Keep in mind that this cutesy and upbeat Atlanta Journal-Constitution profile of CNN's weather operations refers to the same cable news network that literally slept through Tropical Storm Alberto last month.
Rob Marciano is CNN's resident weather stud, the guy who's sent to get thrashed when a hurricane roars ashore.
But toiling in weather at CNN? Is that any way to get famous?
CNN weather anchor Rob Marciano works out of CNN's new weather set in the main newsroom, instead of two floors above.
CNN meteorologists typically haven't gotten much recognition, and certainly not the fame of some counterparts at the Weather Channel or the big broadcast networks. Even CNN's weather studio in Atlanta has been a symbol of second-class status: A tiny space, two floors removed from the main newsroom. Marciano compared it to being seated at the kids' table at Thanksgiving.
Yet if you watch CNN today, you should notice a change. The weather men and women of CNN have a flashy new set, and it's in the big newsroom. "It's not just eye candy," Marciano said. "It's actual, new-and-improved stuff."
It also is a sign that weather has bumped up in importance at CNN.
The network had wanted to upgrade its weather studios for a while but fast-tracked the change in the wake of last year's busy hurricane season. [Editor's note: the track wasn't fast enough for Alberto, apparently.]
CNN and Fox News Channel both devoted massive resources to hurricane coverage last year, providing stout competition to cable's stalwart of storms, the Weather Channel. Fox won in the post-Katrina ratings, while CNN bested the Weather Channel....
