together to share knowledge and strengthen partnerships.Be Prepared: WPBF 25 News coverage on hurricanesWPBF 25 First Warning Weather Chief Certified Meteorologist Cris Martinez was a panelist during the summit.Get the latest weather updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
The Florida Association of Broadcasters held its annual local news and meteorology summit Thursday in Orlando.
Experts from across the Sunshine State came together to share knowledge and strengthen partnerships.
Be Prepared: WPBF 25 News coverage on hurricanes
WPBF 25 First Warning Weather Chief Certified Meteorologist Cris Martinez was a panelist during the summit.
Get the latest weather updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.