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Ex-Miss Universe Australia swaps catwalks for TV weather

What qualifications do you need to become a TV weather presenter in 2014? Not much by the looks of it.

2014-08-24_0039What qualifications do you need to become a TV weather presenter in 2014?

Exactly the same as the ones you needed decades ago: an eye-catching appearance and no relevant qualifications, at least there were none advised by Nine with former Miss Universe Australia Scherri Lee Biggs announced as Nine News Weather Presenter in Perth.

“Scherri Lee is a Perth girl and well known to many Perth people,” said Nine Perth Managing Director, David Mott.​ “She complements our fresh, talented news team.”

“I’m really thrilled to be joining the Nine News team at this very exciting time,” said Biggs. “It’s really taken off over the last year with the introduction of the hourly 6.00pm bulletin and the new breakfast bulletins at 7.00am and 8.30am.”

She replaces Sally Ayhan who announced her departure last month, and will join news presenters Tim McMillan and Libby Stone from mid-September.

13 Responses

  1. This is getting ridiculous, I am so sick of seeing these women with no meteorological background presenting weather just because they look “good”.

    I was fuming when Brownie was taken off screen for Giaan Rooney on 7News Melbourne. I much preferred Brownie because he came across with a level of professionalism and experience.

    I watch TEN Eyewitness News now because I find Mike Larkin to be more Credible than the women on other channels, his jokes also make me laugh (the Mrs reckons I’m the only bloke in Melbourne that does). 🙂

    I do think though Amanda Duval on TEN Eyewitness News Weekend is about the only fair dinkum female weather presenter on TV at the moment.

  2. The weather on Nine is a 2 minutes a day gig.

    The skills are looking good enough to stop people switching over to Seven’s weather and being natural and confident while reading out the weather. There are actually very few people who can do that.

    Why blame the network for what viewers select?

  3. At the risk of sounding unkind, the ability to hold your stomach in helps! Most female weather presenters seem to be either pregnant or their skirts are too tight.

    If we’re judging people on how they look (and let’s face it, on TV we do, except for unattractive male newsreaders) .. just saying.

    And the right qualifications would help.

    Miaow

  4. There would be heaps of qualified candidates, such as current newsroom employees or even graduates struggling to find work. And yet she probably didnt even have to apply for the role. Why not give the opportunity to someone local who has really earned the role?

    She doesn’t live in Perth, so its clear she’s just come here for the job. She’s probably eyeing bigger opportunities and will probably leave once something better comes along. Not the kind of longevity Nine need to establish their news team and compete with Seven.

  5. Scherri-Lee is currently a presenter on Coxy’s Big Break on Seven Melbourne, which is not mentioned in any of the reports, nor on her Twitter account. I guess Geoff Cox will need to find someone to replace her.

    1. Johnson: Thanks for extra info, good to know.
      Pertinax: The idea that weather presenters work for 2 mins a day is a myth. As other commenters note here, credibility is also integral, and other audiences did not respond well to previous changes. You may have no problem with reinforcing stereotypes (they are nearly always males, and certainly never older females), but others don’t.
      DaveM: I’d say Livinia has been doing it so long the audience has accepted her accrued knowledge now.

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